On 8/11/2021 at 3:20 PM, Herky said:

For those who have been in this since day 1, there was a contest one time where people voted on many different buildings that were to be made into sets.  Eames house was one, Habitat 67 (not sure if that is the right name) was another, and 30 plus other buildings.  The habitat one actually won.  I have never seen an update on this at all.  It is also why, early on, you see some skipped numbers in the sets.  Those numbers were earmarked for these winners.  I have no idea what happened to this whole thing.  I guess they scrapped it, but it sure would be nice to revisit and maybe someone take up the mantle to champion those sets and get us back to real architecture and not just landmarks and skylines.  

Yeah, I heard about the Habitat '67 rumour, too, and that would have been amazing. I also saw photos of a model on it at some point, but that might as well have been a MOC, although it was stylized as a set.

  On 8/11/2021 at 4:18 PM, DBlegonerd7 said:

But you may notice some old Architecture sets, like the original Empire State Buildin,  are, well, a bit basic and bland. I love how the designers remake the Empire State Buiding MORE detailed.

Yes, and I agree that was a great remake that really added something new, as was the Guggenheim and the Burj Khalifa (although, the old landmark models have their own charm too). The White House was probably the least necessary remake to me, as I don't think it added much (albeit still being a beautiful model, of course, but which isn't?).

  On 8/11/2021 at 4:18 PM, DBlegonerd7 said:

That’s why I would like to see some remake Architecture sets with details a bit more.

I do, however, not necessarily need the models to get all too much bigger. The Empire State is kind of at the top end for me, both in parts count and size, for the Architecture series and I can't see the Effeil Tower to be built that much different without making it huge (though, I might get surprised). But I agree that other buildings might be a good target, like the Sydney Opera, where there's still quite a lot of room between the small one we have and the huge Expert model. But other models, like Willis or Hancock Tower are rather unlikely to be remade since they just don't fall into the new Architecture product policy anymore, which I doubt will ever change much. The days of models of genuine architectural interest are simply over and I don't think they are likely to ever come back.

  On 8/12/2021 at 12:30 AM, KevinMD said:

Having a ban of religious buildings doesn’t help things in my mind.  There are some fantastic European / Asian temple designs we’re missing out on.

Oh, definitely! That policy is a huge thorn in my side. I would love to see some great sacred architecture as LEGO sets. I can understand that LEGO wants to avoid that minefield. But as an 18+ series one might also expect the company and its customers to be able to appreciate churches and temples as artefacts of cutlural heritage without endorsing religions. It doesn't need to be a model of Hagia Sophia right away.

It’s pretty clear that there is only going to be one Architecture set this year.  That’s not great.

 The one thing I will say is that at least they’re not churning out more of those rubbish skylines.  Those are simply for money making purposes - cheap enough to not be seen as too expensive after a visit to a city.  

I’d personally be in favour of more large sets - I picked up the Empire State specifically to go with my Tower Bridge, Sydney Opera House, and Taj Mahal from the Creator Expert line.  It now looks rather smaller than it did when I built it.

Unfortunately I agree that the true architectural interest days are gone, without a major rehash of the theme.  The only way I can realistically see it happening would a makeover into two subcategories - a sort of tourist section and an architectural interest one.  Just my thoughts on the matter.  

Actually, thinking about it, could a makeover be the reason for there being only one architecture set this year?

  On 8/23/2021 at 11:09 PM, Vilhelm22 said:

The only way I can realistically see it happening would a makeover into two subcategories - a sort of tourist section and an architectural interest one.  Just my thoughts on the matter. 

Interestingly that is what was done back in the day, when the series was separated into the Landmark (e.g. Brandenburg Gate, Big Ben,...) and Architect (e.g. Farnsworth House, Villa Savoye,...) lines. Although that separation wasn't advertized that hugely and it's not entirely clear by what rules it was governed, but you could see it being explained in the building instructions.

  On 8/23/2021 at 11:09 PM, Vilhelm22 said:

Actually, thinking about it, could a makeover be the reason for there being only one architecture set this year?

I doubt it, though. I'm really not counting on LEGO reorienting back into the old philosophy of the series. If anything, I fear they'll rather continue making the models bigger and fusing it with the Creator Expert landmark line, given that the "Creator Expert" label is supposed to be phased out anyway. The old series was somewhat of a bold move and one of the earliest attempts to garner "serious" interest from dedicated "adults" (it was THE dedicated 18+ series you could say), but it was doing so by using a very specific target interest, sparked by Adam Reed Tucker's own passions.

But while LEGO now realizes they have an adult home deco market and are squeezing it as much as they can, I think they also know that the mainstream appeal of tourist attractions beats the niche market of architecture afficionados by far. Today's adults largely want clever building techniques and icons they recognize, be those the beloved 80s pop-culture heroes they grew up with or the beautiful buildings they visited (or want to visit some day) in their holidays. One of my top priorities for any possible US trip in the future would certainly be Fallingwater, but I doubt many people even know what that is. Which isn't to say they're wrong, simply that it's a niche interest. And I don't think LEGO is doing niche too much today.

Fortunately, I also enjoy a beautiful Taj Mahal or a neat little skyline that doesn't cost 100€. But whishing for the likes of Niemeyer and Wright to make a reappearance in this series is only going to lead to disappointments.

According to this video, one set coming out next year at $60.  He mentions it at 17:30.  Only one set is really kind of annoying.  Every LEGO Set LEAKED 2022 Release - YouTube

  On 9/24/2021 at 1:21 PM, Herky said:

According to this video, one set coming out next year at $60.  He mentions it at 17:30.  Only one set is really kind of annoying.  Every LEGO Set LEAKED 2022 Release - YouTube

It’ll either be a rebuild small scale Eiffel Tower or an uninspired choice of Skyline (like Chicago) at that price. 

  On 9/24/2021 at 2:04 PM, Lucarex said:

It’ll either be a rebuild small scale Eiffel Tower or an uninspired choice of Skyline (like Chicago) at that price. 

I agree, most likely a skyline.  And if this is the only set for 2022, that is pretty sad.  Saves me money for other things I guess.  I feel this line might be doomed.

Rumour says it could be a Singapore skyline. I thought of this before so it makes perfect sense, however price could be on the high side apparently.

  On 9/24/2021 at 4:52 PM, Herky said:

I agree, most likely a skyline.  And if this is the only set for 2022, that is pretty sad.  Saves me money for other things I guess.  I feel this line might be doomed.

One set in back to back years is pretty sad if true.  With literally hundreds of buildings they could choose, this would be a slap in the face to fans of the Architecture line.  

Really hope there's more in store for 2022.

Edited September 26, 20213 yr by Calvinw

  On 9/26/2021 at 4:07 AM, User5346 said:

Rumour says it could be a Singapore skyline. I thought of this before so it makes perfect sense, however price could be on the high side apparently.

Like everything else in Singapore!

Can see this choice being true, I have the standalone MBS set so no interest in a Skyline, but if this is all that’s on the horizon for 2022, then LEGO may as well put the theme out of its misery and retire it altogether. 

Edited September 26, 20213 yr by Lucarex

They should make the Guggenheim Bilbao Museum! Honestly I would be happy with any somewhat modern building

Speculation that it is a Singapore set is probably true.  I know the Ideas skyline of one did well, of course, Ideas is a worthless site for MOC's of Architecture since they would never make one of those sets but I do know the MBS set sold out and is still highly prized.  Easy way to get a mini in and put it in a skyline.  

And a new set finally...yet it is a skyline (ugh), but a new country, Singapore

LEGO Architecture Singapore Skyline (21057) revealed - Jay's Brick Blog (jaysbrickblog.com)

  On 11/29/2021 at 2:24 PM, Herky said:

And a new set finally...yet it is a skyline (ugh), but a new country, Singapore

LEGO Architecture Singapore Skyline (21057) revealed - Jay's Brick Blog (jaysbrickblog.com)

Best I can say is that this helps with my budget for some other non-Architecture set. Easy pass.

Disappointing, but expected. What I really don't like is the addition of thumb tabs on Architecture boxes and the blue greebling art at the bottom. 

Set looks nice in my opinion.  Really hoping we get a couple more non skyline sets in 2022 though. 

I am surprised they didn't do Hong Kong yet.  Anyways, I much prefer full-size buildings over skyline miniatures that are over-priced and underdelivers.

  On 11/30/2021 at 4:46 PM, alvinofdiaspar said:

I am surprised they didn't do Hong Kong yet.

That might be a bit of a hot topic right now (especially when they want to pander to the Chinese market), while Singapore just saw the opening of the biggest LEGO store in Southeast Asia this summer.

  On 11/30/2021 at 5:19 PM, Rauy said:

That might be a bit of a hot topic right now (especially when they want to pander to the Chinese market), while Singapore just saw the opening of the biggest LEGO store in Southeast Asia this summer.

Honestly though, if that’s what they want to do they should create a large size say Temple of Heaven.

Ah? Another skyline set? Singapore? That’s real neat!

But i do wish we ahve more non-Skyline sets tho. 

Personally, i think we will need a remake of Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben is that bell, not tower…). Or Edo Castle (japanese castle) whic I wish to see!

I'd like to see some more of the older sets re-done in a larger style similar to the Empire State and Statue of Liberty - both excellent sets.  Looking back to the early years, Seattle Space Needle, Brandenburg Gate, Leaning Tower of Pisa maybe?  

  On 12/1/2021 at 8:45 PM, DBlegonerd7 said:

Personally, i think we will need a remake of Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben is that bell, not tower…)

Good to see someone who knows the correct name.  Knowing a lot of them, most Brits don't.  However, I doubt we'll see one particularly soon unfortunately due to the Creator Expert ones.  The same applies for the Sydney Opera House.  However, the Taj Mahal was in that respect totally unexpected, so who knows.

 

I know it's not going to get done because of the controversy surrounding his...um...actions to say it politely, but I've always rather liked the architectural design of the Chicago Trump Tower.

Edited December 2, 20213 yr by Vilhelm22

  On 12/2/2021 at 10:16 PM, Vilhelm22 said:

I'd like to see some more of the older sets re-done in a larger style similar to the Empire State and Statue of Liberty - both excellent sets.  Looking back to the early years, Seattle Space Needle, Brandenburg Gate, Leaning Tower of Pisa maybe?  

Good to see someone who knows the correct name.  Knowing a lot of them, most Brits don't.  However, I doubt we'll see one particularly soon unfortunately due to the Creator Expert ones.  The same applies for the Sydney Opera House.  However, the Taj Mahal was in that respect totally unexpected, so who knows.

THIS! I would love to see old sets to be remade! The old Empire State Buidling was very basic and quick to build but the new one is more advanced, for example. 

Even tho Creator Expert is not part of Archiecture but I think that Elizabeth Tower set was GREAT. But yeah I agree with what you just sai. 

 

I don’t know anything about Singapore buildings myself but my best freind pointed it out that there should be a statue of lion included (next to the hotel) in that skyline. The lion, called Merlion, does represent Singapore. I pointed it out that it may be difficult to make a statue in that scale due to System studs. However, I think I agree with my friend’s opinion. I think Lego designers at least make a lion  nanofigure. But I don’t think it will happen - I mean , will a lion nanofigure be rescued in future? I dunno…

  On 12/2/2021 at 10:35 PM, DBlegonerd7 said:

I don’t know anything about Singapore buildings myself but my best freind pointed it out that there should be a statue of lion included (next to the hotel) in that skyline. The lion, called Merlion, does represent Singapore. I pointed it out that it may be difficult to make a statue in that scale due to System studs. However, I think I agree with my friend’s opinion. I think Lego designers at least make a lion  nanofigure. But I don’t think it will happen - I mean , will a lion nanofigure be rescued in future? I dunno… 

The Lego Singapore office have (had?) a decent version:

https://geekculture.co/a-peek-at-lego-singapore-office/

Edited December 2, 20213 yr by alvinofdiaspar

  On 12/2/2021 at 10:35 PM, DBlegonerd7 said:

I don’t know anything about Singapore buildings myself but my best freind pointed it out that there should be a statue of lion included (next to the hotel) in that skyline. The lion, called Merlion, does represent Singapore. I pointed it out that it may be difficult to make a statue in that scale due to System studs. However, I think I agree with my friend’s opinion. I think Lego designers at least make a lion  nanofigure. But I don’t think it will happen - I mean , will a lion nanofigure be rescued in future? I dunno…

There are a few custom Skylines floating around the net that sport a Merlion statue, complete with spewing water. It is doable at a small scale (even though rather abstract). But still it would have a scale of about 1:500 which is about 4 times as large as the rest of the buildings. That's not to say it couldn't fit in with the rest, but maybe that was a factor. Another possibility is, that there will be a limited GWP of a Merlion similar to the Sakura tree you got with the Tokyo Skyline.

Edited December 3, 20213 yr by Rauy

I recently visited Boston, MA last weekend I just thought - will Boston be considered for a future Skyline set?

I mean it has some buildings, Boston Common, and Fenway Park. I’m not sure about Old North Church tho… it’s a religious place but at same time, it’s a part of American Revolution. I think Old North Church is extremely unlikely, in my opinio. 

There are 2 "Postcard" sets for 2022 that somewhat resemble Architecture skyline at a smaller scale.

They are boxed under the Creator theme however.

40519: New York Postcard
40520: Beijing Postcard

Creator makes sense since they suggest the other recent Creator sets like the taxi , tuk tuk and train on the back as related vehicles for said postcard locations.

Edited December 11, 20213 yr by TeriXeri