Modular Building Sets - Rumours and Discussion

[Moebius118]

If it is time for a corner building, the first thing that pops into my head is: bank. Banks make great corner buildings, especially in some of the smaller towns near where I live. If each modular must have a story (love it or hate it), a bank would certainly offer a lot of possibilities. It is also an integral part of the community.

I have been waiting for a corner bank modular for 460 years. You'd figure with all the play features and interiors a bank would accommodate while having notably exquisite architecture that it would have been one of the first modulars off the line.

Edited December 4, 2014 by Moebius118

[badbob001]

I have been waiting for a corner bank modular for 460 years. You'd figure with all the play features and interiors a bank would accommodate while having notably exquisite architecture that it would have been one of the first modulars off the line.

I think the city theme had some small banks and vaults in relation to the Police theme. A bank would present so many PLAY FEATURES features involving all the various methods for thieves to break in. Through the skylight Mission Impossible style. Underground tunnel. Blasting through a sidewall. Hiding in a delivery box. Hiding in a portable ATM. Pretending to be an old lady checking on her precious knick-knacks in the safe deposit room.

Maybe a bank is not such a good idea.

[Herky]

I guess if you want to MOD a bank you could pic up the Harry Potter Gringott's bank and finish it off since I think the back is open...the base model would be a start anyway.

[lightningtiger]

Maybe that's why we haven't seen a police station or bank.......only petty crime (illegal candy production) is aloud in the modular world ?

[Rapseflaps]

My early money is on a corner flowershop. Why else would we get a flower cart free in January, right???

The flower cart has a barrel with hidden cookies to go with the DO. Also, there's a year between this set and the next modular, so I don't think it's a clue.

[kungfumaster]

Re: Dectective Office. I know I'm the minority. But let me say it loud first: I like it. But...

But feel it's somehow childish, same as PR, especially when comparing to the first 8 Modulars we have. Not sure it's because of the color tones, size or something else. It just looks very cartoonish. Not like for people who're 16+.

It's more like Advanced Lego City/Friends.

[lightningtiger]

I wouldn't say childish, but childlike......taking us adults back to a simple time of childhood.......like a trip down memory lane.

I prefer the PR and DO even over the GG thanks to the interior and exterior detailing plus an added story line to allow one's imagination flow freely.

[craiggrannell]

I never saw the PR as childish compared to the other modulars. Sure, it had a story, but the building itself is detailed and architectural. There's no overt compromise. The DO's the first one that from the box art does appear a bit more toy-like, and a bit weirder and more abstracted from an architectural standpoint. (The two buildings visually look separate, but are very much intertwined internally. It's hard to imagine how someone might have designed and built that structure. Still, buildings get chopped and changed all the time…)

[bjorn77]

The DO's the first one that from the box art does appear a bit more toy-like, and a bit weirder and more abstracted from an architectural standpoint. (The two buildings visually look separate, but are very much intertwined internally. It's hard to imagine how someone might have designed and built that structure. Still, buildings get chopped and changed all the time…)

The asymmetry of the DO is its biggest achievement if you ask me. I don't need another symmetric box like FB and TH on my street. Variety is good!

[Thetford]

(The two buildings visually look separate, but are very much intertwined internally. It's hard to imagine how someone might have designed and built that structure. Still, buildings get chopped and changed all the time…)

Then if it will put your mind at ease, how about this for a scenario, the Dark Orange Building initially spanned two ground floor units when built in let's say ... 1874, the unit on the right (where the barbershop presently is), was destroyed by fire sometime around the early 20th century, the landowner constructed the building on the right, but had to provide access to the one remaining unit above ground floor as the original stairwell was destroyed in the fire, and the left building is structurally sound enough to stay up (either the landowner can't afford a full redevelopment of the site, or the occupier of the unit above the left shop owned in title the unit, and therefore the landowner was required to provide access to his/her unit as part of an easement), the blue building was constructed, and as per requirement had stairwell access to the rest of the site? (Not trying to be facetitious or pedantic, just offering a possible backstory).

[attyttup]

It will be cool to have a dentist clinic

[glendo]

I had to move rooms around this week, and the lego layout had to moved as well. It was a big job.

midway, all of the modulars were on the kitchen table... well, the upper floors were. Im sharing some pics to show the masses in another angle just how small the PR is in comparison to the older modulars.

Now the base of the PR is very close to the same as older modulars.

This is what im worried about in the now and the future. Are skinnier, slimmer modulars here to stay? I think TLG are reducing the modulars by size and grandeur.

[Dennan]

I think the PR is all about the details, not the size.

A lot of people complained about the lack of interior on the GE, and found the TH too big. Now TLG is giving what a lot of people were asking and yet again we are complaining.

With the PR and the DO I think TLG listned to their fans.

[glendo]

I look at the inside only when Im building it.

I look and see the outside everyday.

[Dennan]

@glendo

Yes I know, I said a lot of people, not all.

Isn't the biggest fun the building process and not the showcasing of the building?

The boring building process of the GE would never pulled me back into LEGO

[craiggrannell]

The funny thing is, looking at that photo, the GE just looks like a box. The PR looks small but visually interesting, which by extension would make me assume it'd be interesting to build.

[Andy D]

The asymmetry of the DO is its biggest achievement if you ask me. I don't need another symmetric box like FB and TH on my street. Variety is good!

This is a very good point.

Then if it will put your mind at ease, how about this for a scenario, the Dark Orange Building initially spanned two ground floor units when built in let's say ... 1874, the unit on the right (where the barbershop presently is), was destroyed by fire sometime around the early 20th century, the landowner constructed the building on the right, but had to provide access to the one remaining unit above ground floor as the original stairwell was destroyed in the fire, and the left building is structurally sound enough to stay up (either the landowner can't afford a full redevelopment of the site, or the occupier of the unit above the left shop owned in title the unit, and therefore the landowner was required to provide access to his/her unit as part of an easement), the blue building was constructed, and as per requirement had stairwell access to the rest of the site? (Not trying to be facetitious or pedantic, just offering a possible backstory).

Because of the way the building is built it reminds me of a time when there were fewer corporate businesses and folks just pt built their businesses and houses as they pleased, this also provides for more variation among buildings. I am looking forward to more variation in the modular line.

I like the DO, I have no complaints about the building or the story. The story could have just as easily been alcohol, but as we know TLG tries to avoid alcohol related stories when possible, except for the PR when talking about the engaged couple. Remember, LEGO is a children's toy and I think they do a pretty good job of catering to the adult group as well. For those looking for a more adult story, make one up for yourself.

Andy D

Edited December 6, 2014 by Andy D

[attyttup]

All these interesting discussions and opinions reminded me of the lego movie. 2 types of lego enthusiasts: the father or the son. But u can be both too

[kungfumaster]

A lot of people intentionally overlook the TH, due to its size, price or look. If you ever want to expand your one modular into a 'city', TH is a must and should be the centerpiece. After all, every town needs a town hall, no?

Grab it at retail while you can.

[talos]

The PR is the only only modular that doesn't have a flat roof. If it was any deeper, the roof would be huge. I think that played a lot in the design/size of it. Just my humble opinion.

[Herky]

Talos I think you are right, the vaulted roof (I guess that is what I will call it since I am not sure of the right architectural term and it isn't truly an arch, it's actually more of a barn roof if you want to get into it) is such that I think if you went out too far, you wouldn't be able to support it and it would collapse. I still think it could have been at least 8 to 12 studs wider and been ok though. I could be wrong, am most likely wrong since I am sure someone MOD'd it up with a bigger roof that stretched it as far as other modular buildings, but I think Glendo's pictures really show what my issue with PR was, just looks puny next to the others so this meant I paid for the accessory pieces and not really the building pieces...at least that is how I see it.

PR is growing on me though.

[ItsaBRICKS]

Was looking back at old pics from the CC release and came upon this pic of the alternate model from the CC box.

Seems like Jamie was already planning out the PS even back then. The Skis over the door especially.

[BirdOPrey5]

PR was nice to mix it up but I do hope they return to the larger formats eventually.

[lightningtiger]

PR was nice to mix it up but I do hope they return to the larger formats eventually.

I feel that the larger modulars might be a thing of the past, the first one release seven years ago and didn't tell a story....like a city set does now.

Seven years ago an 18 year old AFOL was still a 11 year KFOL playing with city sets.....which are all role play sets, so now that young AFOL wants or Lego thinks they want a modular that has a role play story behind it like a more complex city set.

[Faefrost]

Hmmm? Next Modular? Probably a corner? A lot will depend on designer and who had a great deal of input? My first guess still leans towards a classic Pharmacy (Apothocary? chemist? If you will.) Jamie is from New England, and that does color a lot of his designs and inspiration, and one of the classics in that area is every small town had the corner Drug Store with the soda and ice cream counter. It would also be a great place to put a doctor or dentists office above, thereby adding non scary health care to the city, without the complexity of trying to cram a hospital into 32x32.

My second guess is a Bank. I lean against this one just a hair as Banks tend to be single purpose buildings without a lot of interest going on. "Look kids! Accountants!". On the positive they tend to feature a ton of fantastic fake classical style architecture, so a bank building would be an interesting build.