Dwell and Pacific Standard Time LEGO Modern Home Design Competition

Dwell and Pacific Standard Time challenges you to construct a model of an original home inspired by iconic California mid-century modern architecture using LEGO bricks. Enter through March 29th via the Dwell website (up to 4 photos). Starting March 31st entries will be posted for voting and the 5 finalists will be on display at this year’s Dwell on Design from June 22-24. A panel of judges will choose the grand prize winner live from the show floor.

Prize: The grand prize winner selected by Judges will receive a cash prize of $250.00, one (1) “Ice Cube” poster, and a selection of LEGO Architecture building sets including: LEGO Architecture Solomon R. Guggenheim® Museum, LEGO Architecture Fallingwater®, LEGO Architecture White House, LEGO Architecture Rockefeller Center, LEGO Architecture Farnsworth House, and LEGO Architecture Robie House. The five (5) Finalists will each receive a VIP ticket to Dwell on Design and two (2) LEGO Architecture building sets: LEGO Architecture Empire State Building and LEGO Architecture Burj Khalifa.

So the price money isn’t great, but you get the bragging rights.  From what I read of the rules, no mention of the scale of building so micro or true to proportions models are acceptable:

Design Competition Challenge: Create an original design of a home in the California mid-century modern style and construct a model of it using LEGO bricks and elements. Models using anything other than LEGO bricks and elements for the main structure will be disqualified. Any non-LEGO brand material must only be used for the sake of structural integrity (if necessary) such as glue, adhesive, steel, etc.

Good luck if you are participating!

 

Should I continue getting Architecture sets?

I got all of the 1st wave, and some of the 2nd.  But I have to admit that I’ve kinda fallen behind.  Been wondering if I should get the entire collection just so I don’t regret it down the road when… when I figure that I finally like the sets I guess.  I mean, after renovating my place and learning more about architecture, I can see how a standalone display of all the Architecture sets encased in a block of specially constructed glass shelves would look pretty great. Kinda cool in a geeky way not that I know how I will actually be able to afford a house with the space or even to construct a display like what I envision…

Decisions, decisions…

Anyways, Toys N Bricks reports two new Architecture sets:

• LEGO Vila Savoy Paris 21014 (MSRP: $69.99 USD)
• LEGO Eames House 21015 (MSRP: $59.99 USD)

Which is making me seriously consider getting the entire range (I am a completist, really).

You have to read this post to understand why: Lego® Replicas Of Eames, Corbusier and Michelle Kaufmann Homes

Sneak pics of new LEGO Architecture sets?

Thought this may interest fans of the Architecture series.

Moop2000 Posted 19 April 2011 – 10:19 PM

I was looking at the Lego Architecture site today, and noticed something interesting on it. If you look carefully at the background in the main image here, you can see the Empire State building and the Space Needle, plus three others that haven’t been released. Don’t know if they will release those, but the gray one in the middle looks an awful lot like the Burj Khalifa. What do you all think?

I think so too, so here is the pic:

 

Any idea what the others are?

Some news round up

I guess most of my fellow AFOLs in Singapore have been busy hunting minifig series 4.  I actually haven’t had time to get any, so that’s a to-do this weekend…

Anyway, taking a break to share some LEGO news that I found interesting.

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1. Picture of latest architecture set Farnsworth House

Toys N Bricks shares a pic of 21009 Farnsworth House taken from the LEGO website.  You can read more from: http://toysnbricks.com/home/21009-official-picture/

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2. Groupon deal: $15 worth of eBay purchase for $7

Toys N Bricks also shared this great deal from Groupon for eBay.  Only valid till end of the month so don’t wait if you want to get some stuff from eBay k?  Before you run off to try and get a few dozen Groupons, take note that it’s limited to 1 per person and 1 per order.  Click here to buy this groupon.

Via: http://toysnbricks.com/home/usa-15-worth-of-ebay-purchases-for-only-7/

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3. Update on charity auction organised by TBB

The Brothers Brick showcases some great donations.  Personally I found these 2 to be the most interesting.  There are many other great creations you can see from here.  Note that shipping is free.

Btw, the ship is 3 metres long!  Do read more from TBB here: http://www.brothers-brick.com/2011/03/28/bricks-helping-japan-update/

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4. LEGO City ideas book

Killyrbf shares info on Sean Kenney’s Cool City.  Looks to have some nice city pics but at only 32 pages, I wonder if it’s worth getting?  Think I’ll hold out till Oct and see if anyone does a book review.  You can read more about the book from Killyrbf’s blog: http://killyrbf.blogspot.com/2011/03/build-me-city.html

The japanese idea book I mentioned previously is great btw.  Thanks to Jonathan who helped to get from Japan. 🙂

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5.  LEGO 3 in 1 Go Glow Light

ToyNews reports on yet another new LEGO licensed product.  Worlds Apart has tied up with TLG to create a 3 in 1 Go Glow Light that consists of a rechargeable night light, torch with colour change disk and an interchangeable Lego Minifigure.  

Those who have kids may be familiar with this product.  I’ve actually handled/played with (?) a Go Glow Light cos my niece and nephew have one.  Think it’s not a bad idea – soft induction to the world of LEGO ‘poison’ for your young one perhaps? 

Drawback tho? Nothing for girls AGAIN.  Geez… I’m sure it doesn’t take a genius to do a pink version with a nice fairy minifig right? (Like the one from the keychain).  Who knows, if TLG provides unique minifigs to Worlds Apart, they’ll even get some cross-over sales from AFOLs who must get hold of those minifigs.  Then again, a wider range is expected next year so there is still hope.

Via: http://www.toynews-online.biz/news/33672/Worlds-Apart-links-with-Lego

New exclusive and architecture series sets

I wasn’t too excited about the news… but then in case you are, here’s what Grogall shared in EB about 2 new exclusives and 2 new architecture series sets:

just received a list from list from a friend who works at TRU

and there are two more exclusive sets listed

Price and availability are unknown at the moment!

10220 VW Van item ID 4593087
10222 Seasonal Set ID 4593092

So 10221 is still open?

21008 Burj Khalifa-Dubai ID 4642302
21010 Farnsworth House ID 4642305

The list can be loaded from here!

The seasonal item is probably a follow-up to the winter theme… no surprise there.  VW Van is new tho.  As for the architecture sets… I’m kinda losing interest in the series…

You can read more from this EB thread.

Some MOCs I Like

Just met some A/TFOLs at a local store and was asked about my blogging frequency.  Apart from the usual “busy at work” and playing with the sets I got, I’ve also been busy playing hero in the land of Albion.  It doesn’t mean I stop posting stuff that are noteworthy, but some of the recent news like the new Architecture Series set – 21007 Rockefeller Center and all the partnership stuff with NASA I simply wasn’t interested enough to post after reading them. 

Anyway… interesting piece of news that I read recentlyfrom BrickJournal issue #12 (thanks to Andrew!) is that marcosbessa who is one of my favourite builders has joined TLG as a product designer. Am looking forward to seeing his work in future sets.

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Larry Lars made this Court House modeled after an actual building in Karlstad, Sweden for an exhibition at a local museum.

 RGB900 has created a Salon for fashionable minifigs to style their hair. Check out details like the TV on level 2. Very nicely done!  And great idea to put in the removable walls. 🙂

Pannier Tank 0-6-0 by bricktrix looks good… not a train person to really judge but to my untrained eye it looks good. 😛

I wonder if this LEGO Rocking Horse by  Bartosz Kurek really can be used? Perhaps a glued version?

And I leave you with this Transformable & Motorized Wall-E by  GYUTA. Apart from looking really cute, it can be packed up into a box and it moves too! Plus it also comes with it’s own little cooler box. Think this is the best LEGO Wall-E version I’ve seen so far. What do you think? Video after the pic (transformation starts at 1 min 54 sec into the video).

Lego Architecture set sales again on Amazon.com

News from Toys N Bricks. I can’t rem local (SG) prices to compare cost to buy & ship in vs from local stores tho.

Btw Borderlinx now has 30% off shipping with promo code 730317, so shipping should be cheaper than the S$71.25 I spent shipping in all 6 sets a while ago (see post here).

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Amazon.com is having LEGO Architecture sets on sale again. As usual, receive FREE Super Saver Shipping on purchases above $25. Thanks to forum member brickz for the heads up.

• LEGO 21005 Fallingwater $69.95 (reg.$99.99)
• LEGO 21004 Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum $32.76 (reg.$39.99)
• LEGO 21002 Empire State Building $17.1 (reg.$19.99)
• LEGO 21003 Seeatle Space Needle $17.1 (reg.$19.99)
• LEGO 21001 John Hancock Center $17.89 (reg.$19.99)