Modular Building Sets - Rumours and Discussion

[Lion King]

6 hours ago, Pauolo said:

It's this one: https://beta.ideas.lego.com/challenges/13efb619-ae00-43e3-9e81-12e34008710f/entries/64bcadb0-9b6e-44cd-93d5-a36ffbc7745e

I've seen some pretty good submissions in the competition. I like a lot the book vendor from 
AdmiralHardheadedTiger that looks exactly like the many green book seller boxes allong the Seine in Paris. It would be a great addition to the PR.

I like your submission! It does have its own charm, great work! I wish you a best of luck :) 

58 minutes ago, Pauolo said:

Onanother subject, I think it's a shame that Lego didn't make more modular-compatible sets as part of their seasonal themes (Winter Village, Lunar New Year, Easter, Halloween, etc...). More parks like 80107 would have been great, like a a snowy one with a Christmas market as part of Winter Village for example.

I have an exact thought!. It would be cool to see Antique Toy Store for Christmas theme, Haunted Manor for Halloween,  Park for Easter, etc. I think we had Lunar New Year (Latern festival set) a few years ago that fits very nicely with modular buildings.  Day of the Dead modular building set would be cool. 

I feel that Family Reunion restaurant set shoudl be a 16x32 modular building with back wall included. 

And I see that 16x32 modular buildings are very popular as MOC recently. It makes me wonder if Lego would realize that they probably make official 16x32 modular buildings annually along with full-baseplate modular building. 

[Pauolo]

5 hours ago, Lion King said:

I like your submission! It does have its own charm, great work! I wish you a best of luck :) 

Thank you!

[Pauolo]

In the end, my project wasn't selected. 😔 But of the 15 selected ones, I really like the urban face sketcher. I feel that was never done by Lego before. It could work well as part of a modular park.

Anyway, here's the full list of the 15 selected submissions. Votes are open up until January 6: https://beta.ideas.lego.com/blog/50dccdde-f014-4e63-b461-e53225c4208e

[Shiva]

I couldn't vote for your build, sadly. So I went thru the 15 and voted for Urban face sketcher. I come here and see that you too, Pauolo, voted for the same. :)

[hikouki]

I would somehow prefer these kiosk builds as GWP for modulars rather than just vehicles. Not that I do not like the vehicles, but just that we have had several already.

[Pauolo]

I'm fine with with modular-related GWP being either a vehicle or kiosk/food stand/fountain or simply scenery elements (like 40221). As long as it's a subject that hasn't been done repeatedly in City or Friends themes (like hot dog stands or coffee carts).

But regarding scenery elements, I feel that Lego has been encouraging fans to make their own models. 2 years ago, they released 3 plans for free to be made out of Pick-a-Brick orders: https://brickset.com/article/101751/modular-building-compatible-models-added-to-pick-a-brick

I certainly want to make a modular-compatible city park, integrate a modded 40778 and the past Fountain gwp.

[Lion King]

1 hour ago, Pauolo said:

I'm fine with with modular-related GWP being either a vehicle or kiosk/food stand/fountain or simply scenery elements (like 40221). As long as it's a subject that hasn't been done repeatedly in City or Friends themes (like hot dog stands or coffee carts).

But regarding scenery elements, I feel that Lego has been encouraging fans to make their own models. 2 years ago, they released 3 plans for free to be made out of Pick-a-Brick orders: https://brickset.com/article/101751/modular-building-compatible-models-added-to-pick-a-brick

I certainly want to make a modular-compatible city park, integrate a modded 40778 and the past Fountain gwp.

I never like  GWPs beucse of stickers and thick plates. I am okay with vehicles. There is no way for me to fit Corner Kiosk somewhere in my city.

Those 3 add-ons are a great idea to get through PAB, especially when they include 16x32 baseplates.  I have been wonderinging if they would release actual 16x32 modular building sets (not two 16x32 baseplates) just like employee-only GWP (even tho it has two 16x32 baseplates).  I would love to see a small park on a 16x32 baseplate like this winter-themed one.  Not a fan of wig stand. And it’s really weird to see a portable restroom with see-through walls! Of course it’s Lego so you can re-model them. 

[hikouki]

1 hour ago, Pauolo said:

I'm fine with with modular-related GWP being either a vehicle or kiosk/food stand/fountain or simply scenery elements (like 40221). As long as it's a subject that hasn't been done repeatedly in City or Friends themes (like hot dog stands or coffee carts).

But regarding scenery elements, I feel that Lego has been encouraging fans to make their own models. 2 years ago, they released 3 plans for free to be made out of Pick-a-Brick orders: https://brickset.com/article/101751/modular-building-compatible-models-added-to-pick-a-brick

I certainly want to make a modular-compatible city park, integrate a modded 40778 and the past Fountain gwp.

Wig stand?!? Never thought that it could be a thing. LOL

[HibiscusDrive]

Just an observation I made...

The last few years Brickset has been quick to publish a review of the new modular, as well as how the new modular looks next to others. This year, nothing.  And the set was unveiled 3+ weeks ago. 

 

[Pauolo]

14 hours ago, HibiscusDrive said:

Just an observation I made...

The last few years Brickset has been quick to publish a review of the new modular, as well as how the new modular looks next to others. This year, nothing.  And the set was unveiled 3+ weeks ago. 

 

Not just Brickset, it's also true for a few other websites I follow. I know that most of them are getting their review sets from Amazon through an affiliation program. It could be Amazon didn't get or send enough copies to reviewers, or sent them late and those reviewers are still writing their review.

[Roebuck]

1 hour ago, Pauolo said:

Not just Brickset, it's also true for a few other websites I follow. I know that most of them are getting their review sets from Amazon through an affiliation program. It could be Amazon didn't get or send enough copies to reviewers, or sent them late and those reviewers are still writing their review.

If they are in LAN they get them directly from Lego I assume?! Non LAN members must buy the sets like the rest of us before they can review them, some of them might get hold of set that was stolen or sold to early etc and publish a review before everyone else..
 

15 hours ago, HibiscusDrive said:

Just an observation I made...

The last few years Brickset has been quick to publish a review of the new modular, as well as how the new modular looks next to others. This year, nothing.  And the set was unveiled 3+ weeks ago. 

 

It depends on what deadline they have gotten from Lego, they are not allowed to publish a review before a certain date/time..

[Lyichir]

10 hours ago, Roebuck said:

If they are in LAN they get them directly from Lego I assume?! Non LAN members must buy the sets like the rest of us before they can review them, some of them might get hold of set that was stolen or sold to early etc and publish a review before everyone else..
 

It depends on what deadline they have gotten from Lego, they are not allowed to publish a review before a certain date/time..

 

Other LAN sites like New Elementary, Brothers Brick, as well as several YouTubers have reviewed the set, so it's probably not a case where an embargo hasn't been reached.

It's probably just a matter of time and scheduling. Not every site always has time to drop everything already in progress to prioritize an upcoming set, even a highly anticipated one like this.

[Lion King]

Jay’s Brick Blog didn’t get his review up yet but I saw one review from Brick Archiect. 

[DeanLearner]

Does seem odd, given that Brickset have continued to put out other reviews. Nothing up when I just rechecked, but I’m definitely keen to see the review from Brick Architect. I’m interested to see their take on what feels like a bit of an architectural mish-mash, particularly the building on the left, which has some weirdly pseudo art-nouveau flourishes, but which feel more like a lack of alternative ideas, given the inconsistent style seen elsewhere in the building.

[Roebuck]

13 hours ago, Lyichir said:

 

Other LAN sites like New Elementary, Brothers Brick, as well as several YouTubers have reviewed the set, so it's probably not a case where an embargo hasn't been reached.

It's probably just a matter of time and scheduling. Not every site always has time to drop everything already in progress to prioritize an upcoming set, even a highly anticipated one like this.

Yes I agree, got the impression no one had done it, but when I think about it I have seen some others 
 

12 hours ago, DeanLearner said:

Does seem odd, given that Brickset have continued to put out other reviews. 

Maybe they have done those before or the person doing the modular have not have time, taken a Xmas holiday or been out with the flue etc. I am sure it will show up one day 

[Pauolo]

I doubt there's some form of embargo on reviews of the 2026's modular. However, there's so many sets of various size (79 according to the Lego website) coming out on January 1st that it may have bloated the reviewers' plannings. Also the fact that the set got revealed so late, and was probably shipped to reviewers late...

[DeanLearner]

Still, it really does feel like the Modular series is rapidly falling in the order of priorities for both LEGO and the association LAN (or whatever it’s called these days).

I’ll await to see more of the set before further assessment, but there is a lot about SS that feels like it missed a Beta testing phase, and it feels like a far cry from a Modular building being the “reward” for years of proven service and accomplished set design.

I think it’s notable (with TC maybe being the exception) that most of the highest-regarded Modulars have been designed by more experienced designers. For a whole host of reasons, too much of SS feels like middling Rebrickable MOC.

[Pauolo]

I'm not sure what you mean by rapidly falling. This set's review situation seems like an exception compared to the past 3 years or so. 

 

[Lyichir]

I don't know if I'd say that experienced designers make better modulars. I think it might sometimes be almost the opposite—that people are inherently more critical toward modulars when they're coming from a designer they haven't heard of, and are less willing to view differences between those new designs and the ones they're used to as anything but bad. Give people something easy to blame their initial reactions on, and it becomes easier for them to reinforce those reactions instead of approaching with a more open mind.

Of course, designers don't get experienced except by getting to design sets in the first place—listening to fans it'd be easy to forget that the Café Corner was one of Jamie Berard's first set designs, and that he wouldn't have gotten to work on the later, better modulars of his career if he had not started there. And especially for a series as high-profile as the Modular Buildings series, newer designers don't get to be tasked with one unless their ideas are selected and approved by those more experienced senior designers. But of course, the backseat designers in the fan community like to think they know best, and cry out repeatedly for their favorite designers to do all the work themselves instead of trusting and fostering newer talent and letting their unique ideas and perspectives leave a mark on the series.

None of these discussions are new. Ever since Jamie Berard stopped designing every single modular himself fans have been whining and complaining that the series is on the decline (heck, even before that, people were complaining about the Fire Brigade being the worst modular ever). But usually those discussions soften once people start to get the new set in hand and whiners who made a big stink about the set before even having it in hand become outnumbered by people who did get it and decided it's pretty cool, actually.

[Lion King]

Don’t’ get me wrong but I appreciate that Jamie Berard is away from Modular Buildings series. It means that it lets newer designers come up with unique & clever buidling techiques as they have ideas.  I always appreciate Jamie Berard’s work but I also appreciate low-profile designers like  Hoang Dang for Shopping Street.  

I reallly don’t understand why AFOLs saying Jazz Club is like a Creator set or Naturali History Museum is “too much green like Parisian Restaurant”.  Or even Shopping Street is a “mini—mix of Boutqiue Hotel and Assembly Square”.  All I see is that different designers come with their unique ideas and I love it. I think it’s called empowerment that Jamie Berard should let different designers do after his departure from Modular Buidlings series.  

On the other hand, AFOLs like to buy unofficial modular buildings off rebrickables, maybe it drives the official series to decline? 

[Pauolo]

5 hours ago, Lion King said:

I reallly don’t understand why AFOLs saying Jazz Club is like a Creator set or Naturali History Museum is “too much green like Parisian Restaurant”.  Or even Shopping Street is a “mini—mix of Boutqiue Hotel and Assembly Square”.  All I see is that different designers come with their unique ideas and I love it. I think it’s called empowerment that Jamie Berard should let different designers do after his departure from Modular Buidlings series.

That's my thoughts on the modular series. I've only been following it since the Jazz Club but I've seen a lot of criticism on most of the recent sets that don't welcome changes, different architecture styles and color usage. Or forget that the builds' scale have their own limitations.

That said, I don't understand how off-brand modulars can be popular even though they look less professional and inventive than Lego's. Most I've seen are a mish-mash of colors and overbearing façade details, block-ish shapes with no clever angle techniques, etc...

[RichardGoring]

8 hours ago, Lyichir said:

I don't know if I'd say that experienced designers make better modulars.

It tickles me that Downtown Diner is often heavily criticized, yet it was created by Mike Psiaki, perhaps the most universally acclaimed designer.

It could also be confirmation bias though, as it's one of my favorites, and the set that made me get into modulars.

[Pauolo]

2 hours ago, RichardGoring said:

It tickles me that Downtown Diner is often heavily criticized, yet it was created by Mike Psiaki, perhaps the most universally acclaimed designer.

From what I know, the main negative criticism about DD was that its style clashes with the rest of the series, regardless of its awesome shapes and building techniques. Meanwhile, the Sanctum Sanctorum gets a lot of praise for how it integrates with other modulars, despite it not having the same scale as the rest of the series to the point of looking squashed next to BH.

Just saying, there's a lot of double standards in the AFOL community...

[RichardGoring]

25 minutes ago, Pauolo said:

From what I know, the main negative criticism about DD was that its style clashes with the rest of the series, regardless of its awesome shapes and building techniques. Meanwhile, the Sanctum Sanctorum gets a lot of praise for how it integrates with other modulars, despite it not having the same scale as the rest of the series to the point of looking squashed next to BH.

Just saying, there's a lot of double standards in the AFOL community...

Very true! I suppose not having any modulars before Downtown Diner meant I wasn't bothered by the different style, but it looked so good. I now have most of them, but in my mind it's a new build in a 1950s street, so that's fine for me.

I really dislike the off-scale about Sanctum Sanctorum and it irritates me seeing it next to Icons modulars. 

I do like the building though, so I bought two with the idea of building an Icons scale version, but it's sadly still in the backlog.

[Lion King]

5 hours ago, Pauolo said:

That's my thoughts on the modular series. I've only been following it since the Jazz Club but I've seen a lot of criticism on most of the recent sets that don't welcome changes, different architecture styles and color usage. Or forget that the builds' scale have their own limitations.

That said, I don't understand how off-brand modulars can be popular even though they look less professional and inventive than Lego's. Most I've seen are a mish-mash of colors and overbearing façade details, block-ish shapes with no clever angle techniques, etc...

Exactly. I only follow this modular building series since Police Station (it was my very first modular building to build) and i love it. 

And I find it very hypocritical of others who  don’t welcome new designers, at same time they love Tudor Corner.