If you follow TBB regularly, you’ve no doubt encountered many articles spotlighting the Iron Builder competition, like our interview last month with the participants in the most recent battle. You might be wondering, how does one get to challenge Iron Builder? One path is to prove your skills in the Iron Forge, a January tradition now in its 7th year. As with the Iron Builder contests, a seed part is chosen that must be used in multiple builds. Only for the Forge, builders only have one week per part before a new seed element is chosen. There is no prize for winning beyond the chance to compete against an Iron Builder, but several Iron Forge champions went on to become LEGO set designers, including Maxx Davidson and last year’s winner Dominique Boeynaems. Glory aside, it’s an amazing showcase of creativity and inspired parts use.

The first round, open to all, just concluded, which featured the minifig chair as the seed part. Here are the to-scoring creations from the 20 builders advancing to the next round.

Grant Davis integrates the seed part in multiple ways into this elegant cafe scene. The obvious spot is for the diner stools that flip the chairs on their back, but chairs are also used for the espresso machine and door panel. The biggest flex of all, however, is the sign which uses LEGO rubber bands and string to form the lettering and lines.

Erin Dempsey depicts a tale as old as time with chairs cleverly serving as both the rose’s bud and fallen petals. This build showcases how sometimes context can transform a piece even when it’s not connected to a build at all.

Peter offers an eye-opening take on NPU with a dozens of black chairs serving as both lashes and mascara brush.

Jule doesn’t need luck to impress with this winning build that continues the Botanicals tradition of innovative vase design.

Cameron also finds inspiration in nature with this yellow bloom made from a  dozen chairs.

Cab ~ takes us back to the Jurassic with chairs deftly used to shape this T-Rex’s face. (The builder also serendipitously showcases the round 2 seed part with the stolen egg!)

FS Leinad erects an impressive cottage with chairs serving as both roofing material, gables, and stones.

Owen shellfishly pinches a win with this impressive red lobster. Cheesy biscuits not included.

Beta Brick spins up an impressive paddlewheel boat postcard with chairs pulling.

Brickrad shuffles the deck in their favors, using chairs as both cards and clothes.

Xiheng Xu makes NPU look like peanuts with this adorable tribute to Snoopy with many red chairs on the doghouse and a single white chair brilliantly deployed for the beagle’s nose. The best NPU though has to be little Woodstock.

Wascally builder Bas van Houwelingen creates a compact Elmer Fudd who is full of chairacter.

Harry offers a honking great Untitled Goose Build. Just look at all oof those objects ready to be knocked down by that troublemaking goose with its chair wings!

Grant Decker knows which way the wind is blowing and brought his A-game with this impressive microscale village. In addition to the wonderful rooftops and windmill, chair backs make up the rippling river.

Jake Forbes (hey, that’s me!) hits the slopes with this chairlift. This was the first idea I had when seeing the seed part, and I’m really happy with how it turned out. Seed part aside, the sprues for the chairlifts is my favorite detail.

brickprincessbuttercup also chills with a winter theme offering this elegant little snowplow.

Margit makes sure all the pieces are in place with this impressive Mr. Potato Head who incorporates chairs in three colors across his goofy frame.

Greenarj shares a chilly chum who uses chairs for both wings and belly.

Birds of a feather get posted together, so next up is this impressive Cockatoo who looks anything but crestfallen for helping builder BriKKs advance to round two.

Finally, PriXard eagerly advances thanks to this busy beaver foreman who uses chairs in three colors to get the job done.

Each builder created at least one other build, with some creating as many as 9 builds using the seed parts, so be sure to follow the creators to see them all. Round 2 is currently under way. We’ll be back next week to share the highlights!