Lego Architecture


Lego Architecture is a sub-brand and product range of the Lego toy, which 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 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.

Sets

Sets in the product line contain a premium booklet, that – besides the build instructions – also include 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, John Hancock Center, the Empire State Building, and the Seattle Space Needle. Within the 'Architect Series' are models of the Guggenheim Museum and Fallingwater.
In the beginning of July 2010, a seventh set, the White House, was released. An eighth set was released in November 2010: New York's Rockefeller Center. The ninth set, Farnsworth House, was released in April 2011. A tenth set, The Burj Khalifa, was released in June 2011. The Willis Tower 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 and the Brandenburg Gate 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 was released. In July 2012, the Namdaemun Gate was released. In September 2012, the Villa Savoye was released. The Eames House and Glass House were scheduled and then canceled, as it never came out as a set.
In June 2013, the Leaning Tower of Pisa was announced for the Lego Architecture series. Its set number replaced the original Eames House after it was canceled. United Nations Headquarters came out next. In October 2013, Marina Bay Sands and the Eiffel Tower were both announced.
SetSeriesNameLocationReleasedNumber of
pieces		Retired
product		Image
21000LandmarkSears Tower Chicago200869Yes
21000LandmarkWillis Tower Chicago201169Yes
21001LandmarkJohn Hancock Center Chicago200869Yes
21002LandmarkEmpire State Building New York City200977Yes
21003LandmarkSeattle Space Needle Seattle200957Yes
21004ArchitectSolomon R. Guggenheim Museum New York City2009208Yes
21005ArchitectFallingwater Mill Run, Pennsylvania2009811Yes
21006ArchitectThe White House Washington, D.C.2010560Yes
21007ArchitectRockefeller Center New York City2011240Yes
21008LandmarkBurj Khalifa Dubai2011208Yes
21009ArchitectFarnsworth House Plano, Illinois2011546Yes
21010ArchitectRobie House Chicago20112,276Yes
21011LandmarkBrandenburg Gate Berlin2011363Yes
21012ArchitectSydney Opera House Sydney2012270Yes
21013LandmarkBig Ben London2012346Yes
21014ArchitectVilla Savoye Paris2012660Yes
21015LandmarkLeaning Tower of Pisa Pisa2013345Yes
21016LandmarkSungnyemun Gate Seoul2012325Yes
21017Architect Tokyo20131,188Yes
21018LandmarkUnited Nations Headquarters New York City2013597Yes
21019LandmarkThe Eiffel Tower Paris2014321Yes
21020LandmarkThe Trevi Fountain Rome2014731Yes
21021LandmarkMarina Bay Sands Singapore2014602Yes
21022LandmarkLincoln Memorial Washington, D.C.2015274Yes
21023LandmarkFlatiron Building New York City2015471Yes
21024LandmarkLouvre Paris2015695Yes
21026SkylineVenice Italy2016212Yes
21027SkylineBerlin Germany2016289Yes
21028SkylineNew York City United States2016598No
21029LandmarkBuckingham Palace London2016780Yes
21030LandmarkUS Capitol Washington, D.C.20161,032Yes
21031LandmarkBurj Khalifa Dubai2016333Yes
21032SkylineSydney Australia2017361Yes
21033SkylineChicago United States2017444Yes
21034SkylineLondon United Kingdom2017468No
21035LandmarkSolomon R. Guggenheim Museum New York City2017744Yes
21036LandmarkArc de Triomphe Paris2017386Yes
21037LandmarkLego House Billund2017774No - Lego House exclusive
21038SkylineLas Vegas United States2018487Replaced
21039SkylineShanghai China2018597No
21041LandmarkGreat Wall of China China2018551Yes
21042LandmarkStatue of Liberty New York City20181,685No
21043SkylineSan Francisco United States2019565No
21044SkylineParis France2019649No
21045LandmarkTrafalgar Square London20191,197No
21046LandmarkEmpire State Building New York City20191,767No
21047SkylineLas VegasUnited States2018501No
21050Lego Architecture Studio20131,210Yes
21051SkylineTokyo Japan2020547No
21052SkylineDubai United Arab Emirates2020740No
21054LandmarkThe White House Washington, D.C.20201483No

SetNameLocationReleasedNumber of
pieces		Retired productCommentsPictures
4000002LOM Moulding Monterrey2011174Given to employees
4000005KOM Moulding Billund2012315Given to employeesKornmarken Factory is the first and largest LEGO moulding and production factory
4000006Kladno Campus Kladno2012250Given to employees
4000009HMV Production Billund2013285Given to employeesHMV is the name of the packing factory at LEGO Billund, which this set is based on.
4000010LEGO House Billund2014250Only sold in BillundLego House is the Brand new Lego House opening in Billund approx. 2017,
4000011Nyíregyháza Factory Nyíregyháza2014327Given to employeesLego model of the Nyíregyháza Factory
4000015LOM Moulding B Monterrey2014215Additional packing building. A building, which expands the footprint of the existing facility-
4000016Billund Airport Billund2014281Only sold at Billund AirportBillund Airport was made for the 50th anniversary of the Airport.
4000018Kladno Campus Kladno2015412Given to employeesKladno campus is the name of building C at the Czech Lego factory, which this set is based on
4000023Jiaxing Factory China2016407Given to employeesSet of the, at the time, new Lego factory in Jiaxing, China.
40199Billund Airport Billund2018286New edition from 4000016Only available at the airport in Billund

Impact

The product range has been reviewed favourably 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".