Architecture

I just completed some in-depth analysis of the various sets in the LEGO Architecture series - based on the new feature of Brickset to track inventory at LEGO.com EU. I found that the lower-priced sets are selling at higher volume, which is pretty much to be expected, but the more costly sets are clearly selling well enough to contribute well in terms daily sales (

These are the only Lego sets my 10 y/o has been interested in for the past several years now. After Christmas he will have the following: 21000 - Sears Tower (gets his OCD honestly) 21000 - Willis Tower 21001 - John Hancock Center 21002 - Empire State Building 21003 - Seattle Space Needle 21004 - Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum 21005 - Falling Waters 21006 - The White House 21007 - Rockefeller Center 21008 - Burj Khalifa 21009 - Farnsworth House 21010 - Robie House 21011 - Brandenburg Gate 21012 - Sydney Opera House 21013 - Big Ben 21014 - Villa Savoye 21015 - Leaning Tower of Pisa 21016 - Sungnyemun Gate 21017 - Imperial Hotel 21…

I am extremely excited to announce my new book, "The LEGO Architect" will be published later this year by the awesome team at No Starch Press. The book explores popular architectural styles like Neoclassical, Art Deco, Modernism, Brutalism, Postmodernism, and High-tech architecture through LEGO. The cover features an amazing LEGO model of Unit

This set hasn't even been officially announced yet, but a photo of the box leaked online, and I've already taken some time to reverse-engineer some sections of the model, and done some analysis of the new parts. (Hint: New colors of existing parts!) So far, I predict that this will be a fun model with some nice parts. LINK: http://tomalphin.com/2014/09/reverse-engineering-lego-architecture-21023-flatiron-building.html Sincerely, --- Tom Alphin P.S. I have not shared the leaked official photos, but you can find them online with some searching.

I see on LEGO Shop at Home that the Willis Tower is "call for availability". I am intrigued by the architecture series after seeing the Hancock building take off. The original Sears Tower has had a nice run too. Do you think getting a bunch from Amazon is worth it? You can't beat the price $16.49, over 30% off. I already have a few, but I am thinking about getting a bunch.

I'm proud to finally share my model of the Geisel Library at UCSD, which is a lovely Brutalist-style building that I re-created in the tradition of the Architecture series. The final building in the style of the Architecture series sets. The finished model is probably about 800 pieces, and it's on display this weekend at Seattle BrickCon! If you aren't lucky enough to be in Seattle this weekend, I've prepared a collection of photos of the models, as well as a exploration of the creative process as I iterated on the design before reaching this final version. Before arriving at the final design, I did a bunch of explorations including this much smaller model. some …

I just completed a detailed review of the brand new book "LEGO Architecture: The Visual Guide" by the popular DK publisher. The book is beautifully produced, and features all 21 sets in the growing LEGO Architecture series. Let's see what it has to offer, and find out if it's something you should add to your library! LINK: http://tomalphin.com/2014/08/book-review-lego-architecture-the-visual-guide.html I'd love to hear your thoughts as well. Do you love it or hate it? What would you have liked to see different? Sincerely, --- Tom Alphin

Just curious about this. I am currently at 13. Not sure about the UN headquarters, may have seen that as a kid when I was in NY with my parents but have no memory of it, so not counting. Sears/Willis Tower John Hancock Center (from a distance) Empire State bldg Space Needle Guggenheim White House Rockefeller ctr. Robie House Brandenburg Gate Big Ben Tower of Pisa Eiffel Tower Trevi Fountain Verzonden vanaf mijn iPhone met behulp van Brickpicker LIST OF SETS : Set Name Released Number of Pieces 21000 Willis / Sears Tower 2008 / 2011 69 21001 John Hancock Center 2008 69 21002 Empire State Building 2009 77 21003 Seattle Space Nee…

I just bought my second copy of 21050 - the LEGO Architecture Studio set. Apart from the 10$ price increase, I noticed a number of unexpected changes were made to the set, branding and packaging. I shared these changes in the following short article... LINK: http://tomalphin.com/2014/09/changes-to-21050-architecture-studio.html Have you noticed any other changes? Do other LEGO sets see this much change in the middle of the release? Discuss! Sincerely, ---tom

I wanted to share a project I've been working on for a few months to find the very best LEGO Architecture models by LEGO Artists around the world. I found many of the models in this collection by reviewing the great resources here and in other forums. The result is several collections of the best LEGO Architecture, which I've sorted by Architectural style. LINK: http://tomalphin.com/2014/07/best-lego-architecture.html The following is just a teaser of the 100's of great LEGO models I've found. I'm sure some of these are models by members of this board, and I hope you are happy to see your work featured below! (I've tried to make sure each entry is meticulously …

I am working on a little project where I need some extra Architecture Name Plate pieces. I haven't seen/found them on bricklink, and I cant find the piece numbers on LEGO Shop at Home's PAB. I am looking for a couple of Fallingwater and Robie plate pieces. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

If you've seen my thread in the general/general-investing forum you know I got a 1st edition (white box) Lego "Hancock Center Building" sealed in plastic and signed by Adam Reed Tucker. I'm never, EVER going to sell this. I already have it in a plastic freezer bag and hidden from the sun! But I was curious, do sets that are signed by their designers ever command a premium? I can see a limited marked of people (like me) who would be interested in having an autographed set, but does it really make a difference? I also have an autographed "Robie House" instruction booklet but I can't imagine that being worth anything to someone other than me or another Ar…

Probably false but imdb and a few other reputable sites are releasing the story http://filmschoolrejects.com/news/lego-grand-budapest-hotel.php?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=lego-grand-budapest-hotel

Can someone point me to a page on LEGO Shop at Home that lists the 21001 as retired because I no longer see it here: http://shop.lego.com/en-US/catalog/productSearch.jsp?searchParam=Architecture%20retired&_requestid=344609 That combined with two members posting pics of recent finds, one with a shopping cart full I think he got 84 at TRU brown clearance $6 each of brand new MISB. I thought maybe TRU found a pallet in the corner of a warehouse but is it possible these have returned as fresh shipments from Lego?

Hi Folks, I'm just new in Lego Investing... What's a fine discount on Architecture sets ? Don't see them at high discount here in Europe. Got the chance to buy 21011 Brandenburg gate 40% off. Guess that's no to bad...

One of my local B&Ns has several Guggenheims 21004 while another one is well stocked with Rockefeller Center 21007. Which one do y'all see doing better as a flip this Christmas? Longterm? For the record I've been picking up both whenever I get coupons, but I think the Guggenheim is the stronger set overall. I figured we needed something else to talk about besides the SSD or unsubstantiated May 4th speculation. As both of these are retired "flip" was a poor word choice, I do expect to sell a few if the price gets high enough this Christmas though.

Got my email last night with my tracking info for the Architecture Studio pre-ordered last week, so they are going out now.

Hi, I have been buying and selling over 80 sets of 21050. but since last week, more and more people are buying from me in BL. I started at $175, then $179, then $189, then $209. And people are still buying. Now in my area, they are COMPLETELY out of stock. LEGO store, TRU, BN. All gone. No one know if they will receive more. So, my question was, if this set going to be retired or they don't produce enough. Should I go find more and put it away for couple year or just temporary out for the holiday? Any thoughts?

Rockefeller and Guggenheim Sold out LEGO Shop at Home.... but can be found B&****** and TRU stores. if EOL price will goes even more...for now Ebay prices 60 and 52 and rising...great landmarks...

Not in the UK or seems. We get 1 or 2 pounds off at best. I love the sets, they really appeal as I'm into history and architecture but for me the price of these is too high, especially consider model size and piece count?

Also other sets. I've never shopped here but this just showed up on slick deals.

Hey guys I have though about this and I think I am gonna try it, thought I would share the idea. I am gonna get some SOH architecture sets which are small and fairly cheap. I am gonna save them for when the time comes to sell the big SOH. It should sweeten up the deal a bit to include the small one when selling the bigger one in the secondary market and pull in some more profit. I like to do this with bigger sets and their small polybag counterparts and it seems to work well. What do y'all think?

This question only really applies to those of us who open boxes and play once in a while. A lot of the architecture sets look really cool, but when I look at them close it looks like they could probably be finished in about 15 minutes.. which I don't like. Getting my moneys worth out of a lego set means first and foremost the completed set looks awesome, and second, it's gotta take me a while. When I see a set like Burj Khalifa, which looks really awesome, and then check it out and realize it's only got like 10 unique pieces I get really disappointed. On the other hand, the set I've been working on has been the tower bridge, which doesn't have that problem at all. It…

We've had the likes of London Bridge, Taj Mahal, Eiffel Tower... What landmark/building would you like to see made into a large scale model set?