Lego Architecture
Introduction '''Lego Architecture''' (stylized as '''''LEGO Architecture''''') is a Lego theme that aims to "celebrate the past, present and future of architecture through the Lego Brick". The brand includes a series of Lego sets designed by "Architectural Artist" Adam Reed Tucker, and each contain the pieces and instructions to build a model of a famous architectural building or city skyline in micro-scale.
Development Adam Reed Tucker earned a degree in architecture at Kansas State University in 1996.While there, he sought a method to join his two passions of art and architecture, and hit upon the idea of using Lego bricks. From this, he founded ''Brickstructures, Inc.'', and began to design and build models of famous landmarks. His work was noticed by the Lego Group, and together they formed a partnership to release some of his models as commercially available Lego sets under the ''Lego Architecture'' brand.
Architecture sets According to Bricklink, The Lego Group has released 64 playsets as part of the ''Lego Architecture'' theme.Sets in the product line contain a premium booklet, that – besides the build instructions – also includes various information and pictures of the building itself.By the beginning of 2009, six sets had been released in the range, under two 'series'. Within the 'Landmark Series' are models of the Sears Tower (21000), John Hancock Center (21001), the Empire State Building (21002), and the Space Needle (21003). Within the 'Architect Series' are models of the Guggenheim Museum (21004) and Fallingwater (21005).In the beginning of July 2010, a seventh set, the White House (21006), was released. An eighth set (21007) was released in November 2010: New York's Rockefeller Center. The ninth set (21009), Farnsworth House (Plano, Illinois), was released in April 2011.A tenth set (21008), The Burj Khalifa, was released in June 2011.The Willis Tower (21000) was also released in 2011, this kit was a re-issue of the original Sears Tower kit; the only change was the printed tile to reflect the building's renaming.An eleventh and twelfth set, the Robie House (21010) and the Brandenburg Gate (21011) were released in September 2011.In January 2012, it was announced that the next Architecture set would be 21012 Sydney Opera House. The set was released in March 2012.In June 2012, Big Ben (21013) was released. In July 2012, the Namdaemun Gate (renamed Sungnyemun Gate) (21016) was released. In September 2012, the Villa Savoye (21014) was released. The Eames House (21015) and Glass House were scheduled and then canceled, as it never came out as a set. The company tried to add the Eames House in again with set number (21025), but nothing could be done to put it in production.In June 2013, the Leaning Tower of Pisa (21015) was announced for the Lego Architecture series. Its set number (21015) replaced the original Eames House after it was canceled. United Nations Headquarters (21018) came out next. In October 2013, Marina Bay Sands and the Eiffel Tower were both announced.+ Set  Series  Name  Location  Released  Number of pieces  Retired  Image 21000  Landmark  '''Sears Tower'''  Chicago  2008  69  2014  '''Willis Tower'''  2011alt=21001Landmark'''John Hancock Center''' Chicago2008692012177x177px21002Landmark'''Empire State Building''' New York City2009772015alt=21003Landmark'''Seattle Space Needle''' Seattle200957201621004Architect'''Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum''' New York City2009208201421005Architect'''Fallingwater''' Mill Run, Pennsylvania20098112015204x204px21006Architect'''The White House''' Washington, D.C.2010560201721007Architect'''Rockefeller Center''' New York City2010240201421008Landmark'''Burj Khalifa''' Dubai2011208201421009Architect'''Farnsworth House''' Plano, Illinois20115462015226x226px21010Architect'''Robie House''' Chicago20112,2762014228x228px21011Landmark'''Brandenburg Gate''' Berlin2011363201621012Architect'''Sydney Opera House''' Sydney2012270201521013Landmark'''Big Ben''' London2012346201721014Architect'''Villa Savoye''' Paris2012660201621015Landmark'''The Leaning Tower of Pisa''' Pisa2013345201621016Landmark'''Sungnyemun''' Seoul2012325201421017Architect'''Imperial Hotel''' Tokyo20131,188201621018Landmark'''United Nations Headquarters''' New York City2013597201621019Landmark'''The Eiffel Tower''' Paris2014321201921020Landmark'''Trevi Fountain''' Rome2014731201721021 (limited edition)Landmark'''Marina Bay Sands''' Singapore20146022016219x219px21022Landmark'''Lincoln Memorial''' Washington, D.C.20152742017214x214px21023Landmark'''Flatiron Building''' New York City20154712017217x217px21024Landmark'''Louvre''' Paris2015695201921026Skyline'''Venice''' Italy2016212201821027Skyline'''Berlin''' Germany2016289201821028Skyline'''New York City''' United States201621029Landmark'''Buckingham Palace''' London20167802019231x231px21030Landmark'''United States Capitol''' Washington, D.C.20161,032202021031Landmark'''Burj Khalifa''' Dubai2016333201821032Skyline'''Sydney''' Australia2017361201921033Skyline'''Chicago''' United States2017444201921034Skyline'''London''' United Kingdom201721035Landmark'''Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum''' New York City20177442019225x225px21036Landmark'''Arc de Triomphe''' Paris20173862019216x216px21037(Lego House exclusive)Landmark'''Lego House''' Billund, Denmark201721038Skyline'''Las Vegas''' United States2018487Replaced21039Skyline'''Shanghai''' China2018597202121041Landmark'''Great Wall of China''' China2018551202021042Landmark'''Statue of Liberty''' New York City201821043Skyline'''San Francisco''' United States2019565202121044Skyline'''Paris''' France201921045Landmark'''Trafalgar Square''' London20191,197202221046Landmark'''Empire State Building''' New York City20191,767202221047Skyline'''Las Vegas''' United States2018501202121050 20131,210201921051Skyline'''Tokyo''' Japan2020547202221052Skyline'''Dubai''' United Arab Emirates2020740202221054Landmark'''The White House''' Washington, D.C.20201,483202321055 (European markets only)Landmark'''Burj Khalifa''' Dubai2019333202221056Landmark'''Taj Mahal''' Agra202121057Skyline'''Singapore''' Singapore2022230x179px21058Landmark'''Great Pyramid of Giza''' Cairo202221060Landmark'''Himeji Castle''' Himeji2023+Special editions Set  Name  Location Released  Number of pieces  Comments4000002'''LOM Moulding''' Monterrey2011174Given to employees.4000005'''KOM Moulding''' Billund, Denmark2012315Given to employees.Kornmarken Factory is the first and largest LEGO moulding and production factory.4000006'''Kladno Campus''' Kladno2012250Given to employees.4000009'''HMV Production''' Billund, Denmark2013285Given to employees.HMV is the name of the packing factory at LEGO Billund, which this set is based on.4000010'''LEGO House''' Billund, Denmark2014250Only sold in Billund.Lego House opened in Billund in 2017.4000011'''Nyíregyháza Factory''' Nyíregyháza2014327Given to employees.Lego model of the Nyíregyháza Factory. 4000015'''LOM Moulding B''' Monterrey2014215Given to employees.Additional packing building, which expands the footprint of the existing facility.4000016'''Billund Airport''' Billund, Denmark2014281Only sold at Billund Airport.This set was made for the 50th anniversary of the Airport.4000018'''Kladno Campus''' Kladno2015412Given to employees.Kladno campus is the name of building C at the Czech Lego factory, which this set is based on.4000023'''Jiaxing Factory''' China2016407Given to employees.Set of the Lego factory in Jiaxing, China.40199'''Billund Airport''' Billund, Denmark2018286Only sold at Billund Airport.New edition from 4000016.4000038'''LEGO Campus''' Billund, Denmark20221,494Given to employees.Released to celebrate the grand opening of the LEGO Campus on April 5, 2022.
Impact The product range has been reviewed favorably by many commentators. Journalist Jenny Williams said "The scale on these kits is pretty small, though, so don't expect exquisite detail. But creating with Lego bricks is quite a fun way to pay homage to great architects".
In popular media A near-exact replica of set 21006, The White House, appears in the eight story arc of the Japanese manga series ''JoJo's Bizarre Adventure'', JoJolion, where it used by the villain character Poor Tom to activate his "stand" power, "Ozon Baby".
References
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