Modular Building 10197 Fire Brigade

[Dadster]

Very nice indeed! I know a firefighter whose son plays with Lego. Gotta make sure he knows about this.

[Darth_Legois]

Now with the new pics of the 2nd floor, I really like the kitchen (and ping-pong table )

This kitchen looks like one of the most detailed ever made (?) I like it. (in a LEGO Set)

Also is that a shower? It looks wierd.

The fridge looks too blocky, but what do you expect with LEGO anyway?

Im also glad we're getting drawers. it seems they're making a comeback with these!

[Tom Bricks]

Also is that a shower? It looks wierd.

I think your looking at the top of the fire poll. I like the second floor but still not as much as Green Grocer. The ping pong table looks a little weird to me, not sure why it has studs on the sides.

[Darth_Legois]

I think your looking at the top of the fire poll. I like the second floor but still not as much as Green Grocer. The ping pong table looks a little weird to me, not sure why it has studs on the sides.

I mean below the stairs, its obviously not the fire pole.

Edited June 16, 2009 by Darth_Legois

[BlueBard]

I think it's just the two rackets and the ball for ping-pong

Edited June 16, 2009 by BlueBard

[Tom Bricks]

I think it's just the two rackets and the ball for ping-pong

Thats what I think too. If you look in one of the original pictures you can see it through the window. I thought that the fire poll looked the closest to a shower. I guess if you look at it the right way it kind of looks like one of those emergency showers in Chemistry labs.

[Svelte]

If I hadn't already been told the studdy green thing was a pingpong table I probably wouldn't have figured it out by myself.

The fridge looks clumsy and a bit gappy. The kitchen, while nicely detailed, isn't anything new, nor is the sofa.

You can see corners have been cut - when that railing piece near the stairs was used as a balustrade on the upper floors of Cafe Corner, it was made more attractive by using round 1x1 round plates, 1x1 round bricks and tiles to make it more ornate. Here it's just plonked as a stand for the dodgy ping-pong racquets! Green Grocer also used a technique with bley goblets to make these railings a bit more interesting.

[Brick Miner]

It’s just too bad that when LEGO finally explored an architectural style closely associated with American tradition in the CC product line, it had to end up terrible – as is the case here.

Currently - and speaking exclusively about my LEGO City building - I only build in American styles, and more specifically, styles dominate in the American Mid-West. The defining styles of the American tradition are a testament to the beauty of decorative arts. Chicago School (seen here, in this firehouse), Gothic Revival, Modern, and Post Modern are the iconic look of America’s urban landscapes.

However, even in my bias toward American styles in my LEGO City building, I still see this as the weak link of the CC series.

I think this building fails in its pure lack of respect for its own style. It doesn’t honor the American tradition.

Louis Sullivan (early architect of the Chicago School) proposed, ‘form follows function.’ A reduction of ornamental elements - in favor of function. This was a revolutionary theoretical formula in the decorative arts.

What we have here is a building that doesn’t not adhere to the fundamental principal of its own architectural style. It is an attempt to be decorative – to keep in line with the CC product line.

This is why this building doesn’t work.

I could have built this same building in half the bricks, and in half the space. There is no reason it needs to be so large – and if this was compressed, the mere construction would have become the decoration – therefore making a valor and honest attempt at ‘form follows function’ in the LEGO medium.

As a side note, I think the later replies in this thread are a testament to why LEGO should have stuck to the International Style when developing real-world architectural styles for an adult and an international market. Though, the international style augmented ‘form follows function’ to a true removal of all decoration.

I think it’s funny that we all prefer decoration in our LEGO City building style. It seems we haven’t come to appreciated ‘function’ nearly as much – this is expounded by the similarities of the CC series - so far.

- BrickMiner

[Ricecracker]

Great to see you post here again, Brick Miner. I agree with you 100%. I think if they had continued in their ways, they would have done an amazing job. I'm not saying this isn't amazing, just much less so than the Cafe Corner and Green Grocer. Also, as Svelte_Corps mentioned, the simple details that could have been implemented-like the 1x1 round bricks and tiles on the railings-would have been easily incorporated, as we can see in the Cafe Corner and Green Grocer. I doubt I'll be getting this set, especially at $200.

[CopMike]

I second Ricecracker here - so nice to see from you BM !! Any chance of sharing a couple of cold ones this weekend while someone DJ' s ?

Also, really fun to read analysis on architecture !

CopMike

[prateek]

As a side note, I think the later replies in this thread are a testament to why LEGO should have stuck to the International Style when developing real-world architectural styles for an adult and an international market. Though, the international style augmented ‘form follows function’ to a true removal of all decoration.

this would be very boring if it was international style

[blueandwhite]

It looks fine to me.

This certainly wasn't what I hoped for, but it looks to be a nice set. IT also seems like alot of people take this sort of thing very personally. I'm sorry, but the Corner Cafe and GG don't look all that European or American to me. In fact, thus far all of the buildings have been fairly generic. So much so that it's very easy to envision them in several cities around the globe without too much difficulty. If anything, my biggest beef with this set is that it really doesn't go anywhere new. The Cafe Corner was outdone by the Green Grocer with it's incredible interior and beautiful exterior details. In comparison, the fire hall doesn't really add anything new. Ironically, I actually feel it fits well with the other sets. I just don't think it has the same initial pop that the previous CC-style sets do.

It's really unfortunate that for some individuals this ends up being another US vs Europe contest. Luckily I'm Canadian so both sides have me beat .

[CP5670]

I think it’s funny that we all prefer decoration in our LEGO City building style. It seems we haven’t come to appreciated ‘function’ nearly as much – this is expounded by the similarities of the CC series - so far.

I don't necessarily. I like the modern architecture style you linked to and after all, I'm a Technic builder. But I think this building strikes a fairly good balance between the detail of standard, non-modular City sets and the CC and GG, which looked over-decorated in places.

[Rick]

I could have built this same building in half the bricks, and in half the space. There is no reason it needs to be so large – and if this was compressed, the mere construction would have become the decoration – therefore making a valor and honest attempt at ‘form follows function’ in the LEGO medium.

I think indeed it indeed is a matter of proportions. Most of the real-world firehouses that have been posted here have an additional second (EU)/third (US) floor. And I have the feeling they're a little narrower. Although 16-wide would probably have not been wide enough for this building, perhaps they should have tried 20-something wide with a small building or some 'street decoration' to fill up the remaining studs (to 32). As I've also said before, I cant really see where they left 2200+ elements in this one.

Also I agree with svelte_corps on the interior detailing. There are so many little things that could have been done to slightly improve it here and there. Showers, beds, a table to go with the couch, general finishing (like the railings mentioned)... i think all of this could have been implemented while maintaining the same dimensions and not raising the piece-count too much.

Furthermore, I'm a little disappointed by the 'helmet decorations' on the exterior. A round shape around the helmet would have looked much better... again without raising the piece-count too much...

I'll say it again... we're spoiled...

[Klaus-Dieter]

I could have built this same building in half the bricks, and in half the space. There is no reason it needs to be so large – and if this was compressed, the mere construction would have become the decoration – therefore making a valor and honest attempt at ‘form follows function’ in the LEGO medium.

I totally agree with you, Brick Miner!

the fire brigade is definately two tall in comparison to the other CC styled buildings. There is no neccessarity to make it that tall since there are only two floors included and that decoration with the golden helmets and the crossed axes really looks .

(Btw: Welcome back to EB, Brick Miner! I hope to see you active in more topics, too! )

And here is more criticism:

- The car is imo much too small - especially in comparison to the large building.

- The interior of the upper floor is a great idea - but it looks imo too MOCish and unofficial.

Nevertheless I must say that it is a set - and if I had the money to buy and the place to store it (which both I have not) I'd surely buy it.

Klaus-Dieter

[Trancedout]

This is what comes to my mind

[DJ Force]

Hang on... KD, you´d buy this?

Now if THIS isn´t a statement that this set is very appealing even to the die hard classic-town collector...

I just needed to add another statement about the size. I´m really fine with the size of this set! Actually, I would be disappointed if it was smaller. The upper floor already is cut in half as it seems and the lower floor needs to be big to store everything. I wouldn´t have cut any measures on these. The thing many people also rally about is the height of the floors. But given the fact that the building is meant to be from 1932, the floors NEED to be high! That was very typical then, especially with public buildings and garages. So in all honesty, the size would rather have to be even bigger than smaller.

[Rick]

I just needed to add another statement about the size. I´m really fine with the size of this set! Actually, I would be disappointed if it was smaller. The upper floor already is cut in half as it seems and the lower floor needs to be big to store everything. I wouldn´t have cut any measures on these. The thing many people also rally about is the height of the floors. But given the fact that the building is meant to be from 1932, the floors NEED to be high! That was very typical then, especially with public buildings and garages. So in all honesty, the size would rather have to be even bigger than smaller.

This is just gonna be nit-picking, but it looks just a little too wide for how tall it is. I would have preferred an additional floor.

Edited June 16, 2009 by Rick77

[Klaus-Dieter]

Hang on... KD, you´d buy this?

Now if THIS isn´t a statement that this set is very appealing even to the die hard classic-town collector...

No, I will no buy this (as I will even not buy any other CC styled building), DJ Force!

I only mentioned that if I had the money to buy it (but I have not the money to buy it) and if I had the place to store it somewhere (but I have not the place to store it somewhere) I would buy it.

In general I've never said that I don't like these CC styled buildings - in contrary they are all looking awesome designed!

But since I'm an avid City fan the open backwalls and the lack of interior in MS and CC really disturbs me! And since I seperate official sets and MOCs very strictly and never put them togehter there is no chance for MODing the CC styled buildings.

Klaus-Dieter

Edited June 16, 2009 by Klaus-Dieter

[Teddy]

Hmm, I still believe the best way to get the proportionallity right in this set; is to add two brick heights to the red part of the top floor.

The top floor seems a bit squized inbetween the groundfloor and the top facade.

But this are minor issues and I think my girl won't allow me to fiddle with it.

She already reserved a spot in our livingroom next to the CC, GG, and MS for it.

Edited June 16, 2009 by Teddy

[metalandi]

Thanks for the pictures of the upper floor and roof! The kitchen and ping-pong table are very nice, but it really is a shame that when they already include so much stuff, there are no bedrooms That would be a missing second floor, right? But anyway, i will buy this (sometime) when i have anough money!

[UserNameInvalid]

I agree on lots mentioned here in previous posts: It's a great set, but has a few issues.

The flag, tree, bley, fridge etc could be better.

But overall I really like the set. And it looks great next to the GG, CF, and MS.

The proportions are just right.

The tree, flag and other things can easily be modified to ones liking.

It's a good price for the set, but I don't think I'll get it as it is over my budget.

Still it is on my whish list along with the GG, CF, and MS.

Just curious: minifigs clearly eat and drink, but do they not have a bladder and bowels? Do they not have sanitary needs? Or do they have a special digestive system that is super efficient? Or are they not potty trainable?

I cant remember seeing a toilet in any of the official TLG buildings. -please correct me if I'm wrong-

I guess due to the relative thickness of the 1 stud walls space is an issue and TLG designers must make a choice what rooms go in and what don't.

[brickzone]

Just curious: minifigs clearly eat and drink, but do they not have a bladder and bowels? Do they not have sanitary needs? Or do they have a special digestive system that is super efficient? Or are they not potty trainable?

I cant remember seeing a toilet in any of the official TLG buildings. -please correct me if I'm wrong-

At least one of the construction sets has a portaloo - the lifesaver piece used as a toilet seat.

Just FYI.

[Brick Miner]

I second Ricecracker here - so nice to see from you BM !! Any chance of sharing a couple of cold ones this weekend while someone DJ' s ?

Also, really fun to read analysis on architecture !

CopMike

i don't think my visit here on EB will be long. i only wanted to try my hand at a 'worldly critique' of this model - i was motivated because the thread seemed like it was heading toward a european vs. american argument.

i didn't find time in my schedule for BW this year - i've put some long over due emphasis on comic book conventions this summer.

- brickminer

[Ricecracker]

i didn't find time in my schedule for BW this year - i've put some long over due emphasis on comic book conventions this summer.

That's too bad, I was really excited to meet you.