If the first thing that pops into your mind when thinking of dystopian futures is flat-pack furniture, well, you must be Cecilie Fritzvold. She decided to bring a touch of Scandinavian flair to the colossal cyberpunk city of New Hashima. You’d be forgiven for thinkin that Swedish minimalism and might not mesh that well with the often gritty cyberpunk aesthetic, but the concept works remarkably well. Little touches like the Japanese signage and neon decor make it look right at home.
I’ve said it before, but I love being able to travel vicariously through LEGO models. The Architecture series has a lot of the famous landmarks covered, but for the more day-to-day infrastructure, we need to turn to people like Justus M. Having visited the town of Bordeaux in south-western France, he took it upon himself to recreate some of the old architecture. Having been to France (albeit not to Bordeaux itself) quite a lot as a kid, I think I can say he’s nailed it! You can quite easily picture someone sitting outside with a coffee and a croissant. It’s enough to make me want to go back there. Magnifique, Justus!
If I say “Check out this twisty building by Escher”, you’ll probably picture upside-down stairs and ceilings that turn into floors. But MC Escher didn’t build with LEGO bricks (probably). Instead, I’m talking about Jakob Escher. Now I don’t know that the inside of this building doesn’t have staircases that lead only to themselves, but I do know that I would love to live here! This is the latest in a series of builds in Jakob’s own galaxy far, far away. There are hints of Star Wars here – Kamino and Endor spring to mind – but also some real-world inspiration, and heaps of creativity. The colours in particular remind me of Oriental architecture. The geometry is what really gives this the wow factor though; circular living quarters connected by trapezoidal corridors. MC Escher was renowned for his use of mathematics in his artwork… I think this creation would definitely have piqued his interest!
This swell house is, well, pretty swell! It comes courtesy of Pan Noda, and is as beautiful as it looks unstable. Did the architect have one too many shandies while designing this one? Or perhaps the building company had the instructions upside down? I can’t help noticing a lot of wizard’s wands used as decoration, so it could be that it’s magic holding this house up. I do wonder how such a property would be described by an optimistic estate agent… “Quaint countryside house, four floors with excellent views, and in a quiet neighbourhood. Property includes a lush garden with rock features. Unrestored property with period charm.”
To be fair, I’d be tempted to move in, albeit very carefully. Thankfully if you’re worried about dropping stuff off the side, there are plenty of nets hidden in this house. This cutaway shows exactly where: they’re used to give the walls their curves!
This LEGO build from Qian Yj awakens warm feelings from my childhood, of summer visits to my grandma’s house. From spending time with grandma, to watching TV together, and even having some sweets–this build hits all the memories! Not only does the build feature nostalgia, but check out the textures around the scene too. It’s rich in diverse textures and colors, such as the tile work of the patio floor. I really enjoy the plant life around the place, particularly the vines and lattice with a cute cat perched atop it. Of course, one of the most delightful parts usage I appreciate about the build is the use of the modified plate with double bearings as the roof tiles. Check out the rest of the build’s details and see what cool things you can find.
Builder Sarah Beyer presents a lovely modern LEGO cottage on a peaceful island. The cottage utilizes the shaping of the island rather well with its tiers. There’s a balcony and deck to enjoy the sights from, and plenty of plant life to keep a gardener happy. The cottage itself features multi-colored additions that frame the Falu red central portion of the building. This color of paint originates from Falun, Sweden and is most famous for appearing on cottage and other pastoral buildings like barns. Ever wonder why barns are typically red? This is why! This color can be found on many cottages in and around Sweden, and this LEGO one is fine addition to the Falu red legacy. The cottage has a sharp and clean design, and were it real I’d love to visit! Of course, to take a small tour, head over to Sarah’s feed to see the detailed interior.
Builder Deus Otiosus gives us a wonderful island scene of LEGO buccaneers. Pirates make off with a chest full of treasure, heading across the beach to their waiting ship just off the island. It’s a pretty usual day for a band of exploring pirates, and these pirates navigate all the dangers with experience. The build itself is something to behold! The trees are well done with some flexibility for that leaning and swaying of palms. I like the sculpting on those ancient statues on the beach hearkening to LEGO minifigs. The whole ancient ruin is so well crafted there’s a sense of history about it. And of course the pirate ship is just amazing with those curving greens and flex-tubing for the rolled up sails. Overall this is a spectacular pirating build with plenty to explore for curious pirates and adventurers.
It’s Christmas time again! Well, nearly. On October 7th (October 3rd for VIPs) you can pick up a copy of this year’s expansion to the Winter Village Collection, Icons 10308 Holiday Main Street for US $99.99 | CAN $129.99 | UK £89.99! This 1514 piece set is designed for up to four people to work on it at once – a nice way to bring folks together for the holidays. But will it be any fun for them? Read on to see what we think of this year’s retail therapy!
The LEGO Group provided The Brothers Brick with an early copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews.
Click to read the full hands-on review
While this section of downtown by EMazingbrix has definitely seen better days, it certainly can’t have seen better LEGO part usage! I’m absolutely in love with the front door of that apartment building, utilizing a 1×1 bracket for a hinge plate, and a white rubber band to frame the window. The steps leading down from the door are fantastic, as are all the textures on the buildings walls and roof. And the blotches of moss along the sidewalk and structures provide an excellent run-down feel. But my favorite bit of this build has got to be the roof of the repair shop, with its latticed slopes poking out the top. The shop sports a clean finish compared to its neighbor thanks to some superb use of sloped bricks laid on their sides.
There are a lot of important questions facing the world right now. One that keeps coming up in particular is “Who’s hungry?” Steven Stelter has a suggestion: Maybe you should head to Culver’s for a burger and shake combo. This brick-built beauty beacons you from the highway to delight in the realistic ductwork on the roof, the colorful brickwork, and the custom stickers that ensure you know just where you’ll be blowing that diet of yours.
With the creation of the new settlement of Queenston, Ayrlego has begun to populate the site with all sorts of colonial LEGO constructions. The latest of these additions is the East Terran Trade Company office and warehouse, and boy does it look spiffy! First, there’s that palette heavy in tans, browns, and greens, which do so much in conveying the area’s affluence, resources, and even climate. Vegetation plays a key role here as well. With the unkempt wilds right next to the building, Queenston must still be coming together. Yet the climbing vines along the walls of the structure give the building age, showing that it was likely repurposed from some other intent. Finally, Ayrlego never skimps on the structural detailing, like the bare wood beams and that perfect ceramic roof. But the high point of the build for me has got to be the two-piece bell in the top of the white tower.
This LEGO scene by Josh speaks of gentle breezes and a relaxing atmosphere to rest. Take a moment to appreciate everything on display here. Vibrant colors are everywhere, from the coral beneath the water to the bright blue house and the greenery surrounding it. And there’s wildlife everywhere! Some crabs hang out underwater while a rabbit explores the verdant foliage. Butterflies and a cute little bumblebee visit the blooming flower patch, and a green duck lazily floats by the house and reeds. Standing tall over all of it is the great living tree with it’s branches spread wide to offer shade to all below. But not too much shade, or those flowers and vines atop the house would have trouble growing! This is a lovely build with cool techniques in the suspended water layer and the curving roof. Oh, look–a blue bird!
