Lego Architecture

Lego Big Ben Set 21013

BILLUND, Denmark – Big Ben, one of the UK’s most recognizable buildings and a global symbol of Victorian London and the Gothic Revival style, has been recreated as the latest set in the LEGO^® Architecture series.

Big Ben, officially known as the Clock Tower, has stood at the north-eastern corner of the Palace of Westminster in London for more than 150 years. It was designed by the unlikely team of Classical architect Charles Barry and Gothic Revival pioneer Augustus Pugin and completed in 1859.

Lego Big Ben is the fourteenth model in the LEGO Architecture range, which uses the LEGO brick to interpret the designs of iconic architecture around the world. It is the first model to be designed by Rok Zgalin Kobe from Slovenia who joins Adam Reed-Tucker as a LEGO architect.

“The most challenging in creating this model was representing the richness of 19th century Gothic Revival architecture in a scale usually more appropriate for modern or contemporary architecture of smooth surfaces and clean lines,” said Rok Zgalin Kobe.

Charles Barry won the competition to build the new Palace of Westminster in January 1836. His initial designs were without the clock tower that would become known as Big Ben. As his own style was more Classical than the increasingly popular Gothic Revival, Barry asked for assistance from Augustus Pugin, a leading light of the movement that left its indelible mark on the Victorian era around the world. The design of the interior of the palace and the clock tower are thought to be his work.

LEGO Architecture products features well-known buildings, and the work of important architects Aimed at inspiring future architects, engineers and designers as well as architecture fans around the world, the range contains a booklet featuring step-by-step building instructions that is prefaced by exclusive, archival history, information and photographs of each iconic building, its design origin, its architect and its architectural features.

Lego Big Ben (Set 21013) Availability

The LEGO 21013 Big Ben is available for purchase from June 1 in LEGO brand retail stores, LEGOLAND Stores and online at http://shop.lego.com/. The product is designed for ages 12+ and includes a booklet with facts and history about Big Ben. Recommended retail price is $29.99 or €29.99.

For more information about LEGO Architecture and the Lego Big Ben set visit our Lego Architecture Guide or http://architecture.lego.com/

Lego Architecture is a theme aimed squarely at adults and older Lego fans who appreciate both Modern Architectural Design and Lego construction principles.

The theme uses micro or mini building techniques to recreate miniature models of notable buildings in modern architecture from around the world.

Lego Architecture Sets

2012 Lego Architecture Sets

21013 Big Ben

2011 Lego Architecture Sets

Older Lego Architecture Sets

2008:

2009:

2010:

21006 The White House

The Lego Architecture theme was introduced in 2008, with approximately 5 sets released in 2011. Since 2008 all sets have been created and designed by Chicago architect Adam Reed Tucker.

Within the theme there are two sub-themes; The Landmark Series and the Architect Series

As Lego describes the Lego Architecture theme as follows:

LEGO Architecture celebrates the past, present and future of architecture through the medium of the LEGO Brick. We aim to explore the fascinating worlds of Architecture, Engineering and Construction. Our ambition is to inspire minds of all ages as they learn about the world’s most iconic buildings and structures.

It is a great idea because Lego seems to merge seamlessly with Architecture and so the theme seems to be a natural progression for the company.

The approach taken by Lego has been to present the structures in micro format and so the theme seems to lend itself to Adult collectors rather than younger enthusiasts. The Robie House set for example contains 2276 pieces but sits on a base place that measures only 16.5″ X 7.5″.

Sets are often complicated to construct and can be recommended for ages 16+. This adult focus is also reflected in the price point of the sets. Lego Architectural sets are often very expensive when compared to similarly sized sets in other Lego themes.

A number of the buildings selected for the Lego Architecture series have been replicas of Frank Lloyd Wright’s various designs including Robie House and Falling Water, while other sets have included notable US landmarks and major international building designs such as the Brandenbug Gate and Burj Khalifa.

Each lego Architecture set comes with a booklet explaining the buildings’ significance and contribution to the study of Architecture.

The Official Lego Architecture Site – http://architecture.lego.com/en-us/

The Brick Life

Tag: Lego Architecture

Lego Big Ben – (Set 21013) Lego Architecture