Modular Building Sets - Rumours and Discussion

[lifeinplastic]

The printed parts in this modular are rather disappointing. One of the things I like about modular buildings are the lack of stickers so a bit annoying the printed parts aren’t very useful.

Edited January 7 by lifeinplastic

[Roebuck]

13 hours ago, icm said:

Yeah, that's one thing that really irks me about this modular: the classic minifig chair in the trash. It's such a small detail with no impact on the build, and of course it takes no imagination at all to simply leave out that part of the "storytelling", but even as a throwaway (har har) joke it's so disrespectful. People who own the set can put whatever parts they want in the dumpster at the back, but it's rude for a relatively new set designer to make an easteregg about throwing away 40 years of company history.

I have not read the instruction or know if there is an official statement about this "story" in a interview etc or if it's just is people that interpret it that way, but it's possible the chair is in the trash because it got damaged in the leak

[karmadrome]

So, with this year's Modular having been released, I wonder what what next years - 20th anniversary Modular - will be.

What type of building do you expect? What businesses could be in it? Who's responsible for the design?

We've had so many businesses over the past 19 years (see first page of this thread), so what is still missing and could be expected? For example, we are still missing a hospital and a supermarket; however, I doubt the 20th anniversary set would be a hospital.

My dream would be if Jamie Berard (the godfather of Modulars), Mike Psiaki (my alltime favourite designer) and Francois Zapf (the designer of the Tudor Corner) worked together on this one. Jamie is most definitely involved, as he remains the creative lead of the Modular series.

I think we can safely assume that it will be on at least 1,5 baseplates.

The anniversary would be the perfect occasion to step up the game and finally include lighting in a Modular, but I doubt we will get it.

[Pauolo]

3 hours ago, Roebuck said:

I have not read the instruction or know if there is an official statement about this "story" in a interview etc or if it's just is people that interpret it that way, but it's possible the chair is in the trash because it got damaged in the leak

The story of the chair being thrown out because no one would buy it was mentioned by the main designer in an interview. It's probably in the instructions book too, but I'm not yet at this part.

I don't necessarily see it as depressing. I'm guessing the designers set themselves a challenge to not use the chair element even once in this build. Then the main designer still added one, but not for sitting on it. It's also a way to show designers are now aiming to have a lot of brick-built elements rather than relying on specialized parts. I could see with the past modulars and the Botanical Garden that they're having fun with these mini builds.

 

1 hour ago, karmadrome said:

My dream would be if Jamie Berard (the godfather of Modulars), Mike Psiaki (my alltime favourite designer) and Francois Zapf (the designer of the Tudor Corner) worked together on this one. Jamie is most definitely involved, as he remains the creative lead of the Modular series.

I'm guessing Mike worked a bit on TC, or consulted on it. Anywhere where triangles are involved, I would expect his input.

I honestly don't know what to expect for the 20th anniversary. 5th (TH) was the tallest, 10th was the largest (AS, by then), 15th had the most impressive shape (BH, by then). 20th could be a combination of a corner and a straight building (with NHM set for retirement at the end of this year, Lego won't mind having another large modular next year).

Something novel could be a double-sided straight modulars, like the Lego employee exclusive Toy's Shop or Bricky_Brick's Music and Jewelry Ideas proposition that unfortunately didn't get approved. The problem though is that having a well-detailled back serves no purpose if most buyers only expose one side of it on a shelf.

They could also try another skyscraper. I wish for an art deco tower, but I'm guessing that's what the super hero themes' designers are going for if they ever do a modular Daily Planet for this year or the next.

As for the 20th anniversary modular's theme, again, anything goes. I wish for more public service buildings rather than another restaurant or place of entertainment.

[Sammael]

4 hours ago, Roebuck said:

I have not read the instruction or know if there is an official statement about this "story" in a interview etc or if it's just is people that interpret it that way, but it's possible the chair is in the trash because it got damaged in the leak

2 minutes ago, Pauolo said:

I honestly don't know what to expect for the 20th anniversary. 5th (TH) was the tallest, 10th was the largest (AS, by then), 15th had the most impressive shape (BH, by then). 20th could be a combination of a corner and a straight building (with NHM set for retirement at the end of this year, Lego won't mind having another large modular next year).

I would expect a 64-wide 2-corner set, with some tribute to Cafe Corner and Market Street. Perhaps a Hospital (finally) with a cafe and fresh fruit market? In this style?

[RichardGoring]

35 minutes ago, Pauolo said:

I honestly don't know what to expect for the 20th anniversary. 5th (TH) was the tallest, 10th was the largest (AS, by then), 15th had the most impressive shape (BH, by then). 20th could be a combination of a corner and a straight building (with NHM set for retirement at the end of this year, Lego won't mind having another large modular next year).

I wonder if they'd consider a circular building. First thought was an observatory, but a library would be awesome, and round libraries are certainly a thing.

[Pauolo]

1 hour ago, Sammael said:

I would expect a 64-wide 2-corner set, with some tribute to Cafe Corner and Market Street. Perhaps a Hospital (finally) with a cafe and fresh fruit market? In this style?

That would be bold, but I feel a double-baseplate modular would be a space problem for those collecting them. I sure hope they make a detailled hospital one day though, and a single baseplate won't be enough.

 

44 minutes ago, RichardGoring said:

I wonder if they'd consider a circular building. First thought was an observatory, but a library would be awesome, and round libraries are certainly a thing.

A circular shape is certainly tricky, especially if you take into account how to design the floors with plates and how to add anything inside without getting too much negative space. I'm all for it if they can actual pull large circular shapes though. And yeah, that would make for one lovely library.

[Lion King]

On 1/7/2026 at 2:11 PM, lifeinplastic said:

The printed parts in this modular are rather disappointing. One of the things I like about modular buildings are the lack of stickers so a bit annoying the printed parts aren’t very useful.

Why these prints are disappointing in your view? 

11 hours ago, karmadrome said:

So, with this year's Modular having been released, I wonder what what next years - 20th anniversary Modular - will be.

What type of building do you expect? What businesses could be in it? Who's responsible for the design?

We've had so many businesses over the past 19 years (see first page of this thread), so what is still missing and could be expected? For example, we are still missing a hospital and a supermarket; however, I doubt the 20th anniversary set would be a hospital.

My dream would be if Jamie Berard (the godfather of Modulars), Mike Psiaki (my alltime favourite designer) and Francois Zapf (the designer of the Tudor Corner) worked together on this one. Jamie is most definitely involved, as he remains the creative lead of the Modular series.

I think we can safely assume that it will be on at least 1,5 baseplates.

The anniversary would be the perfect occasion to step up the game and finally include lighting in a Modular, but I doubt we will get it.

Or a four-story skyscraper as a 20th anniveary set?

[lifeinplastic]

39 minutes ago, Lion King said:

Why these prints are disappointing in your view? 

I don’t see them having much use for MOCs as they seem a bit specific to the set.

The Brickleys sign is on a curved window and I don’t really want to use that name, the Sale print cannot be used as a general sale sign for a non chair-selling business and the ocular chair/throne looks a bit too specific and maybe old/fashioned.

Lego often spoils things by adding too much and not considering that people may wish to use the prints to build something outside the set. For example, the Jazz Club had a nice ‘live music’ sign, which would have been awesome but they decided to add ‘and Magic Show’, making it a very weird venue indeed.

[Lion King]

1 hour ago, lifeinplastic said:

I don’t see them having much use for MOCs as they seem a bit specific to the set.

The Brickleys sign is on a curved window and I don’t really want to use that name, the Sale print cannot be used as a general sale sign for a non chair-selling business and the ocular chair/throne looks a bit too specific and maybe old/fashioned.

Lego often spoils things by adding too much and not considering that people may wish to use the prints to build something outside the set. For example, the Jazz Club had a nice ‘live music’ sign, which would have been awesome but they decided to add ‘and Magic Show’, making it a very weird venue indeed.

That’s very true - those printed elements are very limited for MOCs, yes.  To me, I appreciate those printed elements jsut because they are not stickers (glaring at modular GWPs).  Maybe “Music Shop” sign would be better than Brinkley. I am not sure if I understand that name?  Like - is it suppsoed to be punny? For example, Book Shop has a book printed “Moby Brick”, which it’s very humorous. 

I think a printed sale piece might be useful for any furniture store MOCs , but nothing else. 

[lifeinplastic]

10 hours ago, Lion King said:

That’s very true - those printed elements are very limited for MOCs, yes.  To me, I appreciate those printed elements jsut because they are not stickers (glaring at modular GWPs).  Maybe “Music Shop” sign would be better than Brinkley. I am not sure if I understand that name?  Like - is it suppsoed to be punny? For example, Book Shop has a book printed “Moby Brick”, which it’s very humorous. 

I think a printed sale piece might be useful for any furniture store MOCs , but nothing else. 

Yes - don’t get me wrong they are far far better than stickers, which is why I always look forward to the modular sets. I just wish the designers would be more considerate of usage outside the specific set. A more general ‘Sale On’ or ‘Clearance Sale/Everything Must Go’ tile without the chair image would have been better as this could apply to many businesses.

Another example is the name tag on the CMF waitress torso, which made the figure too specific and restricted multiple use. If we are paying greatly increased prices for products these days then they really need to be the very best and worth paying for.

Edited January 9 by lifeinplastic

[hikouki]

On 1/8/2026 at 1:17 AM, karmadrome said:

So, with this year's Modular having been released, I wonder what what next years - 20th anniversary Modular - will be.

What type of building do you expect? What businesses could be in it? Who's responsible for the design?

We've had so many businesses over the past 19 years (see first page of this thread), so what is still missing and could be expected? For example, we are still missing a hospital and a supermarket; however, I doubt the 20th anniversary set would be a hospital.

My dream would be if Jamie Berard (the godfather of Modulars), Mike Psiaki (my alltime favourite designer) and Francois Zapf (the designer of the Tudor Corner) worked together on this one. Jamie is most definitely involved, as he remains the creative lead of the Modular series.

I think we can safely assume that it will be on at least 1,5 baseplates.

The anniversary would be the perfect occasion to step up the game and finally include lighting in a Modular, but I doubt we will get it.

Goodness forbid that they introduce the smart brick! LOL

I wonder if they might revive the attempt to make a printing press?

[Lion King]

21 hours ago, hikouki said:

Goodness forbid that they introduce the smart brick! LOL

I wonder if they might revive the attempt to make a printing press?

Jnoy just a newspaper press, but we are waitng for post office, school, 4-story skyscraper/hig-rise apartment, hospital,  farmer’s market.

i feel like they will try to make the 20th anniversary set more unique like Town Hall for its height, Assembly Square for its width, Boutique Hotel for its triangular shape.  Shopping Street has an alleyway, which makes the set more unique from other sets.  I wonder if we will see something different and very interesting for the 20th anniversary set. Maybe not 1.5 baseplate as we have Assembly Square and Natural History Museum?

Personally, I would love to see a sky rapper / high-rise apartment!

[DeanLearner]

I’m slightly wary of speculating about the next modular now, with nearly a year still to fill!

However, assuming it will be 1.5 baseplates wide, my preference would be for some combination of smaller buildings (as in AS) as single large buildings (TH, NHM) often end up being both repetitive and underwhelming. A tower block of any sort is extremely unlikely, and the Marvel sets that have done something similar are pretty boring from an architectural point of view.

I would love to see a post office included, especially after Denmark recently closed its last remaining post offices. A printing press would also be great, in terms of fitting with the era and enabling some cool mini-builds (and new tile prints). A third building with a retro toy shop (or sweet shop) would be a perfect accompaniment for me.

[hikouki]

What's a concept that they have not done for a modular?

- underground: They have done this for Harry Potter. Perhaps they could consider a subway station?

- seaside: Perhaps a pier-style modular but with an aquatic flora and fauna scene?

- non-modular floors: fixed floors but the walls flip open, or the roof flips open.

[hugore]

13 hours ago, hikouki said:

What's a concept that they have not done for a modular?

- underground: They have done this for Harry Potter. Perhaps they could consider a subway station?

- seaside: Perhaps a pier-style modular but with an aquatic flora and fauna scene?

- non-modular floors: fixed floors but the walls flip open, or the roof flips open.

Underground would be an issue for most people, which have their cities on tables, boards etc. 

Seaside also, since it limits the connectivity of the building. I am having that issue as I am trying to connect the Harbourmaster office to my city.

------------

What I would like to see is hinged doors on the back, as other brands are doing. Those are amazing for playability. I am adding those to my modulars and other buildings which have closed backs.

[Pauolo]

If the designers ever do again a multi-buildings modular on a 1.5 baseplate, I wish they could integrate some kind of park in it instead of a square with a fountain. And while having flowers on façades is nice, I wish for more tree builds like in BS, BH and NHM.

[RichardGoring]

18 hours ago, DeanLearner said:

However, assuming it will be 1.5 baseplates wide, my preference would be for some combination of smaller buildings (as in AS) as single large buildings (TH, NHM) often end up being both repetitive and underwhelming. A tower block of any sort is extremely unlikely, and the Marvel sets that have done something similar are pretty boring from an architectural point of view.

I agree on the tower block.

I built the Rebrickable SitComplex MOC a few years ago. It was fun to start off with, but I tired of the build experience somewhat by the third layer (I only did four and a small penthouse in total), as so much was the same. That's to be expected as it's a tower, but it's not necessarily going to lead to a great modular for a 20th anniversary.

I dismantled it a while ago as it doesn't scale with the regular modulars (same with Home Alone, The Simpsons House) being too large (and then the Marvel ones, especially Sanctum Santorum, X-mansion, and Daily Bugle being too small). This is in part due to having to cram in the sitcom sets into each floor, and as they represent real locations, you can't stylize and shrink them like things are in the modulars.

Also, it looked somewhat boring with a pretty consistent tower, and lacked the interest and variety you get from most modulars.

None of which is to say that the designer isn't amazing, and it's a million time better than anything I could do. But it doesn't feel like it sits in the DNA of the Icons modulars.

[Lion King]

19 hours ago, hikouki said:

What's a concept that they have not done for a modular?

- underground: They have done this for Harry Potter. Perhaps they could consider a subway station?

- seaside: Perhaps a pier-style modular but with an aquatic flora and fauna scene?

- non-modular floors: fixed floors but the walls flip open, or the roof flips open.

Are Book Shop and Police Staiton counted as they have “underground” section?  Bookshop is not exactly underground tho but it has a crawl space.  And Police Station has a tunnel that a t donut thief used a spoon to dig. 

As for a seaside one, I would love to see a fish market like Pike Market form Seattle. 

Are you talking about Parisian Rrestaurant’s opening roof?

[Lion King]

19 hours ago, DeanLearner said:

However, assuming it will be 1.5 baseplates wide, my preference would be for some combination of smaller buildings (as in AS) as single large buildings (TH, NHM) often end up being both repetitive and underwhelming. A tower block of any sort is extremely unlikely, and the Marvel sets that have done something similar are pretty boring from an architectural point of view.

I disagree with you. I mean, sure Marvel sets seem boring but they are from Marvel comics or movies. Nothing else.  And in the Lego world, I think a four-floor sky rapper might be more interesting only if designers can take a next level architecturally.   Regardless the facade, I think the skyscraper’s interior design can be very unique. Police Staiton’s facade is kinda repetitive other than ivy, windowsill, and shades/blinds…..

[Yoggington]

On 1/7/2026 at 12:26 AM, DeanLearner said:

(the cat is inexplicable, unless it died heroically fighting rats)

I took it as exactly that, a tie-in to the rat story - if only there was a live cat instead of a statue.

 

I've just finished building my copy. This is the first time I ever bought a modular on Day 1, but it's not that I was particularly hyped for the set, I just hadn't gotten myself anything else for Christmas so why not? I am glad I did & snagged the GWP, it makes the pricetag a little more bearable, and that Parade car is just right for my shelf city.

Overall I get some of the complaints, although I'd be more forgiving than most. I don't hate the palette like some, it's just a bit nondescript with so many earths & the white. The angle work is the main attraction here, yet it just doesn't quite have the magic of Boutique Hotel. In BH it works because it ALL works (nearly), but here there are several spots where the build doesn't neatly tie up in a bow - little gaps in corners and non-snug fits - the carpet under the tv, the roof by the coop, each rounded part of wall..worst offender is the front of the furniture shop. 

And fitting the whole angle & two buildings all in has given the whole model very squished interiors. The alley adds to that - had the furniture side just extended across it'd not feel so cramped. And to cap it off, the shortness of the furniture side adds to the feeling of it all being a little light. I know it's made up for on the music side, but subconciously it registers as "small".

I think where it shines is as part of a street. Was it Tiago that highlighted this first? But in that setting suddenly the extra tall and extra short buildings are introducing variety; the muted palette lets the neighbours shine all the more; the concave cut-out breaks up the flat fronts of it's neighbours. In some ways the opposite of the Diner for me - not attractive enough as a standalone building, but goes well with everything (Diner looks great by itself - but only by itself).

 

For me I still like it a lot. Solid 7/10 modular, though I suppose not many fall below that threshold. I think I will mod it to mirror the furniture side to extend over another half-baseplate. A squat but wider circular shopfront has potential here, would resolve the squished interior and could even allow a staircase that's not one building over 

[Pauolo]

The winner for the Ideas City Life Creations challenge was just announced: https://beta.ideas.lego.com/blog/97465d76-154e-4366-a164-246867670351

I'm glad this one was selected. I think it'll make for an original addition to modular cities, especially paired with the Corner Kiosk and Fountain past GWP.

[Shiva]

Ohh, it won! Nice!

[karrit]

10 hours ago, Pauolo said:

The winner for the Ideas City Life Creations challenge was just announced: https://beta.ideas.lego.com/blog/97465d76-154e-4366-a164-246867670351

I'm glad this one was selected. I think it'll make for an original addition to modular cities, especially paired with the Corner Kiosk and Fountain past GWP.

I like the idea of it.  I fear the portraits will be stickers though.

[RichardGoring]

26 minutes ago, karrit said:

I like the idea of it.  I fear the portraits will be stickers though.

I can't see them being anything else given the number of them.