The LEGO Architect

Travel through the history of architecture in The LEGO Architect. You’ll learn about styles like Art Deco, Modernism, and High-Tech, and find inspiration in galleries of LEGO models. Then take your turn building 12 models in a variety of styles. Snap together some bricks and learn architecture the fun way!

Age Range: 10 and up 

Grade Level: 5 and up

Hardcover: 192 pages

Publisher: No Starch Press; 1 edition (September 1, 2015)

Language: English

Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 0.7 x 9.3 inches

Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds

Reviews

"Stunning...be the Corbusier of LEGO." - Wall Street Journal

"As educational as it is fun, The LEGO Architect is full of bite-sized portions of architectural history, beginning with the first use of columns in ancient Egypt, back when they weren’t tiny and plastic." - The Huffington Post

"The pictures are gorgeous, and I am finding myself looking at buildings differently now. Although I am familiar with a few Design fields, Architecture is very much a mystery. The book is a great primer on various types, with short stories and key designs pictured. It is of course a Lego book as well. I grew up playing Lego, and made up my own way to represent what I saw (mainly spaceships! Robotech! Star Trek!) with the little bricks. I enjoy studying other people's ways in the book. It is fun to read about different builders. The author has a useful website with tips about organizing your Lego, complete with labels you can print out. When I'm done building, the book goes back my coffee table for everyone to pick up and enjoy. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED."

- Unipanda

"I'm a life long LEGO fan and bought the book because it was a cool concept. I was expecting some photos of famous buildings constructed with a blurb here and there. What I got is an exquisite Coffee Table book with a delightfully deeper survey of architectural styles than anticipated and step by step guides on how to build realistic multi-scale scale versions of each There is real re-reading value here, which is a nice surprise.

To those reviewers complaining about the models requiring the architecture LEGO set and the book being useless without it, I would like to re-read the prologue where the author explicitly states the all white models were used for clarity, but any colors will work and he encourages creativity continually throughout the book. Besides, not having the exact right piece is a cornerstone of the LEGO experience! If you don't have a slope piece, use your imagination and engineer something similar with what you do have... that's the Magic of LEGO and this book encapsulates it well."

- Rob in Seattle

"Surprising book. Teaches you basic architecture history, and gives you actionable plans for building mini replicas. Very educational. Infotainment at it's best."

- Yan Li

"Thought this book was going to be paperback but it actually came as a nice hardback book with great ideas inside.such a steal for the price, especially if you are into Legos or architecture!"

- Alexandra Wilken

"Super cool. Got this for my brother (he's in his late 20s and has always loved Legos). This book inspired him to break apart a bunch of his old sets and start building a mini city out of legos!"

- MC Hammer

"An amazing exploration of both modern and classical architecture made with Legos. As someone with a nephew still into Legos as a high school freshman, this book was a no-brainer. It introduces him into styles of architecture he might only experience in a college classroom and gives him new ideas to put into his Minecraft universe."

- Mudir Nahya

"The LEGO Architect is a richly illustrated volume of architectural wonders featuring real buildings and their LEGO recreations. The book offers a nice blend of history, education, building instructions and jaw-dropping LEGO creations. The text is informative but brief and the photography and instructional renderings are excellent.

I am a huge fan of the “You view it and you do it” genre of LEGO books and Tom Alphin’s The LEGO Architect book is a winner. Alphin introduces you to a particular style and description of architecture, then offers instructions so you can build an example yourself.

Unlike other building books that require a room-full of specialized bricks in a myriad of colors, Alphin sticks to small-scale models using only white bricks. These monochrome creations still look great while forcing you to focus on their defining attributes.

The LEGO Architect begins with an overview of neoclassical architecture and invites you to build a tiny domed building. Next you move on to prairie and art deco styles, modern and brutalist works, then wrap up with post-modern and high tech architecture. There’s a small model you can build that illustrates each style, yet it is pretty interesting to just look at the building instructions.

Alphin wraps up the book by profiling a few LEGO building experts while remaining true to the architectural theme. You will learn about scale, form, detail, color and the various types of bricks you can use to create your own architectural masterpieces."

- A. Glennon

About the Author

Tom Alphin is the author of "The LEGO Architect", a book which explores 7 architectural styles through amazing LEGO Models, photos of amazing real buildings, and projects you can build your self to explore the key design elements of each style.