LEGO Architecture: The Visual Guide

by Philip Wilkinson

Explore iconic buildings re-imagined in LEGO® bricks

Sleek, stylish, and perfectly proportioned, LEGO® Architecture models are as inspirational as the landmark buildings and structures they celebrate. Created in collaboration with LEGO Architecture artists, the book gives you unique insights into the creative process behind their designs. LEGO® Architecture: The Visual Guide takes you on a stunning photographic tour of the models of best-loved buildings around the world, including the Sydney Opera House, the Guggenheim Museum, the Eiffel Tower and much more.

This fascinating guide also includes an afterword by renowned LEGO architectural artist Adam Reed Tucker.

©2015 The LEGO Group.

Genres: Architecture, Nonfiction, Art

232 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2014

About the author

Philip Wilkinson (born 1955) is the author of non-fiction books for children and adults. He was educated at Corpus Christi College, Oxford. He worked as an editor prior to becoming an author.

He specializes in works on history, the arts, religion, and architecture and has written over forty titles.

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay I will put my hand up and say that I was raised on Lego and so have an unchallengeable love for the stuff - from my early years where my grandparents would treat me to kit every holiday all the way to me finding the world of custom builders and designs.

So now there seems to be a new wave of high quality books dedicated to the stuff on a variety of subjects. In this case showcasing the rather unique range of Lego Architecture.

These kits are not cheap and are highly specialised - and highlight the more stylised artistic capabilities rather than the creativity and play you would more often associate with the brand.

However this all leads to a beautiful book you would not expect, the images are bold and eye catching, the text informative and yes there is lots and lots of lego. I guess however to someone who does not get Lego this book could seem as a rather extravagant indulgence, from the thick cardboard sleeve it comes in to the heavy paper gauge each page is printed on. This is the sort of book you would expect to review the portfolio of an award winning artist on not a collection of colour plastic bricks.

[Mike Violano · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like architecture and LEGOs this is a must read. My daughter Leila gifted me this book for Christmas after she gifted me the Fallingwater Lego kit for my birthday in November 2106. It includes all the architecture LEGO kits from 2008 to 2014...many of which are no longer available except on ebay and other sites. Each model includes a description of the original building. I have the Imperial Hotel and Eiffel Tower on my want list.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great buildings.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic book

[William V · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a beautiful overview of the creative possibilities of brick building, serving as an inspiring visual journey through iconic structures reimagined in miniature form. The photography is exceptional, highlighting the intricate details and surprising fidelity achieved in these scaled-down architectural masterpieces, captivating both design enthusiasts and brick fans. However, while a feast for the eyes and a great source of inspiration, it functions more as a showcase than a comprehensive building manual, offering limited in-depth construction techniques or broader architectural insights. Despite its focus on visual appreciation over technical instruction, it remains a fantastic and elegant volume for anyone fascinated by the intersection of building blocks and architectural design.

[Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are interested in architecture or LEGO building techniques you will enjoy this book. It has quick histories of the buildings, and brief discussions from the LEGO designers on how they tried to capture the essence of each. An interesting look into architecture as art, and the LEGO development process. My only two quibbles with the book are the colors used for text (silver on white or black backgrounds aren't always the easiest to read) and somewhat sparse LEGO building diagrams (it would be nice to see more details of the actual building techniques).

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone who has a Lego addiction (or, as in my case, grandsons) This is a remarkable coffe table-type book to share. Many famous structures have become Lego sets and the chance to compare Lego engineering with actual buildings in actual places offered many non-Lego discussions in historical and geographical topics, as well.

[Sharon Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful! Glossy detailed pics of both the original buildings and the LEGO models, with info on the design of each building from architectural and model perspectives. The exploded views of the models give a good indication of build complexity, so a good guide in selecting kits for the ol' wish list. :-)

[Beckie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stunningly beautiful coffee table book that would make a perfect gift for the older Lego fan, an architect, or anyone who appreciates the mixture of the two professional art forms. I borrowed this from the library, and would love to add it to my personal collection.

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

A neat book that shows the process of designing LEGO set.