I saw something recently about Modular designs with “inverted corners” to create some interesting public space in your Lego city. So, one recent cold and lonely night (actually it was neither cold nor I lonely – but I digress) I decided to play with a couple of ideas in Studio. I also coupled the design with my skinny modular concept I have been exploring. The skinny modular features buildings merely 8 studs wide – at street front.
Designing in Studio holds several advantages. I can work with unlimited parts in virtually any color available. Also, there are no bricks to clean up on my workbench (or coffee table) when I am done for the night.
Also, designing digitally instead of in reality, I can start anywhere I want with the model. One of my biggest hangups has been getting carried away with the foundation or street-scape and never actually getting the vertical portion of the project built. As evidence of this, I have four or five baseplates with foundations floating around my Lego room waiting on me to get the bricks necessary to continue with the construction.
So my basic concept is two skinny modulars, set perpendicular to one another. The one on the left – shown in all black – will be a skyscraper of sorts, with seven or eight floors (minifig scale skyscrapers end up real tall, real quick). The entry to the building will open into the plaza created by the two buildings on the corner. It is envisioned as a steel frame with extensive glazing — think Mies van der Rohe and the Chicago style.
The opposing building is a more traditional masonry structure, probably three stories tall, with a more ornate cornice and a much heavier structural feel with less, but tall windows on each floor. Its entrance will be on the narrow, street side of the building.
From a design standpoint, I like the juxtaposition of the two style abutting one another. I also like the public plaza and the interesting street-scape opportunities it offers.
Finally, one of the features I like best about designing with Studio is the ability to develop a parts list and a wanted list for those parts in BrickLink. Hopefully, when I do decide to pull the trigger on the actual build, it will allow me to order the necessary parts so I can build it like a real set – instead of running out of the right pieces as I generally do.
Let me know what you think. I always appreciate comments and critiques of my designs in progress – its the old architect in me.
