LEGO Modular Buildings , in English Lego Modular Buildings , is a series of buildings within LEGO's Creator Expert line. This series was introduced in 2007 and was released to offer a challenge to more experienced builders. Most sets have more than 2000 tiles. The series is called a "modular construction system". All sets of the theme can be clicked together. This series uses more complex construction techniques that cannot be found in other series. It is a toy intended for (young) adults.
Market exploration
In 2006, a survey was sent to older LEGO builders registered with LEGO. They were asked to share their ideas with LEGO and what they might create for the fans in the future. This showed that buildings were a very popular subject. A year later, the "Café Corner" was released with the help of various fans.
The different sets
Each set can be used to build a building of at least two floors.
LEGO 10182 - Café Corner
This was the first model in this series and was released in April 2007. Because the edition was not very high, LEGO decided to give it a 10,000 number. The set includes 2085 bricks. The building consists of three floors, is built as a corner house and has a vertical sign that reads "Hotel". The set also features opening windows and doors, outdoor cafe tables, striped awnings and three minifigures. Many of the advanced construction techniques can be found in, among other things, skis arranged as fans, arches above doors and windows and the hotel sign.
LEGO 10190 - Market Street
The second model in this series was also released in 2007. It was designed by the Dutchman Eric Brok, who died in 2007. The set has 1248 blocks and is recommended for builders aged ten and over. Some details of this set are: a basement, interchangeable floors, a metal fence and the old-fashioned Dutch/Belgian roof. There is some confusion with the numbering, which suggests that the set was released after 10185 - Green Grocer.
Market Street was the only model with less than 2000 bricks. One of the reasons that fewer stones were used was the cost price. This could therefore be a lot lower. As a "LEGO Factory" set, designing LEGO models yourself was put forward. In addition, LEGO hopes that people will be inspired to make their own furniture and add floors. Market Street is the only set released under the LEGO Factory brand name. Since spring 2013, LEGO Factory is no longer available and this model can no longer be ordered.
This was also the first minifigure model that did not use the standard face. The models after this again used the standard face on minifigures until the Downtown Diner was released which also did not use the standard face on minifigures.
LEGO 10185 - Green Grocer
The third model in this series was released in 2008. Some features of this set include the use of black minifigure skeleton bones as a base, the use of hammers and black spears to form the railings of the stairs, and the use of a canoe paddle in Grandfather's Clock.
Green Grocer is different from the two previous houses in the series. This mainly has to do with the complete furnishing of the house. Café Corner and Market Street had no interior, while the Green Grocer has various details on each floor, such as furniture, a radiator and a clock. The range of foods found in the store include carrots, apples and bananas. Cartons of milk can also be found in the refrigerators.
LEGO 10197 - Fire Brigade
The fourth model in this series was released in 2009. This is the first model to which a car was added. This is done in the shape of an old-fashioned fire truck. Some other features of this set are: many realistic 1930s details, a water tower and a gold-colored alarm bell. The date on the facade, 1932, is the year in which LEGO was founded.
LEGO 10211 - Grand Emporium
The fifth model in this series was released on March 3, 2010, also a corner house. It has a complete shop interior. In addition to the usual mini figures, this time there are also "shop window dolls" for the shop behind the window. This box may have been styled after Harrods department store but this has never been officially confirmed.
LEGO 10218 - Pet Shop
The sixth model in this series became available on May 10, 2011. This set consists of two smaller houses, one of which was designed as a home and the other as a pet shop. The house again has a complete homely interior and the pet shop is really a pet shop on the inside with playing cats and dogs. The set is made in such a way that multiple boxes can be purchased and a kind of terraced house is created. The pet shop is quite easy to adapt to a home. This was also the first modular of which a LEGO designer video was made. This can also be found on LEGO's YouTube channel. This video briefly covers all aspects of the design.
LEGO 10224 - Town Hall
The seventh model in this series was released on March 1, 2012. At the time, this was the largest set in the series until Assembly Square was released. The building is the highest in the series and measures a height of 46 centimeters. This building also has the most minifigures, eight, including a bride and groom. Some designs that are new in this set: a manually operated elevator, an entrance with four pillars and a bell tower. The year 1891, which can be seen on the building, is the birth year of Ole Kirk Christiansen, the founder of LEGO. This is the first set not designed by series creator Jamie Berard (with the exception of Market Street which is a fan model)
LEGO 10232 - Palace Cinema
The eighth model from this series became available on March 1, 2013. According to the designer in the designer video, it is the most complex building to date. It is styled on "Grauman's Chinese Theater" in Hollywood. Some design features of this set are the roof, the French doors, the seats in the hall and the tiles with a star on the sidewalk that are intended to imitate the Walk of Fame. For the first time, a red base plate was used to ensure that the interior also had a red tint. This is the only set with stickers so far
LEGO 10243 - Parisian Restaurant
The ninth model was released on January 1, 2014. This is a restaurant from, or based on, Paris. Striking are the detailed ornaments, newly used stones and colors, and special construction techniques.
LEGO 10246 - Detective's Office
The tenth model was released on January 1, 2015. It is a detective agency. The building contains several elements, including the detective agency, a café with pool table, and a hairdresser. Secret smuggling areas have been used extensively. There is also a secret love letter behind a painting in the detective agency.
LEGO 10251 - Brick Bank
The eleventh model was released on January 1, 2016. The building contains a bank and a laundromat. The detailed bank has aspects such as bank robbers and a safe. There is also a passage from the launderette to the safe, through which money can be laundered.
LEGO 10255 - Assembly Square
The twelfth model was released on January 1, 2017. This model celebrates the tenth anniversary of modular buildings. It is striking that this model is 1.5x as wide as the usual models. With more than 4000 stones, this is the largest set in the series. Assembly Square consists of three different houses. A café (based on the first café corner model), a florist and a bakery are located on the ground floor. On the first floor there is a music store, photo studio and dental practice and on the second floor you can find a dance studio, a roof terrace and an apartment. What is special is that something from each of the previous modular buildings is included in this set.
LEGO 10260 - Downtown Diner
The thirteenth model was released on January 1, 2018. It has a different style than the previous buildings, from the late '50s. There is a restaurant on the ground floor, and a gymnasium with a boxing ring, punching bag and weights on the first floor. The second floor contains a music studio with a soundproof recording room. On the outside, a staircase runs up to the different floors, and at the front it says in large pink letters: Dinner. What is striking about this set is that all the figures have a different face, while this was not the case before, with the exception of Market Street. This set includes a pink convertible.
LEGO 10264 - Corner Garage
The fourteenth model was released on January 1, 2019. The building has a garage and Octan gas station on the ground floor. On the first floor there is the veterinary clinic of Dr. Jones. On the 2nd floor there is the apartment of a young man.
LEGO 10270 - Bookshop
The fifteenth model was released on January 1, 2020. This set consists of two smaller buildings, just like the Pet Shop. One half is the house and the other is a bookstore. The house again has a complete homely interior and the bookstore is really a bookstore on the inside with bookcases full of books and a book in the window. Just like the Pet Shop, the Bookshop is designed so that multiple boxes can be purchased to create a kind of terraced house.
LEGO 10278 - Police Station
The sixteenth model was released on January 1, 2021. This building consists of a police station, a donut shop, and a newsstand. The set consists of a central main building with a thin building on either side, instead of the usual format of a single building or two half-width buildings. This is the first modular building that falls under Lego's 18+ theme.
LEGO 10297 - Boutique Hotel
This is the seventeenth model and was released on January 1, 2022. This modular building consists of a hotel and an art gallery with a terrace on top. This set marks the 15th anniversary of LEGO modular buildings and the set is a corner building.
10312 - Jazz Club
The Jazz Club, the eighteenth set in the series, was released on January 1, 2023. In addition to a club with a stage for an orchestra, tables with chairs for visitors and a magician, the building contains a pizzeria. There is a tailor on the first floor. There is a vegetable greenhouse on the roof above the pizzeria. This set is distinguished by elements that are built at an angle of 45 degrees. The set has 8 minifigures, a dressing room and office.
Others
910023 - Venetian Houses
This model, which shows two houses, a bridge and a river in Venice, is part of the BrickLink Designer Program, but is compatible with the Modular Buildings series.
LEGO 910013 - Retro Bowling Alley
This model, which shows a classic bowling alley with kitchen, is part of the BrickLink Designer Program, but is compatible with the Modular Buildings range.
LEGO 910009 - LEGO Store[
This model, which depicts a LEGO Store in an old New York building, is part of the BrickLink Designer Program, but is compatible with the Modular Buildings series.
LEGO 76218 - Sanctum Sanctorum
This model was released on August 1, 2022, and officially belongs to LEGO's Marvel series. It shows the home of Dr. Strange, Sanctum Sanctorum, containing and surrounding scenes from the films Avengers: Infinity War and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. There is a small museum on the top floor, a library below and a living area on the ground floor. The included minifigures are Dr. Strange, Wong, Iron Man, Spider-Man, Ebony Maw, Baron Mordo, Sinister Strange, Dead Strange and Scarlet Witch. This set does not belong to the Modular Buildings series, but is compatible with these sets.
