Who else wishes we had a LEGO House in Toronto?
By Lucas on Oct 11, 2017
The amazingly, fantastical LEGO House is now complete! Designed by BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group in partnership with LEGO, The Home of the LEGO Brick is now Billund, Denmark’s most famous landmark.
The LEGO House features exhibition spaces and public spaces. Construction began in 2014 and replaced Billund’s old city hall.
Photo by Iwan Baan
“All activities in the house are related to our LEGO philosophy that learning through play promotes innovation and creativity,” says Jesper Vilstrup, LEGO House CEO, in a recent release.
“Play runs through the LEGO Group’s DNA, and it is really brought to life in LEGO House,” he adds. “Everything from experience zones and outdoor areas to our restaurant concepts is based on play and creativity, so no matter what you do in LEGO House, it will have something to do with playing.”
There are 21 overlapping blocks framing the LEGO Square. The plaza is like an “urban cave” with no visible columns, which features a cafe, a restaurant, a LEGO store, and conference facilities.
Photo by Iwan Baan
There are also galleries, each one is colour coded in LEGO’s primary colours, so the wayfinding system is easy and playful. Floor one and two feature four play zones offering interactive experiences.
Photo by Iwan Baan
“LEGO house is a literal manifestation of the infinite possibilities of the LEGO brick,” says Bjarke Ingels, Founding Partner, BIG. “Through systematic creativity, children of all ages are empowered with the tools to create their own worlds and to inhabit them through play.”
Photo by Iwan Baan
At the top of the building, there is the Masterpiece Gallery, where you’ll discover a collection of beloved creations, paying tribute to the talented LEGO community. There are eight skylights in the Masterpiece Gallery, resembling the iconic LEGO studs. This space also offers a 360 degree panoramic view of the city.
Photo by Iwan Baan
“At its finest – that is what architecture – and LEGO play – is all about: enabling people to imagine new worlds that are more exciting and expressive than the status quo, and to provide them with the skills to make them reality,” adds Ingels. “This is what children do every day with LEGO bricks – and this is what we have done today at LEGO House with actual bricks, taking Billund a step closer towards becoming the Capital for Children.”
So, do you wish we had a LEGO House in Toronto?
