Preface I remember building with basic LEGO bricks as a child My natural tendency even then was to build architectural structures structures My dad is a general contractor so I grew up around the building process surrounded by unusual woodworking projects like a convex front door I suspect my early exposure to building projects trained me to see the little details in architecture architecture everywhere When I travel I always have a camera in hand to capture interesting and often quirky designs Maybe I’ll get a few odd looks when snapping a photo of what appears to be a boring wall but if there’s an interesting detail I want to document it In addition to finding inspiration in real-world architecture I am motivated by the LEGO community and the models I see at conventions in workshops and on blog posts There are so many phenomenal builders who stretch the repertoire of how bricks can be used not just in architectural models but in the LEGO world as a whole It’s important to acknowledge the influence of other people’s ideas even when they may be unconsciously absorbed So to all the builders out there thank you for contributing to the collective creative wisdom of this community I am grateful to everyone who may have contributed even in the slightest way to a light-bulb moment It is the collective creativity of us all that keeps this hobby fresh and inspiring About This Book I hope that builders of all ages and experiences will find this book to be a useful tool and a source of inspiration Just as a writer consults a thesaurus to find more interesting words you can use this book to incorporate more interesting and detailed architectural elements into your buildings viii Preface Identifying Parts There are thousands of different LEGO parts and many different different online catalogs and references Unfortunately the naming and part numbering systems used by these catalogs are not universal obvious or logical I have tried to find a happy medium when identifying parts used in the models using the following convention 1x2 plate with handle on side 48336 Size Part name Part number Size Some catalogs reverse the size format for certain parts For example BrickLink https www bricklink com lists slopes as 4x2 instead of 2x4 If the size doesn’t seem to make sense try reversing it Part Name Names are made as concise and clear as possible possible Printed parts and stickers have extremely long names so many are referenced by what sets they come in Part Number Some catalogs differentiate between many different versions of a part Molds have changed over the decades so sometimes a part will have identifiers like a b or c at the end of the number I omit these identifiers as it usually doesn’t matter which version it is When it does matter I make a note of it Some parts have versions with distinct numbers such as 1x2 jumper plates which come in two different versions The main difference between the versions is whether the bottom has a post that fits into the center of an open stud 3794 or three equal divided stud holders 15573
Brickwork
Simple Brick Walls Use modified bricks to create wall variations and patterns Texture can make a monochromatic wall more interesting without using more-complicated techniques 1x2 modified brick with masonry profile 98283 1x2 modified brick with grill 2877 1x2 jumper plate 3794 15573 1x2 modified log brick 30136 1x2 modified brick with groove 4216 2x2 modified brick with sloped end 47457 2 Brickwork
Decorative Relief Raised tiles hinge bricks and hinge plates add texture to plain surfaces creating decorative relief patterns Raised tiles add interest to a monochromatic wall The wall can be set back on jumper plates left or flush right Raised 1x2 tiles 3069 add texture to 1x2 modified bricks with masonry profile 98283 and a subtle color contrast adds interest The bump of the hinge bricks 3830 with 3831 creates the look of irregular bricks that can be arranged randomly or in a pattern Hinge plates 2429 with 2430 create a similar texture Brickwork 3
