Cornerstone(s) of THE LEGO HOUSE laid in Billund Denmark this week...

Istokg

The LEGO House in Billund had a cornerstone laying celebration this week. The 6 members of the Kristiansen/Christiansen family laid the 6 cornerstones of the vast sprawling complex being built in the heart of Billund.

Attending the ceremony was LEGO Group President Jørgen Vig Knudstorp, LEGO House Manager Søren Lund, LEGO Foundation Director Stjerne Thomsen, LEGO House architect Bjarke Ingels, and the 3 generations of the LEGO family, including Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen, his wife Camilla Kristiansen, his 3 adult children Sophie Kirk Kristensen, Thomas Kirk Kristiansen, Agnes Kirk Kristiansen, and Kjelds mother Edith Kirk Christiansen.

Edith Kirk Christiansen, the "grande dame" of LEGO, daughter-in-law of Ole-Kirk Christiansen, and widow of Godtfred Kirk Christiansen, had turned 90 years old on May 29, 2014.

The groundlaying involved family members placing 6 large gray 2x4 LEGO bricks onto a base.

After the formal ceremonies, all attendees were given fun tasks to perform with six 2x4 LEGO bricks.

The 130,000 sq. ft. (12000 sq. meters) LEGO House will be completed in 2016.

http://aboutus.lego.com/en-us/news-room/2014/august/lego-house-foundation-stone-2014

More images at:
https://www.facebook.com/klaus.algreen/media_set?set=a.10204366570583372.1073741830.1203300577&type=1&l=991a6883cc

Gary Istok

Istokg

These images will probably pain some of you... but the 4000010 LEGO Idea House Architectural Set is ONLY being sold in Billund Denmark, as many of you already know.

Imagine going into a regular grocery store in your town or city.... and between the condiments aisle and soap products aisle... finding an end display like this.... :-O

Istokg

Seeing all the Kristiansen/Christiansen family members together at the cornerstone(s) laying gave me another image to add to my new LEGO Collectors Guide chapter on the LEGO owner family... the Kristiansen/Christiansen family.

1) a pic of Godtfred & Edith Christiansen, and their 3 children... Gunhild, Kjeld and young Hanne. Poor Hanne passed away in a tragic auto accident in 1969, and Godtfred passed away at nearly age 75 in 1995. Edith Gunhild and Kjeld survive today.

2) a 2012 Royal Visit to Billund by Queen Margrethe of Denmark and husband Prince Henrik... attending them were Kjeld, his wife Camilla, and Edith.

Istokg

Another old family picture (from my Collectors Guide chapter on LEGO Artwork shows Edith's late husband Godtfred Kirk Christiansen with his 3 children (and his nephew Jørgen) posing in front of a LEGO Town Plan display.

In 1956 this image would be the basis for the only time that Godtfred ever appeared on a LEGO box top.... the German/Austrian spare parts packs box top design. Of course this design had the artwork heavily changed to completely disguise Godtfred, so no one would ever discover it was him.... but 3 years ago I found the original... and the folks in Billund were surprised when I showed them... ;-)

DadsAFOL

So Photoshop existed in 1956, huh? Great pics, Gary.

Istokg

Hehehe.... exactly DadsAFOL!! ;-)

That earlier pic of the 5 members of Godtfred's family dates to 1962, from a German magazine article mentioning that the Christiansen's are now (then) millionaires.... I guess the billionaire status didn't come for about another 30 years! ;-)

I wanted to post this earlier pic, but couldn't find it until now.... a 1957 pic (Aug. 12 of that year).... of a Billund Parade celebrating the 25th Anniversary of LEGO. Behind the band is LEGO founder Ole Kirk Christiansen and his son Godtfred.... behind then is Edith holding her 2 oldest children... 11 year old Gunhild (just barely visible behind Godtfred), and in plain fiew... 10 year old Kjeld.

Istokg

Here's another one of the images from my new LEGO Collectors Guide chapter on the LEGO family.... the 3 newest Danish billionaires.... each having been given 12.5% of the company ownership by their father Kjeld, who retains 62.5%.... their names are shown with their Danish spelling....

Istokg

And here's Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen at LEGOWelt 2012 in Cologne Germany... at the display of a group of my LEGO friends... holding up a UK version of the 1962-67 810 Town Plan Set... that he is on the box top (circa 1961) along with an unknown girl...

thehornedrat

WOw so interesting. Learning such history is so interesting Istokg.

There's a non-conformist (black sheep?) in the family I see... he didn't suit up. :P

Istokg

No, that's the architect of the LEGO House that didn't suit up.... Bjarke Ingels.... chalk that up to the artistic temperament.... ;-)

Istokg

Well the LEGO House in Billund is move along swiftly.   The former site of the Billund Town Hall in the middle of Billund is still one large construction project.

From last years cornerstone laying... with the 90 year old Dowager Lady of LEGO herself Edith Kirk Christiansen....




To the excavations and foundations....







Still a long way to go before the building rises several stories....

Venunder

Although TLG has kept Billund growing, you have to wonder whether the locals feel this is monolithic building too far? Does it really "fit" into the character of the town?
Or is it creating the future character of the town?

So the Town Hall went EoL and then TLG produced the Lego House. :) :) :)

Istokg

For the money that Billund got for the site and the non-descript town hall (not that old).... they'll likely build a fantastic new town hall on a more spacious site.  The airport that TLG built back in 1962-63 is now the major hub for the central Jutland part of Denmark.  I really don't think anyone in Billund is shedding a tear for the previous town hall... what with all the prosperity that TLG has brought to this forsaken corner of rural Jutland.