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Anyway, if you like mini-builds, which essentially all the architecture sets are, you will probably enjoy them. Just be warned that some builds can be pretty tiresome to build, like #21010 Robie House and some might be a little too mini for some peoples' tastes like #21007 Rockefeller Center.
If you require exploding missiles, cannons, weapons of any sort, etc., to be entertained, these sets may not be your slice of cake. No one is judging anyone because we all have different preferences and tastes.
The more of these sets that my family builds, the more we enjoy the theme. But then we are fascinated by design and travel all over just to see the real buildings in person. Our family-built Taj Mahal rests in front of the blown up, poster-sized photo of my grown son doing cartwheels in front of the real Taj. Hubby spent days lighting up the interior of our Taj and then hard wiring it to a switch on the wall. Just so we can enjoy a lit up Taj at night.
Having been a Frank Lloyd Wright fan since age ten, it is a joy to build models of any of his creations. I hope that Alvar Aalto is included soon because he is another favorite.
So the question one needs to ask here seems to be:
Are you a fan of design and architecture?
Wow, some day for me and my son too!
Having been a Frank Lloyd Wright fan since age ten, it is a joy to build models of any of his creations.
Well, age 15, but yes, yes, yes.
@Matt Yeah, I did Rebrickable for the mini BagEnd and had all the parts, but after a frustrating experience borrowing parts from sets and then taking forever to find them again, I'd rather duplicate. Found a seller that had almost everything including the rare part and it was around $15, which wasn't bad compared to $39 from SDCC or $80 -$100 from ebay. I don't collect pretty Lego boxes. Not that there is anything wrong with that.
@Legogal
LOL. No I don't need those things that have the "don't poke out your eye" warning on the page for entertainment. Your Taj Mahal with personalized family mementos is fantastic! Traveling with a semi-collecting goal is a fun organizing principle. (I do want that Taj Mahal, but think it has gotten of my price range.) I was not familiar with Alvar Aalto, so thanks for making me google him.
Am I a fan of design and architecture? Visually, rather than structurally I think. Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família or Saint Basil's Cathedral are designs that would excite me in Lego -- and I like LoTR, fantasy bias perhaps?
About five years ago I realized that I had spent a night in a FLW home with the Kinney family in Amarillo, Texas as a twelve year old during a swim meet with their three daughters in the 1960's. It was one of the last FLW homes built, and I remember being inspired by the design. Saw it listed in a book at Barnes & Noble and almost fell over from shock! FLW was not as well known by the general public back then, but his career picked up a lot of steam after his death. Wish I had the plans to the Kinney house as I would build it in dark red...the stone was lovely, and the design was breathtaking.
India itself certainly isn't for everyone though.
Wow! Reward yourself with another Architecture set after visiting that particular site. Travel can be one of the most rewarding experiences you can have, so you are on the right track.
If anyone is debating whether to spend their limited funds on travel to an interesting place or buy something else for the house, please consider trying the first option often enough to see how well it can work. Your house can wait and probably needs less clutter any way. Just my two cents worth!
The part that bored me the most was building the main building "insert" with all the 1x2 clears, and the 1x2 and 1x3 tans...
Yes, this exactely! Not to mention it looks lovely on display as well.
Also, if you are looking for a zen like experience, #21050 Architecture Studio is perfect for this.
Part of the enjoyment for me is, believe it or not, struggling to find the next piece. :)
but then I had an interest in Architecture prior to starting to acquire Lego Arch sets a couple years ago. Arch sets were my gateway drug to this addiction and now I have a 'few' other sets beyond that series. I would love bigger scale architecture buildings but I acknowledge I am probably in the minority in that regard lol... it will probably force me into my first MOC build one of these days though rofl
To make the building process more interesting, I try to build each model without using the instructions. (Puzzle build) This may be one of the reasons why I find even the small and simple models to be fun to build.
My favorite models to build have been the midsized sets: White House was #1. Big Ben #2, Sungmuyen #3. (I am 1/2 way through puzzle build of the UN building and I'm really enjoying it too, likely going to take my #2 spot.)
I think both Guggenheim and Rockefeller center are the poorest-looking models, and I found them awkward to build puzzle-style. (They did not employ any interesting building techniques either - both feel sloppily constructed.)
The initial buildings are all simple builds and look good. Sears tower, Empire State, Hancock. (Empire is the best of the three.)
I have not built the following but have some initial impressions:
Robie house - too big to build puzzle-style, and looks a bit repetitive with 100s of 1x2 red plates. Finished model is attractive though.
Farnsworth House - looks like a fun build and I hope to try it soon, looks puzzleable.
the small Sydney Opera House also looks awkward to build and isn't attractive.
Burj Khalifa just looks boring to build and boring on the shelf.
Fallingwater looks like a somewhat ugly model to me, but I do want to build it.
Villa Savoye looks like a nice model, but I'm not as excited about it as some of the others.
Sincerely,
---tom
P.S. Last month I did a 30-day Lego challenge inspired by the Architecture studio set. Check it out if you are interested at http://tomalphin.com/2013/10/lego-architecture-studio-30-day-challenge.html (I hope to do a new article with a brief review of each of the Architecture sets sometime soon.)
Everyone seems to be a fan of the UN building so I may have to purchase that one next.
I've a lot of love for Fallingwater, although some complain of repetitive plate stacking. The finished model actually has a kind of play feature, or rather, something that wows people when you show them. For the best experience, don't look at the back of the box; just build it and enjoy the surprise.
Going through the isles at the store we picked aviation adventure 31011 and even considered the space center (With the rocket ). It was then my wife brings this architecture "white house " over and suggests we could build that as it has some significance to my occupation and i blinked and realised and there it just hit me ... Why not .... it is after all Lego , how bad can it be ?
Anyway we just finished the White House a few hours back today and I have to report it was a very different building experience .. I thoroughly enjoyed it .. It looks very respectable and professional and will sit on my office desk with pride. There is something very charming about the build and the final display. Agree with the unique column building technique.
I would say those who enjoyed the mini modular set , may enjoy these much more .
I am almost embarrassed I ignored this series for 2 years and to make up , I purchased these the very next day after finishing half of the WH.
Falling Water
Villa Savoy
Farsworth House
Burj Khalifa
I plan to build Farsworth next . Falling water will be kept for a long weekend.
I built the Big Ben, which I enjoyed. I didn't find it tedious to do like others said. But I just like it for what it is. I have now bought The Leaning. Tower of Pisa so I'll see what that is like. I'd like to build some of the bigger sets, but I'd rather buy the modulars instead.
The other ones don't appeal to me much, so I won't be getting them.
Some of my favorite Architecture sets under 50$
LINK: tomalphin.com/2014/03/top-5-lego-architecture-sets.html
Thanks,
---tom
The smaller builds (Seattle Space Needle, Rockefeller Centre and similar sized boxes) can be done in 10 minutes...making it more of a cool office display than something for the 'build'.
The bigger builds can be challenging and fun (though not all are fun). It all depends on what you are after. Are you interested in learning new building techniques? Do you want a cool looking model to display (not the for OP)? Are you an architecture buff? Do you want to torture yourself aligning 1 x 1 tiles?
PS: I own most of the sets. I'm a fan.
My top 3 architecture sets under $50 are #21019 Eiffel Tower, #21018 UN Building and #21006 WH