Luke (cathedralofbricks) has enriched the castle community this year with incredible builds that blend gothic detail and fairy tale romanticism on an epic scale. Last time, Luke tackled an iconic location from Middle Earth, but for his latest, Luke builds from imagination and tells the tale of a newly coronated king who has commissioned an “eternal spring” – a fountain that to the people’s eyes might as well be magic in how it harnesses the power of nature.
The centerpiece fountain sits atop an impressive mosaic floor that blends SNOT techniques and tiles. One of Luke’s focuses for this model was arches, with different techniques used throughout the build.
Technic treads work serve as roof tiles providing a nice contrast from the bley walls. Stained glass windows employ familiar techniques, enhanced by Luke’s knack for gothic details. From this high vantage, you can also appreciate the cracks in the steps below – even a caste this grand isn’t immune to wear and tear.
My favorite technique of the build is the climbing vines in dark red that incorporate an octopus at the base. Luke first tested the technique on a small vignette, but it looks even better when the vines go on and on at this immense scale.
To learn more about how Luke started building LEGO castles as an adult, you can read our interview with the builder from earlier this year, fresh off his victories in the Summer Joust competition.