Why doesn't LEGO make skyscraper sets ???

[Brick Miner]

with the revelation of the cafe corner... it seems skyscrapers are very possible...

in fact, that is exactly the type of set i was envisioning when i first posted this topic. only less european in architecture, and more generic (one of my few grips of the CC). it does seem like some of the remedies mentioned in this thread, are were put to use in the CC set... interesting.

i'd like to see the cafe corner expanded into an entire theme of it's own, which would include some skyscrapers ;-)

- BrickMiner

[Starwars4J]

with the revelation of the cafe corner... it seems skyscrapers are very possible...

in fact, that is exactly the type of set i was envisioning when i first posted this topic. only less european in architecture, and more generic (one of my few grips of the CC). it does seem like some of the remedies mentioned in this thread, are were put to use in the CC set... interesting.

i'd like to see the cafe corner expanded into an entire theme of it's own, which would include some skyscrapers ;-)

- BrickMiner

Well I think the Eiffel Tower counts as one, to be sure, though that has a distinctly European flavor as well :-P

[Brick Miner]

yes... im yet to reflect on the eiffle tower, as i haven't seen it yet.

- BM

[blueandwhite]

Well I think the Eiffel Tower counts as one, to be sure, though that has a distinctly European flavor as well :-P

The Eiffel Tower, while appealing, isn't exactly a sky-scraper.

Generally, the term skyscaper seems to be synonomous with large multi-floored buildings, rather than towers. Of course this is probably why LEGO has avoided them. They are huge! The piece count for a decent sky-scraper would be very high indeed. When you consider that a structure like the Eiffel Tower is mostly girders and support beams, it becomes pretty apparent that a true skyscraper is going to cost a pretty penny.

[exo attack]

Wow, this is a good idea, I hope they would make a 20 story minfig scale set, IMO that would be awsome.

[Mike F]

Sinse a skyskraper has to have 20 stories or more, a minifig scale one would be $550. No one would pay that price.

[Brick Miner]

emporis.com is the internet source of everything that is "skyscraper". their definition is any building with at least 12 stories.

however, i don't think a LEGO skyscrapper would have to be that tall. it's all about relationship anyway, and even a building of 6 stories would seem like a giant tower compared to what we are offered now.

- BM

[oo7]

however, i don't think a LEGO skyscrapper would have to be that tall. it's all about relationship anyway, and even a building of 6 stories would seem like a giant tower compared to what we are offered now.

Yeah, an official (expensive) set like this would be much more than sufficiant;

http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=219745

It only needs a door to walk out onto the balcony.

[Mike F]

How did that person get on the balcony? Here is the definition of a skyscraper:

http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9068143/skyscraper

[gylman]

Weighing in late to the discussion, I do not see the appeal of skycrapers.

Monotonous, repetitive, and not that attractive in life or in Lego. Why?

Phoinix's post is right on the money.

[Brick Miner]

Weighing in late to the discussion, I do not see the appeal of skycrapers. Monotonous, repetitive, and not that attractive in life or in Lego. Why?

here are a couple of my favorite towers, which i think are masterpieces...

Kingdom Center, Saudi Arabia (great placement):

and the burj al arab tower in dubai has always facinated me (again, great placement):

however, my favorite architecture is american 1930s... of which chicago has some good examples...

both the tribune tower and wrigley building:

- BrickMiner

[Asuka]

The Chrysler Building - it

[blueandwhite]

The Chrysler Building - it

[Hobbes]

I dunno about skyscrapers...

There are some nice architectural examples around the world, but I prefer the old-style buildings from around the 1930s/1940s, like in Chicago or New York. These would fit with the Cafe Corner, too. I don't think we will see modern style skyscrapers soon, now that the Cafe is out and depending on the success attachable models will follow. Modern buildings would ruin the "design".

Also it's a financial question. The Cafe sets you back $/EUR 140 which is a fair price but not exactly pocket money. They could sell a skyscraper modularly, like a base with one or two floors and the roof and then sell single floors individually. That way you could build your scraper as high as you like. They're not into this yet, though, which the back of the Cafe box shows: they want us to buy two or more full sets. For a skyscraper that would mean a pretty steep price.

Smaller size? I don't think so. When was the last time we had smaller buildings? Only police and fire stations and the hospital. All the houses we got came from the Creator line, and the Cafe fits in there nicely. I like that, although the size will present a problem for some old-style layout people. And I don't think TLC will go back to making smaller houses when the Creator and UCS lines sell well. They'd be their own enemy.

UCS? Hmm... with the success of the Cafe and potential successors one day maybe. But at a decent size it would beat the Falcon's price...

Miniscale? They had them in the miniscale factory sets and I dunno how successful that was.

If you're desperate about a skyscraper that fits your city go get 4-5 hospitals, lose the baseplate and accessories and stack 'em up ;-)

[Dark Brick]

I have to agree with Hobbes to some extent here. With the advent of the Corner Cafe and the fact that TLG is finally giving the AFOL community what it most desires, has in a way forshadowed things to come. So I would not be too suprised to see Skyscrapers or other unique buildings within the coming years as long as they sell.

Yes it would be too expensive to make one out right, but buying sections would be very much welcomed. Given the current situation with the Cafe Corner, I would have to say that this would get very expensive if you have to buy more than one of a certain set to make it look better than was intended. In my case it is not the money that I am worried about, but the fact that so much of the sets could be wasted just to get one better looking building and that would go the same for a skyscraper.

Finally throwing in Mini-Figs would be great, but to help keep the costs down, maybe TLG would not add in additional figures into these larger sets. Just my two cents.

DB

[Scipiotik]

It looks like that the cafe corner is easily modded into a skyscraper since you can just buy additional sets and add floors into the middle.

Modular buildings are a really smart way for lego to go, especially if they keep the same basic footprint. I was never really into town, but if they release a bunch of sets like this...

[Hobbes]

Modular buildings are a really smart way for lego to go, especially if they keep the same basic footprint.

And offer extension sets, like single floors. Having to buy multiple full sets sooner or later will bring even "rich" AFOL to their financial limits...