With 11,695 pieces, the newest LEGO Art set 31203 World Map breaks the record once more with the highest piece count in a set in the company’s history, nudging out last year’s 10276 Colosseum by several thousand pieces. Like the Art sets released before, World Map consists mainly of 1×1 round tiles which create the continents and the oceans. The set is built on 40 interconnecting baseplates which can be arranged in 3 different ways to display different portions of the world in the center. However you arrange it, the set is 25.5 in. (65 cm) high and 40.5 in. (104 cm) wide. The World Map will be available from LEGO.com and LEGO Stores globally from June 1, 2021, priced at US $249.99 | CAN $349.99 | UK £229.99, and from other retailers globally starting August 1, 2021.
Be sure to also read our full, hands-on review of the LEGO Art 31203 World Map mosaic, and check out the full press release and images below.
31203 World Map | 11,695 pieces | US $249.99 | CAN $349.99 | UK £229.99 | TBB Review
As far as customization goes, the set gives the builder the option to follow the instructions when building the oceans and create a bathymetric map (showing the depth of the waters) or leave the instructions aside and design a pattern of your own, just like you do in the LEGO DOTS sets.
The World Map set includes brick-built pins which allow the builder to mark places they’ve already visited, or would like to visit in the future. Included in the set is also a white brick-built frame along with two hanging elements. Similar to some of the Art sets released before, like Marvel Studios Iron Man, Andy Warhol’s Marilyn Monroe, and The Beatles, World Map also comes with a soundtrack the builder can listen to while building. The soundtrack features travel stories from Syazwani Baumgartner, Torbjørn C. Pedersen, Dane & Stacey, Ernest White II and Fiorella Groves.
Here’s the official press release from LEGO.
Travel put firmly back on the map with huge new LEGO® Art set
Wanderlusters prepare to be enthralled by the magic of a different sort of map – the new LEGO® Art World Map. This new addition to the LEGO Art collection contains the most pieces ever included in a set in the LEGO Group’s history, with its 11,695 elements allowing builders to immerse themselves in creating a stunning representation of the earth from 2D LEGO tiles.
The new LEGO Art World Map can be reimagined in a number of different ways to express the personality and travel memories or wishes of different builders. Customisable brick-built pins can be placed to mark out destinations already visited or highlight those still on the builder’s bucket list to give this masterpiece a personal twist before it’s proudly displayed.
The set’s building instructions show how the 40 interconnecting base plates are divided into three sections for the build that can be arranged in one of three different ways, allowing you to place your favourite part of the world in the centre of your map.
The oceans on this 25.5 in. (65cm) high and 40.5 in. (104 cm) wide masterpiece can also be tailored to be a true expression of each builder’s style: the tiles can be arranged in a manner inspired by bathymetric mapping of the ocean floor by following the building instructions, or builders can express themselves more freely and creatively by arranging the tiles as they wish and exploring different patterns and motifs instead.
The new LEGO Art set offers adults and their families a challenging and immersive building experience to help them relax and recharge as they reminisce about holiday memories of the past or start planning future excursions. An accompanying soundtrack featuring stories from travel experts has been curated to immerse listeners in their passion for exploration as they build. The soundtrack features travellers’ tales from bloggers and adventurers including Torbjørn C. Pedersen, the first person to visit every country in the world in one unbroken journey without flying, and blogger Syazwani Baumgartner who has experienced some of the most remote places on the planet.
The new set comes with a coffee-table style instruction booklet, a white brick-built frame and two hanging elements to make the map easy to display, take down and rebuild whenever the mood strikes.
Fiorella Groves, Creative Lead for LEGO Art, commented: “We know that our adult fans love to travel, but many haven’t been able to do so for over a year now. We thought that there was no better way of helping explore the world while relaxing in the comfort of their home than by allowing them to build, rebuild, plan and reminisce through building. We hope the LEGO Art World Map will inspire new adventures in some, and help others relive and celebrate wonderful travel memories from the past.”
The LEGO® Art World Map (31203) will be available from LEGO.com and LEGO Stores globally from 1st June 2021 priced from [EUR 249.99/$249.99/229.99 GBP/399.99 AUD/349.99 CAD] and will become available from other retailers globally from 1st August 2021.
More information can be found by visiting http://www.lego.com/world-map.
Largest most boring set ever maybe…
I think it might have been more interesting to do bluescale bathymetric on the oceans and greyscale or even natural color topography on the landmasses.
Giant Lego Risk on the wall is floating around my brain when I see this.
@Nick
After building the set, a game of Risk would feel like a fast-paced wham-bam smashfest…
I made a custom mosaic maker where you can make other maps and arts using pieces from this LEGO World Map. Let me know if you like it. Have fun : -))