Microcities Series : Luseville - The Final Post

Luseville is a 64x64 microcity created by JD Luse from Washington State, USA.  Visit this city at http://www.mocpages.com/moc.php/84505

Shannonia by Shannon Young

Microcities Series : Shannonia

Microcities made from LEGO bricks are probably the easiest way to create your own private megalopolis.  The tiny scale enables its creator to play God at a stroke of several fingers. Add a hi-rise or a mountain here, lay a park or a beach there.  Move buildings around or redo the entire city grid.  One of a fine example of this expression comes from one of my favorite builders Shannon Young.  This microcity, shamelessly named Shannonia, is an ever-expanding playground of urban planning and economic realities. Take a tour, the Visitors Center is at http://www.mocpages.com/folder.php/16332

The Empire State Building at Ile Sainte-Hélène, Montreal, Québec, Canada. Spring 2008

World Iconic Skyscraper : The Empire State Building

When thinking about skyscrapers there is one particular structure that comes to mind : New York City’s Empire State Building.

Construction began during the Great Depression on January 22, 1930 and the masonry for the structure was completed on May 1, 1931. It took a mere 410 days to be completed. A record by any standard.  That is about the time it took me to design, collect the bricks and assemble this six-foot version shown here.  This LEGO model faithfully shows all 102 floors and 6,500 windows of the original building. The Empire State Building remained the tallest building in the city until it lost that title to the World Trade Center ‘s twin towers in 1973.  The disastrous fate of the latter gave the monument its title back. This landmark is the most extravagant example of the extension of the neoclassical style with inspiration of Art Deco.

Gratte-ciels Emblématiques du Monde : L’Empire State Building

Une des premières structures qui nous vient à l’esprit lorsque pense gratte-ciel est l’Empire State Building de New York.  Sa construction a débutée durant la Grande Dépression, le 22 janvier 1930 et il fut terminée le premier mai, 1931.  Un temps record de 410 jours; ce qui equivaut au temps que j’ai pris pour le design, pour accumuler les briques et les assembler afin de créer cette version de six pieds de hauteur.  Ce modèle en LEGO montre les 102 étages et les 6500 fenêtres de l’édifice original. Longtemps le plus haut gratte-ciel de la ville il fut détrôné par les tour jumelles du World Trade Center en 1973.  Le destin tragique de ces dernières permit à l’Empire State Building de regagner son titre.  Ce monument est un des exemples les plus extravagants du style néo-classique d’inspiration Art Déco.

Empire State Building 4x4

The Billboard Hotel

Building Utopolis Brikd

The journal of Building Utopolis is now found on BRIKD. The creations, the history, the present and future of this imaginary plastic city can be followed right here.

Le Journal de Building Utopolis se trouve maintenant sur BRIKD.  Les créations, l’histoire, le present et futur de cette ville imaginaire en plastique peuvent être suivis ici-même.

Hyper-realism in brick art characterizes Jim Garrett’s building models. His collection include many examples of of neo-classical gems inspired from “Detroit’s vast reservoir of architecture” : The David Stott Building (pictured), The Ford Building, The Griswold Building and the massive Fisher Building - among others.

Star Wars' Coruscant : A Favorite

The planet city of Coruscant is one of LEGO user’s recurring inspirational model.  There are many versions at different scales created by builders all over the World.  Here are three example if found noteworthy…

The Spires of Coruscant by Ron Praeger.  This is an on-going project for Ron where he makes constant changes including location changes for many smaller structures, some redesigns of small buildings, and several entirely new buildings.

Pepa Quin created models of specific buildings within Coruscant.  This model shows Padme’s Apartment with amazing details.

This is Gabriel Whittemore’s fourth version of Coruscant. Getting bigger and bigger.  This creation shows a high-density portion of the planet city.

The Ambassadeur Hotel was inaugurated officially as part of the QueLUG model city.

Giant models of The World Trade Center’s twin towers by Natalie Boucher were presented as part of a model city created by members of The Quebec LEGO User Group at the Canadian Railway Museum in Saint-Constant, QC last weekend.

Westmount, QC unreal estate developer Anik Fournelle (inset) recently signed a lease for the Empire State Building of Utopolis. Shown here is the model standing prominently in Ms. Fournelle living room.  The building is lit at night for passerbys to admire.