The latest in the LEGO Architecture line has been the #21019 LEGO Architecture Eiffel Tower. I’m actually quite surprised that this iconic landmark wasn’t released earlier in the series. So let’s take a closer look. 🙂
Here is the official description of the #21019 LEGO Architecture Eiffel Tower: Presenting the LEGO Architecture interpretation of one of the most iconic landmarks ever constructed – The Eiffel Tower! Designed and built by French entrepreneur, Gustave Eiffel, the original 324-meter-tall masterpiece of wrought iron engineering formed the grand entrance to the 1889 World’s Fair, held in Paris to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution.
During construction, the 18,038 wrought iron elements making up the tower’s lattice structure were bolted together at Eiffel’s factory on the outskirts of Paris, before being transported to the site, hoisted into place by steam-powered cranes operating from the elevator shafts, and assembled using no less than 2.5 million individual rivets. The resulting structure was extremely rigid and over the years has withstood storms, floods and everything else mother nature has thrown at it.
Today, The Eiffel Tower is one of the world’s most popular landmarks, attracting millions of curious visitors from around the world each year. With this exceptional model, you can now build your very own 321-piece Eiffel Tower in LEGO brick form and display it in your home, office or wherever you like! Booklet included with details on design, architecture and history of the tower (English and French languages only. Other languages available for download). Measures over 12” (31cm) high, 4” (11cm) wide and 4” (11cm) deep. Recommended for ages 12+. Price: $34.99 – BUY HERE
The design of the LEGO Architecture Eiffel Tower is well done – especially in such a small scale. The arches at the bottom are beautiful, and the grilled 8×8 plate on the first level is just perfect. One thing I don’t like as much is that the hoses used for the arches, the 1×2 grilled tiles on the sides, and the round bar-frame on top are flat-silver, whereas the rest of the model is mostly light-gray, with some dark-gray added. I think it would have been better to have the entire model in one shade of gray or even flat-silver. Although it is interesting to note that the Eiffel Tower was never painted gray; it was originally red, and since then has changed colors several times (it is re-painted every 6-7 years), transitioning between reddish, brownish, yellowish colors, and most recently bronze (photo by Bret Arnett). 🙄
The box of LEGO Architecture sets are always sleek and sturdy. I’m a bit surprised about the orientation of the instruction booklet though. As Jason mentioned in the review video posted above, it is really hard to keep it open. In most of the other LEGO Architecture sets the booklet is in landscape-mode (with the longer side at the bottom), and are much easier to handle. Why LEGO designers went with portrait-mode this time I’m really not sure. It shouldn’t have been that hard to orient it the other way. Otherwise the booklet is very high quality, with thick, glossy paper meant for collectors, as in all LEGO Architecture sets.
All in all I would recommend the LEGO Architecture Eiffel Tower model as a display piece. It is not my favorite LEGO Architecture set, but it does capture the iconic shape of the Eiffel Tower. If you are interested you should be able to pick it up at any official LEGO store and at the Online LEGO Shop.
What do you think? How do you like the LEGO Eiffel Tower model? Do you collect the LEGO Architecture sets? Which one is your favorite? Feel free to share and discuss in the comment section below! 😉
And you might also like to check out the following related posts:
- LEGO Architecture Marina Bay Sands Review
- LEGO Architecture UN Headquarters Review
- LEGO Architecture Studio Set Review
- LEGO Architecture Studio Hands-On Review
- LEGO Architecture 30-Day Challenge
- LEGO Ewok Village & Opera House Available!
- LEGO Architecture Series Imperial Hotel
- LEGO Architecture Sets Available Now
wow!
it sure did sell out fast! must be a good one! 😉
Yeah, LOL! When I wrote the review it was still there. Anyway, it can still be ordered, there is just a bit of delay in shipping. I don’t think this is a particularly outstanding LEGO Architecture set, but the structure itself is so iconic I’m sure a lot of people pick it up just for that. 🙂
I think the only reason it wasn’t a set earlier was due to the big exclusive one we had a few years back before the Architecture line became official.
I don’t personally collect the Architecture line, but I may pick this one up because of it’s iconic look.
Good point about the other Eiffel Tower released earlier. I haven’t thought of that.
There was an earlier Eiffel Tower set produced, but it was bigger and bulkier. This is more elegant.
http://brickset.com/detail/?set=10181-1
very kewl set, it looks a bit short in scale size tho..
Interesting that you are not the first person mentioning that. Yes, the scale is a bit off, but I guess at this size some disrepencies will happen.
Wow! It’s been a while since I’ve been here! Got a lot of posts to catch up on. I love Architecture. It’s detailed for a smaller-sized set. And the way it’s built is very unique.
The worst Lego set I have ever gotten. It was almost impossible for me to build it with the weird rubber tubes for arches. It takes forever to build and it doesn’t have any interesting pieces. While I was building it I wished that I had just asked my family for the repciet so I could get a Lego set that was worth having. Also while building this set I was very bored because there wasn’t any pieces I didn’t have. Do yourself a favor instead of getting this set from hell get a Lego City or Lego Friends ser. You’ll feel like you accomplished something. With the architecture sets you’ll feel like you wasted 1 to 2 hours of your life.
Hm… sorry to hear that you don’t enjoy the LEGO Architecture line. It’s a series that’s more geared towards adult LEGO fans who are architects, designers, etc., or have interest in architecture and design. They make wonderful display pieces in an office, and are quite a pleasure to build for those who appreciate advanced building techniques. But yeah, they are definitely not play sets, and if that’s what someone was expecting, they will definitely get disappointed. It takes a bit to figure out what’s your own LEGO building style and interest, but the good thing about LEGO is that you can always reuse the pieces to build something else. 🙂