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/

The Lego Architecture Fallingwater set is inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s masterpiece of design and construction that is a true landmark in the history of building design and has inspired Architects for generations.

Designed and built in the 1930’s the building is situated on the side of a hill and incorporates a naturally flowing waterfall into the layout of the house. The house utilizes strong horizontal and vertical lines yet still seems to blend seamlessly into the natural landscape.

The Lego Fallingwater set is part of the Lego Architecture theme, aimed at older builders and presented in a micro scale.

Lego Architecture Fallingwater – Details

Lego Set Number: 21005
Pieces: 811
Minifigures: N/A
Price: US $99.99 / £74.99
Ages: 16+
Released: 2009
Theme: Lego Architecture
Our Rating: 4/5
Best Prices: Amazon have the set on discount with Free Shipping. UK residents can find it at Amazon.co.uk

Fallingwater – A Closer Look

Sometimes referred to as Kaufmann Residence, Fallingwater is a home designed by American architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1935 in rural southwesternPennsylvania for the Kaufmann family.

The house was build over a period of three years, from 1936-1939 and the Kaufmann family used it as a holiday home until 1963 wherein the home was donated to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy and opened to the public as a museum a year later.

In 1991 the American Institute of Architects named the house the “best all-time work of American architecture”.

Lego Architecture Fallingwater Set

The set is a beauty.

As far as the Lego Architecture sets go this is widely regarded as THE set that all future releases will be measured against.

With just over 800 pieces this is one of the larger Lego Architecture models but even so it measures 10″ long, 5″ wide and 4.5″ high. Nevertheless it is a solid set and would look great on a desk or bookshelf as a display piece.

The instruction booklet, like all Lego Architecture set manuals includes a guide to the Architect, the design and construction of the building as well as 100 pages of instructions.

Building time is longer than you would expect for such a small piece, about 5 hours all told.

The final model feels solid and is certainly a talking point. The simple act of sitting down to build this set as per the instructions is a lesson in Architecture. Somehow putting each tiny piece together makes the set builder connect with the design features of the building, so much more than than simply looking at a picture could.

Building a lego Architecture set gets the mind working; “Why did he do it this way, “I didn’t notice this feature”.

The set is perfect for Lego fans who are showing a budding interest in Architecture. The 16+ age recommendation is a rough guide only and kids with experience in building Lego models from instructions who show interest will appreciate the challenge.

Value For Money: Small and Expensive but highly unique 4/5
Play Experience: Good build experience and great for Architecture buffs – 5/5
Pieces & Minifigures: Lots of small plates in tan & trans-clear 3/5
Value For Kids: Not for kids but ideal for older Lego fans and Architects In Training 4/5

The Brick Life Rating

Lego Architecture Fallingwater Gallery

Lego Falling Water Video

Lego Architecture Fallingwater

Open to the public since 1963, this masterpiece exemplifies Frank Lloyd Wright’s organic architectural style by intimately merging man with the surrounding landscape.

This highly-detailed LEGO model, co-developed and designed by architect Adam Reed Tucker, captures all of the distinctive features that make Fallingwater an architectural landmark.

The assembled Fallingwater model stands 10″ (256 mm) wide on a gray base with printed name label and includes a booklet with facts about the building, its construction and its history.

The Lego Architecture Fallingwater set is a striking and imaginative display for your desk, bookshelf or mantelpiece.

Where To Purchase

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The Brick Life

Category: Lego Architecture

Lego Big Ben – (Set 21013) Lego Architecture