Archinect - News

Legos, architecture, and miniature worlds

2019-08-28T18:52:00-04:00

Back in 2008, Lego launched its series of architectural kits with structures such as the Empire State Building, Fallingwater, the Villa Savoye, and countless others. "Architects operate in grids and if you analyze these, in pen and paper over blueprints, then you can derive the best translation into Lego bricks," said Rok Zgalin Kobe, senior designer at Lego, in a CNN article.

Kobe talked about how the Lego version of a building is not meant to only represent that real structure, but it should also, "tell a story about how it came to be built." He illustrated an example of the Empire State Building model and talked about how the real one was built using large steel girders. From this picture, the Lego version also has its own "replica of the steel skeleton inside the building," CNN reports.

Legos have also attracted a wide range of "superfans" who go to great lengths to recreate works of architecture completely by themselves. CNN writes how Tom Alphin, the author of The Lego Archit...

Bjarke Ingels' recent TED Talk discusses architectural forms of the future, the LEGO House, and plans to face climate change with architecture

2019-06-05T14:30:00-04:00

Whether you're a fan or not of the influential Danish architect, Bjarke Ingels has designed some of the most distinct architectural structures. Aiming to push the limits of structural design through materials and sustainability approaches, Ingels spoke at a recent TED conference in April sharing his team's most recent projects, discussed the LEGO House, and his plan for future forms in architecture.

With his most recent project teetering on ambitious design approaches and utopian plans, Ingels shares his approach to Floating Cities with the audience. He speaks of creating sustainable cities that can adapt to climate change by designing buoyant modular "coastal additions," each having their own unique coastal landscape. As ambitious as this may sound, Ingels' focus and enthusiastic approach to these human-made ecosystems excited the crowd and provided a sense of possibility.

"...if the whole world woke up tomorrow and became carbon-neutral over night, there are still island nation...

Here's your chance to win a family-fun overnight stay at the LEGO House

2017-11-08T15:44:00-05:00

For the hardcore LEGO-loving families out there, this one's for you. Airbnb and LEGO are currently running a global contest asking one question: In a response of 50-500 characters, “If you and your family had an infinite supply of LEGO bricks, what would you build?”

The grand prize? The winner and their family (or up to three guests) will be flown out to the new LEGO House in Billund, Denmark for a free one-night stay from November 24-25, 2017.

Photo credit: LEGO House.

The winning guests will embark on an interactive journey through the LEGO House, which Bjarke Ingels designed. The host, LEGO Master Builder Jamie, will lead a tour of the building — including the Tree of Creativity, the Masterpiece Gallery, and the interactive Experience Zones where you can create your own LEGO films, robotic cars, and more.

Tree of Creativity. Photo: Iwan Baan.

Photo: Iwan Baan.

Red Zone, featuring the LEGO Brick Builder Water Fall. Photo: Iwan Baan.

The final stop is a bedroom “floating” in a pool ...

More photos of BIG's new LEGO House

2017-10-03T19:20:00-04:00

LEGO fans of all ages are flocking to the BIG-designed LEGO House since it opened last week in the heart of Billund, Denmark. The 130,000 square-foot building offers visitors plenty to explore: LEGO art galleries, color-coded experience zones, and the public LEGO Square — which includes restaurants, a cafe, a conference space, and of course, a LEGO Store. Want to see more of the new building? BIG shared the latest photos, taken by architectural photographer extraordinaire Iwan Baan.

Photo: Iwan Baan.

Take a look at BIG's newly opened LEGO House

2017-09-29T15:29:00-04:00

LEGO fans, you have a new Mecca, and it's in Billund, Denmark: the Bjarke Ingels-designed LEGO House finally celebrated its grand opening, four years after it was first announced.

LEGO House Grand Opening - Interiors from Archinect on Vimeo.

The building consists of 21 white 'bricks stacked' on top of each other and hosts three restaurants, a conference room, a LEGO Square, a store (wanna have your own miniature version at home?) as well as experience zones with play areas and a gallery of art work created with the company's iconic product on 130,000 square-feet. The outdoor area also sports several interconnected terraces for various functions and playgrounds. (Check out a drone video of the building under construction here.)

Final touch-ups before the grand opening

The experience zones are divided in four different color-coded sections which, according to LEGO's announcement, each represents a special aspect of play and learning: "Red is for creative skills, Blue is for cognitive ...

BIG's "Lego House" to be released as a real-life Lego set

2017-09-05T13:03:00-04:00

In the meta news category, Bjarke Ingels' full-scale "Lego House," inspired by the titular rectangular building blocks and slated to open later this month in Denmark, now apparently has a miniature version in the form of real Legos that will be available for sale only at the Lego House. According to The BrickFan, the official Lego Architecture site briefly posted these pictures of the set before taking them down:

Here's a picture of the actual Lego House for comparison:

Image: YouTube

LEGO releases drone footage of Bjarke Ingels-designed LEGO House

2017-08-28T15:40:00-04:00

The building made of 21 giant LEGO-style "bricks" and designed by Bjarke Ingels is opening to the public on September 28th. Officially called the LEGO House, the 130,000 square-foot building will offer "play zones," a gallery of LEGO masterpieces, stores, conference space, and three restaurants, one of which will feature robots serving up a menu made of LEGO bricks. In preparation for its grand opening, LEGO has released drone footage of the nearly completed building. Check out the official video below!

Lego House in Billund, Denmark, begins construction by laying giant Lego brick–shaped foundation stones

2014-08-21T14:11:00-04:00

This week the first six oversize Lego bricks were laid for the foundation of the Lego House in Billund, Denmark, the Lego Group’s hometown. Designed by BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group, the architecture of the Lego House is based on—what else but?—the iconic shape of the Lego brick.

Previously: Design for LEGO House, designed by BIG, unveiled today

Design for LEGO House, designed by BIG, unveiled today

2013-06-05T13:30:00-04:00

The LEGO Group today revealed the design of the experience center “The LEGO House”. The center, which will be built in Denmark, illustrates the systematic creativity of LEGO bricks and is expected to attract 250,000 visitors annually.

UPDATE: Lego House in Billund, Denmark, begins construction by laying giant Lego brick–shaped foundation stones