On Jan 8, 2015, at Taliesin West, in Scottsdale, Ariz., Architectural LEGO Artist Adam Reed Tucker will unveil the first model of Taliesin West ever made from LEGO bricks and the largest LEGO model of any Frank Lloyd Wright building.
With a group of local schoolchildren (who have all been served by the Foundation’s extensive K-12 educational programs in one of its renowned “Architecture Camps”), Tucker will put the final pieces of the model into place. Demonstrating how he built the model through the use of standard LEGO bricks, Tucker hopes to inspire children to explore and learn about architecture, art, and design.
Containing more than 180,000 LEGO bricks in 11 colors and 120 different shapes, the model measures eight by four feet. It is Tucker's largest LEGO build to date. Working in accordance with the LEGO Certified Professional Program, he spent 40 hours researching and studying the project, 120 hours designing the LEGO model, and 260 hours constructing the final model of Taliesin West.
Sean Malone, President and CEO of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, said, "Taliesin West is already one of the great historic and architectural experiences in the world—for visitors from all backgrounds and interests. I am so excited that, for the next four months only, people who visit Taliesin West will have the wonderful bonus of experiencing Adam’s remarkable and playful work of art in Legos."
"This model has been an exceptional challenge for several reasons,” said Tucker, “which is why it has also been exceptionally interesting. This has certainly been the most complex project I have ever undertaken.”
Among the many design factors and construction considerations that Tucker had to contemplate range from the mundane—such as how the model will be transported—to the complicated, like how best to represent the different materials, textures and colors so specific to this structure.
Other challenges include scale, proportion, layout, topography, stylization, structural integrity, likeness, piece availability, and detail feasibility. All of these considerations are magnified by the “scratch-build” process that Tucker employs. He does not use any computer software or sketches in working out the building process of the model. He does not use any glue to secure the pieces and all parts are genuine LEGO bricks commonly available.
Built in 1937, Taliesin West was the winter home of Wright and school of Frank Lloyd Wright and is one of the most visited Frank Lloyd Wright sites in the world.
This model will be on display in the Pavilion at Taliesin West until the end of April and available for viewing by anyone attending a tour of Taliesin West. Reservations for tours are available by visiting www.franklloydwright.org.
Related Stories
Sponsored | | Oct 13, 2014
Think you can recognize a metal building from the outside?
It’s getting more and more difficult to spot a metal building these days. What looks like brick, stucco or wood on the outside could actually be a metal building in disguise. SPONSORED CONTENT
Sponsored | | Oct 13, 2014
Liberty Utilities protects installers with Viega MegaPress
Liberty Utilities of New Hampshire wanted a way to keep its installers safe without compromising the quality of their installations, which is why the utility provider decided to start installing Viega MegaPress. SPONSORED CONTENT
| Oct 13, 2014
Department of Agriculture launches Tall Wood Building Competition
The competition invites U.S. developers, institutions, organizations, and design teams willing to undertake an alternative solution approach to designing and building taller wood structures to submit entries for a prize of $2 million.
| Oct 12, 2014
AIA 2030 commitment: Five years on, are we any closer to net-zero?
This year marks the fifth anniversary of the American Institute of Architects’ effort to have architecture firms voluntarily pledge net-zero energy design for all their buildings by 2030.
| Oct 10, 2014
A new memorial by Zaha Hadid in Cambodia departs from the expected
The project sees a departure from Hadid’s well-known use of concrete, fiberglass, and resin. Instead, the primary material will be timber, curved and symmetrical like the Angkor Wat and other Cambodian landmarks.
| Oct 9, 2014
Regulations, demand will accelerate revenue from zero energy buildings, according to study
A new study by Navigant Research projects that public- and private-sector efforts to lower the carbon footprint of new and renovated commercial and residential structures will boost the annual revenue generated by commercial and residential zero energy buildings over the next 20 years by 122.5%, to $1.4 trillion.
| Oct 9, 2014
More recession-postponed design projects are being resurrected, says AIA
About three quarters of the estimated 700 firms that serve as panelists on AIA’s Architectural Billings Index (ABI) had delayed or canceled major design projects in response to recessionary pressures. Nearly one-third of those firms now say they have since restarted stalled projects.
| Oct 9, 2014
Steven Holl's 'intersecting spheres' scheme for Taipei necropolis gets green light
The schematic design has been approved for the 50 000-sm Arrival Hall and Oceanic Pavilion for the Taiwan ChinPaoSan Necropolis.
| Oct 9, 2014
Beyond the bench: Meet the modern laboratory facility
Like office workers escaping from the perceived confines of cubicles, today’s scientists have been freed from the trappings of the typical lab bench, writes Perkins+Will's Bill Harris.
| Oct 8, 2014
New tools for community feedback and action
Too often, members of a community are put into a reactive position, asked for their input only when a major project is proposed. But examples of proactive civic engagement are beginning to emerge, write James Miner and Jessie Bauters.
