sonicstarlight

Thanks for the shout out! I'm also going to quote myself from a previous topic. Sometimes I start with the thought of a building type I want to do, and sometimes I start with an architectural style I want to do. For example, I knew I wanted to make an Art Deco building and for me the logical function was to make a movie theater. On the flip side, I wanted to make a courthouse and that made me study Neo Classical for the architectural style. Very often I modify existing sets to make them into modulars - Medieval Market Village, The Burrow, Bike Shop and Cafe - so the style is determined but I want to give them a new function. For example, my bike shop and cafe became a jewelry store and pizzeria with apartments above. Once I have the basic idea of the building in mind, I then decide the size. I don't like to be limited to just 32-studs or 16-studs, so sometimes I go over that (my courthouse is 64-studs and my theater is 40-studs) and occasionally I go under (my bike shop and cafe mods are 14-studs each). I also think about the number of floors, either two tall floors or three standard floors for me as I try to design buildings that look at home with the official ones. A few other things I always keep in mind: 1) Look at real-world examples. Many people in this topic already talked about this, and I agree completely. Take pictures of buildings in your neighborhood you are inspired by and do searched online, maybe saving pictures to a folder. I don't like to copy one singular building too literally, so I try and take bits and pieces from many while still having it look like a cohesive package. 2) It's all about the details. Modular buildings are essentially rectangular boxes, so the goal to to make them look like something more. Don't be afraid to use depth in your facades - mine can be three-studs deep at times - and look for other ways to break things up (roof lines, setbacks, balconies, etc). I've seen just as many builds that have too much detail as too little, so finding the balance it key and it isn't just about tacking things onto a wall that don't make sense architecturally. 3) Don't force it. Sometimes you need to walk away for inspiration to hit and other times you need to just tear the thing down and start over. For example, my courthouse was originally going to be 32-studs wide and I had a whole front facade for it constructed before I hated the way it looked and tore it down to make it wider. You might have and idea that sounds good in your head but it just doesn't translate in real life. One last note: I always build in bricks and don't use LDD at all. This is purely my preference and I have a lot of respect for anyone that can create a digital model first and then order the parts to make it real. For me, I can more quickly prototype things in real bricks (I initially just build in any color I have and then go back later and get the bricks in the final color scheme) but I also have a large collection now to pull from. LDD is definitely the cheaper way to go, especially if you don't have the largest collection.

I agree with this completely (and think snaillad is the king at doing this style right). I don't think the proper research went into what buildings of this era really looked like and instead they decided to add some curves and vibrant colors and call it a day. The tan portion makes no sense and its detailing completely clashes with the diner and tower portion. I miss the grandeur of the early modulars. Starting with the Parisian Restaurant, which I did like a lot, every modular has been either left part of the side open or was a combination of two or more buildings. Compare the Brick Bank with the Grand Emporium or this set with the Green Grocer and they just feel so unsubstantial. Yes, I also dislike the random move from the classic smiley faces, and yes I have no idea what to do with another car (thankfully less ugly than the Palace Cinema limo, but then again what isn't), and yes I don't like this new trend of putting random studs on the sidewalks now. But the trend that really gets me down is just the continued shrinking of the envelope. I want another full 32 studs devoted to just one building again.

I haven't posted in a while (nor have I built in a while, sadly) but here is how I go about it. Sometimes I start with the thought of a building type I want to do, and sometimes I start with an architectural style I want to do. For example, I knew I wanted to make an Art Deco building and for me the logical function was to make a movie theater. On the flip side, I wanted to make a courthouse and that made me study Neo Classical for the architectural style. Very often I modify existing sets to make them into modulars - Medieval Market Village, The Burrow, Bike Shop and Cafe - so the style is determined but I want to give them a new function. For example, my bike shop and cafe became a jewelry store and pizzeria with apartments above. Once I have the basic idea of the building in mind, I then decide the size. I don't like to be limited to just 32-studs or 16-studs, so sometimes I go over that (my courthouse is 64-studs and my theater is 40-studs) and occasionally I go under (my bike shop and cafe mods are 14-studs each). I also think about the number of floors, either two tall floors or three standard floors for me as I try to design buildings that look at home with the official ones. A few other things I always keep in mind: 1) Look at real-world examples. Many people in this topic already talked about this, and I agree completely. Take pictures of buildings in your neighborhood you are inspired by and do searched online, maybe saving pictures to a folder. I don't like to copy one singular building too literally, so I try and take bits and pieces from many while still having it look like a cohesive package. 2) It's all about the details. Modular buildings are essentially rectangular boxes, so the goal to to make them look like something more. Don't be afraid to use depth in your facades - mine can be three-studs deep at times - and look for other ways to break things up (roof lines, setbacks, balconies, etc). I've seen just as many builds that have too much detail as too little, so finding the balance it key and it isn't just about tacking things onto a wall that don't make sense architecturally. 3) Don't force it. Sometimes you need to walk away for inspiration to hit and other times you need to just tear the thing down and start over. For example, my courthouse was originally going to be 32-studs wide and I had a whole front facade for it constructed before I hated the way it looked and tore it down to make it wider. You might have and idea that sounds good in your head but it just doesn't translate in real life. One last note: I always build in bricks and don't use LDD at all. This is purely my preference and I have a lot of respect for anyone that can create a digital model first and then order the parts to make it real. For me, I can more quickly prototype things in real bricks (I initially just build in any color I have and then go back later and get the bricks in the final color scheme) but I also have a large collection now to pull from. LDD is definitely the cheaper way to go, especially if you don't have the largest collection. Good luck!

It's ok. It still feels very clumsy in the detailing, as did the DO. I don't like how much the textured walls stick out on the ground floor and then suddenly ends at the arches, even if I know why it has to be like that. I also don't like on the second floor how only one side of the corner will have that raked texture and the other side won't - surely they could have found a more elegant way to do that. The proportions are oddly stumpy as a whole and definitely not as grand as a Neo Classical building should be. Gringotts Bank from the Diagon Alley set was actually better detailed in my option. The laundromat part of the facade is actually my favorite part, and I have no qualms with the two businesses sharing a block - happens all the time in New York anyway. I've been waiting for those sand green windows for years now, so that it easily the best thing for me.

1. Green Grocer - Still the best looking modular in my opinion, and the first to strike the right balance between outside and inside details. 2. Fire Brigade - The only modular that looks about as good from the back as it does the front. I'm American so I have a certain fondness for this one. 3. Parisian Restaurant - I like that it helps break up the block a bit and for a small footprint there is a lot going on. Huge improvement over the two entries before it. 4. Cafe Corner - I'm still really fond of the one that started it all. Not having any interiors is a bit of a downer, but the exteriors are still some of the best in the series, if not the best for me. 5. Grand Emporium - It looks great sitting on the shelf, but it is a rather uninteresting build with the top two floors being nearly identical. 6. Pet Shop - Two unique builds, each interesting in their own way. It was the start of the trend to make the modulars a bit more like the Creator houses (pins connecting floors, 1x1 rounds for flowers), which I wasn't thrilled with. 7. Town Hall - Wacky proportions, elevator is just a regular tile rather than anything designed, and ugly interior details. No interesting building techniques besides maybe the skylights. 8. Market Street - Definitely the odd man out, but for an entry level set it isn't bad. That strange, mostly useless lot next to the main building brings it down. 9. Palace Cinema - I hate everything about this one. Worst car in Lego history, stickers, bare-bones interiors are poorly done, and exteriors are clumsy as heck. Waiting until I have the Detective's Office before passing judgement, but based on the pics it will probably fall between the Pet Shop and Town Hall, closer to the bottom than the top.

The Town Hall sort of ruined this illusion by including a computer with a flat screen monitor. There have been other details that aren't 100% historically accurate to being pre-war, but that was by far the most blatant.

Wonderful! I like seeing something more modest from you, as much as I am completely obsessed with your trademark Art Deco style. The building itself is extremely charming, but I'm also really impressed with the landscaping and all the other little details going on outside. The various paving patterns are excellent, and those benches are so simple yet appropriate. As always, huge fan and I'll try and get this on BTT tomorrow. Edit: As promised, blogged on Brick Town Talk!

I completely agree with that. The Grand Emporium is the least interesting to build, but the final result really looks the part. Building the PC was enjoyable enough - it's just that when you're all done, it somehow doesn't feel like the same sort of accomplishment.

I agree with the majority of your issues with the set - the PC is easily the worst in the modular line. I have the feeling that the general consensus on this set was that it wasn't as strong as the rest, hence the fact Jamie has returned to being the official modular spokesman over Astrid. I think there was also some junior designer that helped with the PC - hopefully this was a one-and-done contract. I bought one because at this point I can't imagine having a hole in my modular collection after starting with the Cafe Corner, but I refuse to buy an additional one even thought I would love to have all that dark tan as I don't want to encourage more sets of this quality. Thankfully the PR was a great return to form.

In my opinion, this is your best one yet. The ground floor in particular is absolutely stunning - so many subtle details with color and texture. The apartments interiors are also great in terms of layout and furnishing. As always, it's all just very clean and refined. Blogged on Brick Town Talk.

This one is sort of sitting in the middle in terms of where I would rank the modulars. Definitely some nice things going on, and I appreciate the attention to detail in the interiors even if I could take or leave the overall narrative described in the video. I am now starting to get concerned that the "grandness" of old may be gone - with half of this only being 2 stories and the PR not taking up the full baseplate, I really want the next modular to feel heavy and solid. Still, this is a no-brainer in terms of purchase.

I like this a lot more than the Palace Cinema, but it lacks a certain elegance that the Parisian Restaurant has. I do like that both this and the PR are taking steps to break up the streetwall a bit - having a two-story section is great. It does seem that the modulars are trending towards smaller builds, though, and I would rather the money be spent on the outsides rather than the interiors.

The first floor of the PR was my absolute favorite part of any official modular build and the entire set is neck-and-neck with the GG as my favorite in the series. Hopefully no one is on the fence about that set - just get it.

I don't usually comment on digital models, but this is some amazing work! I am especially impressed with the little details - those benches and potted plants are both really clever. Can't wait to see anything built.

I have a real love/hate relationship with brick bricks. They seem like such a great way to add some texture to a build, but I have never been able to find a good use for them until now. To me they only work as single rows or columns - the way the texture tiles when you do anything more than that just doesn't work for me. That first floor of the bike shop was the single thing I kept returning to and second guessing myself on, but now that it's done and I'm used to it I'm starting to warm up to brick bricks. Thanks for the kind words and the blog post - you have a great site. Thanks also for those tutorials on how to make instructions, which is something I always felt was overwhelming but now am seriously considering looking into. Only 1, and I don't think buying multiple copies of this set would necessarily be the best way to go as there really aren't a lot of standard bricks for all the walls - easily the biggest chunk of what I had to order to finish it. The Bike Shop is an amazing parts set for modulars in general, though, so there is no harm in getting a second (or third).