LEGO Architecture event this weekend

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Bruce N H
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LEGO Architecture event this weekend

Post by Bruce N H »

Hey all,

At 450 Barnes & Noble stores this weekend there will be an event celebrating the launch of a new set, 2150, LEGO Architecture Studio. They will have local architects speaking about design, and there will be public building. Follow the link to see if there is an event near you. There does not appear to be any cost. This seems to be limited to US locations, but I'm not sure about that. The set itself is basically a big box of 1210 mostly white elements and includes a book on architecture and LEGO.

Image

Personally I want the book, but the set itself seems overpriced for what it is. For comparison, the Helm's Deep set is $20 less for 100 more pieces, and that has the license markup and specialized parts. If you look at the parts list you can see that this is all pretty basic parts. Basically it's like they stocked the Pick-a-Brick wall in all white. A very cool idea, but it should be about $100.

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Okay, not sure why I bothered, but I get a little OCD sometimes. I went through and priced this set on Bricklink, and it came to $140. I limited myself to US stores (except for one part, more in a second), but just went with the cheapest store that could get me the right quantity in each case, without bothering to try to find one store that gave me the different pieces. So by buying from lots of different stores it would be much more after paying multiple sellers shipping fees. So based on that, the price is about right, especially after adding in a 250 page book.
BUT
It turns out that trans clear 1x1 tiles are really pricy. To get one will cost you over $.50, to get them in quantity you have to go to a Dutch store that is charging $.97 each. So the $140 price above is counting $36 in 1x1 trans clear tiles. If you forgo these, you could approximate this set for $102.54. If you further went without the 1x2 trans clear tiles (not as bad, but still pricey), you further knock this down to $80.
Wait, you say, my architectural masterpieces need windows. I need those trans parts. Okay, I say, let's go back and replace the trans clear tiles with trans clear plates (better for windows in a micro building, anyway) (and these have been known to show up on the PaB walls, so you can get them pretty easily). Now you approximate this set for $82.
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I really have no idea who will buy this set. Parents won't get this for their kids - too pricy and, well, boring. There's no movie tie-in, so no collectors who would shell out the cash for a Death Star. AFOLs (aside from those people who really really really need trans clear tiles) won't because they can just get basic bricks from Bricklink and Pick-a-brick. The only people I see getting these are institutions - maybe design schools, children's museums, architecture firms perhaps.

But definitely stop by B&N for the event. Share pictures here if you do.

Bruce
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Forestboy
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Re: LEGO Architecture event this weekend

Post by Forestboy »

Reminds me of Modulex. The whole "aimed at serious architects" thing. Are there that many out there? :? White is by far the most abundant color in my collection, and while the set contains some interesting things, it's not enough to drop that much money on, imo. My brother works at a B&N, but from what we gathered, there would be nothing free to get from the event (don't quote me on that). It'd be mostly discussion and then an opportunity to get the set I assume. I'll let you guys know if I gather anymore info.

I think what we need to do, is get TLG to put those trans-tiles at PaB walls in Lego stores in order to flood the online market so that the price drops. :twisted:

~FB~
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Bruce N H
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Re: LEGO Architecture event this weekend

Post by Bruce N H »

Update: Mariann Asanuma was at one of these events, and she confirmed that the set does not have 1x1 and 1x2 trans clear tiles, but instead has lots of 1x1 and 1x2 trans clear plates (I was looking at a picture of the parts list image on the side of the box, so it was my mistake). As such, the price of this is completely out of whack, IMO, as this is $150 for about $85 worth of bricks, plus the book. I want the book, but I don't want it $65 worth. I'd probably buy it on it's own for $30.

Bruce
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Forestboy
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Re: LEGO Architecture event this weekend

Post by Forestboy »

Oh! They're different pieces all together. :tasty: Hmmm...well, interesting move from Lego.

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Re: LEGO Architecture event this weekend

Post by Frank_Lloyd_Knight »

I suspect Lego must have received a letter from a kid whose architect father kept raiding his toy box asking them to develop such a set.
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