Bascilica by Ben Harris on Brickshelf

[Bruce N H]

Hi all,

Check out this bascilica by Ben Harris:
http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=94831



So many great features it's hard to start describing them. If I had to pick two they would be the curved wall with the arched windows behind the altar, and the beautiful domed roof.

While you're at it, check out his whole gallery:
http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/galle ... m=Tycho123
Lots of great creations--ships, trebuchet, fortresses, battle.

Bruce

[SavaTheAggie]

I like it.

I like the curved wall ALOT, that's a great variant on the 1x3, round 1x1 curved wall.

I like entrance a lot too, great SNOT use of those sloped wedges.

It's a bit too colorful for my taste on the inside, but that's most likely the product of building something that big with small collection, which I can understand. Replace all the black pillars and arches with light grey and you'd be in business.

The brick dome is pretty cool, but it needs a little refinement IMO, it could use a bit more gentle of a slope, or make it taller and keep the general shape of the lower section.

The roof above the curved wall could also use some refinement, it looks like it falls short of even reaching the farthest edges.

But these are really only minor nit picks.

Overall I think its a great MOC, makes me want to make a church of my own.

--Anthony

[forester3291]

Very cool. I really like the arches on the inside and the domed roof is awesome. The detail is pretty nice too.

And the whole roof is very nice. I like how it juts out at different places.



I have a small question guys. What does SNOT stand for?

[Bruce N H]

Hey all,

Just to add. I just reallized that Ben Harris = Tycho McKorley from our forums.
http://www.classic-castle.com/forum/pro ... file&u=124

Tycho/Ben, stand up and take a bow. Great work.

Bruce

[Formendacil]

I was checking this out earlier. It REALLY caught my eye. The only thing I don't really care for is the large amounts of red, but that is more of an colour preference on my part than a criticism of the creator's style or techniques.

[Tycho McKorley]

Thank you all for the compliments and comments about my creation! Allow me, please, to give a brief explanation for some parts of it.

I built the basilica in Romanesque style. Most online Lego churches seem to be an eclectic blend of Gothic, Ottonian, and Carolingian architecture. While I enjoy and appreciate such Lego creations, I decided that I wanted to create something different by adhering very specifically to an architectural style. I imagine that in the future I'll blend different elements from different styles to reflect the gradual evolution of a church over time.

I currently attend Brigham Young University in Utah and as such I really cannot afford more Lego. Therefore, I had to be happy with a relatively "colorful" inside. However, I will say that Romanesque, Byzantine, and even Gothic churches were actually quite a bit more colorful than they are in our time. Weathering and reconstruction have gradually eliminated the colors inside many of the churches.

The roof does reach and overlap the sides of the building. Perhaps the pictures did not illustrate this well enough. Also, I realized early in the construction of my church that creating a point with the 45-degree slopes would make the roof gargantuan. Remembering that churches often served as defensive locations in medieval towns and cities, I flattened the top of the roof and gave it crenellations so that it could fulfill that purpose. I did, however, take some license in making the crenellations unrealistically small (a.k.a. standard Lego castle size). They looked better that way.

Anyway, this church represents my best work with my limited pieces. I'm just grateful that I ordered large amounts of light gray before my budge became as strapped as it is.

[lil Jon]

I really admire the detailed arches above his doorways.

I wish I could build/had enough pieces to build something that detailed.

[The Blue Knight]

Lots to like here.

The curved wall is one of best gifts from Hairy Parter. I admire the work on the dome. I have never been able to get one to work, nice job. And the interiors are some of the best I've seen for a church or any variant thereof. The colors aren't the greatest, but we all have our monetary constraints, don't we? And they really are as close as Lego can get for type (Mediterranean) of architechture. I appreciate the level of detail required to keep it stable while the roof is off. A very impressive accomplishment, you ought to be proud.

[MaxiVisVires]

This MOC is simply amazing. The work done on the outside is only second to the work inside. The detail inside is just incredible. It really has a church feel to it that I am familiar with. Very good attention to detail. Great work!

[jwcbigdog]

I have really liked all the cathedral style churches I have seen on here and Brickshelf, but this is the first example of a bascilica I have seen. That curved wall is very creative and is the best part of the MOC for me, but the dome is really great!

Slightly off topic: What is SNOT?

[Luís]

Great buildings Thyco.
I love them all.

[wlister]

Very Nice work,

The interior detailing is quite excellent. The small crenellations are an nice touch and the arched windows are very nicely placed. I do like the dome on the roof, but the half dome over the curved wall looks like it needs some tweaking, it just seems a bit too blocky. My overall impression was Wow!!! So the criticisms are very lightly given.

Will

[Tycho McKorley]

Thank you all again for the wonderful comments and constructive criticism. For my next project, I'll be sure to apply some of your suggestions.

but the half dome over the curved wall looks like it needs some tweaking

Yes, I most certainly agree that it does. I'm completely out of red plates, however. For the time being, it will just have to stay that way I suppose.

Slightly off topic: What is SNOT?

SNOT = Studs Not On Top. Space heads use it a lot to spruce up their creations. The transept (the part that pokes out from the main building to form little chapels) of my bascilica uses SNOT for its roof.

[Duke_Dave]

Regardless of so called 'wrong color, needs tweaking and SNOT ' Its beutiful, Awsome, Awe inspiring and all those good things. as stated I like it!


Dave