This week the first six oversize Lego bricks were laid for the foundation of the Lego House in Billund, Denmark, the Lego Group’s hometown. Designed by BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group, the architecture of the Lego House is based on—what else but?—the iconic shape of the Lego brick.
Unlike metaphorical Lego houses dreamed up by pop stars or the rather cheesy amusement park aesthetic of Legoland, the architects’ renderings for the Lego House promise a sophisticated, streamlined modern building that elevates the possibilities of Lego design.
Courtesy of the Lego Group
“For me the LEGO brick embodies the notion of systematic creativity—that the rigor and rationality of the LEGO brick allows children of all ages infinite possibilities to create their own worlds and to inhabit them through play,” BIG founder Bjarke Ingels said in a press statement. “We have been inspired by the modularity of the LEGO brick to create the LEGO House. It will appear like a cloud of interlocking LEGO bricks that form spaces for exploration and exhibition for its visitors within. On the outside the pile of bricks form the roof of a new covered square as well as a mountain of interconnected terraces and playgrounds.”
Courtesy of the Lego Group
The building is scheduled to open in 2016. It promises “vast experience areas,” a café, a Lego store, and several roof terraces. It hopes to become a destination for an annual 250,000 visitors.
Check out this animated video of the architects’ vision for a virtual tour:
