Serpentine and the LEGO Group unveil the Play Pavilion designed by Sir Peter Cook in London’s Kensington Gardens. The public art project coincides with World Play Day on June 11th, 2025, and rightfully so with the playful and vibrant flair of the pavilion. It is on view from June 11th to August 10th, 2025. The only orange on the horizon, the Play Pavilion by Sir Peter Cook partially comes to life with the use of LEGO bricks. Outside, these colorful blocks create protruding, tactile installations resembling topography. A kaleidoscopic roof shaped like a small bowl cocoons the architecture, colored in orange to match the similar shade of the base. Around the pavilion, the walls have slopes and peaks, mimicking the waves crashing onto the shore while creating different openings and exits. 

Anyone can run their hands along them and feel the LEGO-brick installations on the walls before they step inside the Play Pavilion. Here, sunlight passes through the openings because Sir Peter Cook didn’t join the roofing to the base. Air and light, then, flow in and out, and people can see the outside from inside. The use of LEGO bricks continues inside. The central pillar is reminiscent of a towering robot, a quiet sentry that surveys the space to check if everyone’s enjoying their time. To exit the structure, visitors can either walk towards one of the openings or use the yellow slide on the other side. On one of the walls, there’s a brick-built board and a treasure of LEGO blocks just below it, so visitors can pick up pieces, pin them onto the interactive structure, and shape them into how they want them to be. It’s the essence of the LEGO-built Play Pavilion, an intentional design by Sir Peter Cook.

The Play Pavilion, designed by Peter Cook (Peter Cook Studio Crablab), in collaboration with Serpentine and the LEGO Group © Peter Cook (Peter Cook Studio Crablab) | images courtesy of Serpentine; photos by Andy Stagg, unless stated otherwise

live activations throughout the summer of 2025

Sir Peter Cook describes the Play Pavilion with LEGO brick designs as a piece of theater, but the structure can recall the form of an observatory, too. From afar, the geometric roof already announces the presence of the orange playground. As visitors walk up closer to it, they then see the partly obscured body that completes it. In a location full of greenery, the Play Pavilion breathes in a refreshed life, luring in the visitors to come closer and find out more within. In the words of the architect, ‘a child might pop out on a slide, another may crawl through a hole on the ground, mystifying conventional entrance routes. Another mouth-shaped opening reveals an orator, performer, or singer entertaining eavesdroppers beyond.’

The LEGO-built Play Pavilion by Sir Peter Cook continues the series of programs presented by Serpentine. In 2022, Serpentine, the London Lions Basketball Club, and artist Alvaro Barrington partnered with CONSUL, Tower Hamlets Council, and Weavers Adventure Playground in Bethnal Green to create a basketball court. Today, it’s an orange pavilion that doubles as public art, with walls that present a series of tactile installations. For the gallery, these new initiatives bring together artists, designers, architects, and creatives to champion the spirit of play and community. The LEGO-built Play Pavilion by Sir Peter Cook is a platform for live activations throughout the summer of 2025.

view of the slide at the pavilion

the roof has a geometric design and a similar shade of the base

the walls present a series of tactile installations

inside, there’s a board where visitors can pin the LEGO bricks

portrait of Sir Peter Cook | photo by Gary Summers

Sir Peter Cook designs the pavilion commission for Serpentine and the LEGO Group | photo by Gary Summers

project info:

name: Play Pavilion

architect: Sir Peter Cook | @sirpetercook

team: Pablo Wheldon, Cong Ding

program: Serpentine Galleries | @serpentineuk

collaborator: LEGO Group | @lego

on view: June 11th to August 10th, 2025

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Using text prompts, users can generate their own buildable LEGO designs à la OpenAI’s ChatGPT with LegoGPT. Designed by the researchers at Carnegie Mellon University, it can produce physically stable LEGO brick models based on text inputs. The AI language model uses a dataset of LEGO structures paired with descriptive captions. It predicts where to put the individual LEGO bricks using next-token prediction. After it gives the results, users just follow the ‘design plan’ to start building their generated models using their existing bricks or produce their custom bricks for the design. LegoGPT even uses a validity check to make sure that each LEGO brick is in the right place.

The ChatGPT-like dataset used to train LegoGPT, called StableText2Lego, includes more than 47,000 LEGO structures. These represent more than 28,000 3D objects. Then, each structure comes with a caption that describes the model in natural language. The ChatGPT for LEGO also includes a feature that assigns colors and surface textures to the buildable structures still based on the text prompts. Another feature noted by the researchers is that the project can be assembled by either a human or a robot (arm).

all images courtesy of the researchers from Carnegie Mellon University

researchers convert the real brick models into ‘digital’ formats

The ChatGPT for LEGO starts when the researchers convert and scan the real models into digital formats, so the computers can analyze and save them. They do this by turning each design into a sequence of text tokens. Basically, these are written descriptions of each LEGO brick, ordered from bottom to top like poetry stanzas. Then, these sequences are paired with descriptions of what the models represent. All this forms a training dataset, which is then used to teach a language model how to predict LEGO brick layouts.

When users give LegoGPT a prompt, it begins building the model one brick at a time. After placing each brick, it checks if the brick is valid, doesn’t overlap with others, and fits with the rest of the structure. It’s the phase when the system generates different structures, and each variation goes through stability analysis. Because of this, the ChatGPT for LEGO removes the designs that aren’t physically ‘stable’ from the dataset, such as parts that are weak and could fall apart in the process. The full dataset, trained models, and source code of LegoGPT are available for public use and download. The researchers – composed of Ava Pun, Kangle Deng, Ruixuan Liu, Deva Ramanan, Changliu Liu, and Jun‑Yan Zhu of Carnegie Mellon University – have also uploaded the demo site for the users to try.

the AI language model uses a dataset of LEGO structures paired with descriptive captions

text prompt used: couch with vintage floral tapestry and deep reds and golds

users just follow the ‘design plan’ to start building their generated models using their existing bricks

users can generate their own buildable LEGO designs à la OpenAI’s ChatGPT with LegoGPT

LegoGPT, the ChatGPT for custom LEGO designs, shows users how to build their own models

at the present time, the current dataset includes more than 47,000 LEGO structures

project info:

name: LegoGPT

researchers: Ava Pun, Kangle Deng, Ruixuan Liu, Deva Ramanan, Changliu Liu, Jun‑Yan Zhu

institution: Carnegie Mellon University | @carnegiemellon

study: here

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Full-size, drivable F1 cars made of LEGO blocks debut and complete a lap around the Miami Grand Prix. In partnership with F1 and all 10 teams on the grid, each of the LEGO Group’s big-build cars comprises nearly 400,000 bricks. The drivable vehicles weigh around 1,500 kilos and are capable of reaching speeds of up to 20 km/h.

The LEGO F1 cars in the Miami Grand Prix Driver’s Parade rework the racing vehicles of the car manufacturers, including Ferrari, Aston Martin, and McLaren. The unveiling of the vehicles marks the first time the LEGO Group has produced multiple drivable big builds. It’s also the debut of the Formula 1 drivers behind the wheels of the LEGO F1 cars in the Miami Grand Prix to test the vehicles out, including Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris. The arrival of these full-size, drivable vehicles continues the ongoing, multi-year partnership between F1 and the LEGO Group.

all images courtesy of the LEGO Group

Each build has working wheels and operator control

The design teams build the LEGO F1 cars for the Miami Grand Prix as mobile, with integrated chassis and steering systems that allow for actual track movement. Each of the 10 builds has working wheels, drive mechanisms, and operator controls. A team of 26 designers, engineers, and LEGO builders set up the 10 vehicles for over 22,000 hours. They pulled it off inside the LEGO Group’s Kladno factory, located in the Czech Republic. Each of the LEGO F1 cars for the Miami Grand Prix shoulders 400,000 bricks, fitted with authentic soft-racing Pirelli tires.

The project is also a playful approach to engineering and design. Having the modular blocks of LEGO around the automotive-grade support frames of the race cars is a testament to that. The design teams also reinforce the internal support structures to endure the movement and weight distribution of the LEGO F1 cars for the Miami Grand Prix. The cars also correspond to each team’s visual identity, using accurate color palettes and sponsor branding replicated in LEGO form. After the Miami Grand Prix, the LEGO F1 cars embark on a global tour. It includes exhibitions across cities as well as appearances at future races and F1 calendar moments.

full-size, drivable F1 cars made of LEGO blocks complete a lap around the Miami Grand Prix

each vehicle has integrated chassis and steering systems

a team of 26 designers, engineers, and LEGO builders set up the 10 vehicles for over 22,000 hours

the design teams build the cars inside the LEGO Group’s Kladno factory in the Czech Republic

each model significantly comprises 400,000 bricks

the cars bear authentic, soft-racing Pirelli tires

the design teams also reinforce the internal support structures to endure the movement and weight distribution

view of the steering wheel

as seen, detailed view of the blocks

there are 10 vehicles that made its debut at the Miami Grand Prix

project info:

brand: LEGO | @lego

race: F1 | @f1

event: Miami Grand Prix Driver’s Parade

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Never one to shy away from the unexpected, the architectural provocateur Sir Peter Cook is teaming up with Serpentine and the LEGO Group to bring the Play Pavilion to London’s Kensington Gardens. The project is designed as an immersive, riotous celebration of fun, one of architecture’s most under-appreciated function. Set to be unveiled on June 11th, 2025 — World Play Day — the new pavilion will pop with color, form, and irreverence to prove that play, like good design, thrives on risk and curiosity.

Peter Cook’s pavilion will be a theatrical performance in Kensington Gardens. With its colorful gestures, it appears to have hatched from an anarchic sketchbook. ‘The Play Pavilion is a piece of theatre,’ says Cook. ‘From a distance, intriguing shapes rise from within the structure… A child might pop out on a slide, another may crawl through a hole on the ground.’

It’s less a static structure and more a living cartoon — teasing, hiding, revealing. Through pierced and scooped walls, visitors can glimpse flashes of activity inside and echoes of laughter. It invites Brits and tourists alike to embrace the strange.

the pavilions celebrates architecture as a space for fun | visualizations courtesy Serpentine Galleries

serpentine galleries and lego transcend the White Cube

By teaming with architect Sir Peter Cook and LEGO Group, Serpentine expands its reach beyond the gallery’s clean-lined walls and into the messier, livelier reality of the park. ‘We are thrilled to be collaborating with the LEGO Group… to realise the vision for play we all share with Peter Cook,’ said Serpentine’s Chief Executive Bettina Korek and Artistic Director Hans Ulrich Obrist in a joint statement. ‘Zaha Hadid long envisioned a collaboration between Serpentine and Peter Cook… Now, that vision is becoming a reality.’ In this playful detour, architecture escapes the exhibition and becomes a real-world encounter, situated directly in Kensington Gardens.

The LEGO Group’s involvement is more than decorative. LEGO bricks form a key material in the pavilion’s composition, turning the familiar building block into a full-scale architectural gesture. ‘Play is not just a source of joy; it fosters connection and encourages exploration,’ said Julia Goldin, Chief Product and Marketing Officer at the LEGO Group. Indeed, the Play Pavilion becomes a tactile and communal space, where visitors are drawn into a three-dimensional celebration of imagination — something Cook has long championed.

Peter Cook describes the structure as a piece of theater designed to intrigue

a continuation of legendary Radical Design

As a founding member of Archigram, Sir Peter Cook famously redrew the boundaries of architectural possibility. With speculative projects like Plug-In City, he and his peers imagined flexible, kinetic cities built on modular systems and social ideals. While many of Archigram’s ideas remained unbuilt, Cook’s influence has been profound. The Play Pavilion nods to that legacy — transforming fantastical forms into lived experience. It joins a growing list of realized works by Cook, including Kunsthaus Graz in Austria and the Drawing Studio at Arts University Bournemouth. And yet, this project might be his most accessible to date. It’s a democratic monument to fun and unpredictability.

Throughout the summer, the Play Pavilion will host live activations from performances to public programs. Visitors will be invited to engage not just with the architecture, but with each other. Peter Cook sums it up best: ‘Play transcends survival, achievement, and common sense.’ In a world often over-engineered for efficiency, the Play Pavilion is radical. Visitors are challenged to waste time well. Whether you’re crawling through a mouth-shaped opening or simply eavesdropping on a hidden orator, you’re part of the performance.

LEGO bricks are incorporated into the design to highlight the power of play and collaboration

Peter Cook, portrait © Paul McLaughlin

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Sir Peter Cook (@sirpetercook)

project info:

name: Play Pavilion

architect: Sir Peter Cook | @sirpetercook

program: Serpentine Galleries | @serpentineuk

collaborator: LEGO Group | @lego

on view: June 11th — August 10th, 2025

visualizations: courtesy Serpentine Galleries

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SERIES OF HIGH-TECH TOYS FOR GROWN-UPS

High-tech toys these days aren’t just for children, but grown-ups, too. They combine technology with intuitive designs to make the experience more interactive and engaging. Some of these toys can challenge the grown-ups technical skills and bits of their patience, at least with building the LEGO Technic McLaren P1 set. For others, they momentarily take the users away from reality and into the mixed reality, like the Meta Quest 3. There’s a rise in the next generation of high-tech toys for grown-ups, and our list explores their design features and capabilities.

XREAL ONE SMART AR GLASSES

The XREAL One is a high-tech pair of smart glasses slash toy for grown-ups, powered by the advanced X1 Chip. It plays clear visuals without lag. The glasses create a large virtual screen, up to 147 inches, so the grown-ups can enjoy movies, games, or work in a bigger field of view. The display stays sharp and stable without flickering or blurring. The glasses have built-in speakers, tuned by Bose engineers. The XREAL One connects easily to many devices, including iPhones, iPads, Android phones, gaming consoles, and computers, without needing extra apps or adapters.

XREAL One smart AR Glasses | image courtesy of XREAL

3D PRINTING pen SCRIB3D P1

Next up in the list of next-gen toys for grown-ups is the SCRIB3D P1. It’s a printing pen that lets the grownups draw and create in 3D. The smart device features adjustable speed for precise control, whether working on detailed designs or larger fills. It comes with a kit, which includes three colors of PLA filament, a power adapter, and a guide to get started. The 3D printing pen is safe and beginner-friendly. It even has an auto-sleep function, an anti-clogging design, and simple controls. The device works with both PLA and ABS filament.

SCRIB3D P1 3D Printing Pen | image courtesy of SCRIB3D

OTAMATONE PORTABLE SYNTHESIZER

The Japanese musical toy Otamatone is a portable synthesizer for grown-ups and children. Users play it by sliding their fingers along the stem. By doing so, they also change the pitch. They can squeeze the cheeks for a vibrato effect. The musical toy for grown-ups has different pitch levels that users can play with. The device is lightweight and portable, and it’s also suitable for home, outdoor gatherings, or campfire singalongs. Three AAA batteries power the device, and it’s compact and travel-friendly enough for users to bring anywhere.

Otamatone | image courtesy of Otamatone

MCLAREN P1 SUPERCAR LEGO SET

The LEGO Technic McLaren P1 set lets grown-ups create a detailed 1:8 scale model of the iconic supercar. The toy kit features a seven-speed gearbox, opening doors, an adjustable rear wing, and a V8 piston engine. There’s a unique serial number tile that provides access to exclusive online content. Then, the grown-ups can download the LEGO Builder app for 3D instructions on how to construct the next-gen toy. The LEGO Technic McLaren P1 set is designed for both supercar enthusiasts and LEGO fans.

LEGO Technic McLaren P1 set | image courtesy of LEGO

META QUEST 3 MIXED REALITY HEADSET

The Meta Quest 3 features a slim, wireless design that includes a 4K+ Infinite Display. As a high-tech toy for grown-ups, it comes with two displays, each with a resolution of 2064×2208. It has Meta’s Infinite Display optical stack, which expands the field of view. The headset supports mixed reality, so digital objects can be integrated into physical environments. Users can navigate using hand tracking for gesture-based interactions. If not, they can use the Touch Plus controllers, which provide haptic feedback for precision control.

Meta Quest 3 | image courtesy of Meta

LENOVO LEGION GO S 

Lenovo unveils the Legion Go S as a handheld gaming device and high-tech toy for grown-ups. It comes with AMD RDNA 2 graphics, which allow the device to operate fast, have a long battery life, and project vivid visuals when playing games. There are ergonomic Legion TrueStrike controllers included. Then, the 8-inch WUXGA display provides a 37 percent larger viewing area than standard handheld gaming devices. The screen has a 120Hz refresh rate and a 16:10 aspect ratio for wider view. The device is powered by the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme and Z2 Go chips.

Lenovo Legion Go S | image courtesy of Lenovo

NEX PLAYGROUND

There’s another high-tech toy for grown-ups, and it’s the Nex Playground. It’s a motion-tracking gaming console designed for interactive play. The boxy device features a sleek, compact design that easily connects to any TV or projector via HDMI. There’s a built-in wide-angle camera that uses AI-powered motion tracking. In this way, players don’t need controllers or wearables to play it; they just need their bodies. Up to four players can join at once, and its lightweight design allows for portability. It’s also small enough to fit into any home setup or travel bag. 

Nex Playground | image courtesy of Nex Playground

POWERUP 4.0 PAPER PLANE

The POWERUP 4.0 transforms paper airplanes into smartphone-controlled flying machines. Its lightweight Bluetooth module attaches to paper, foam, or balsa wood models. It allows for precise control and high-speed tricks. The high-tech toy for grown-ups has Acro Mode for loops and rolls. It also includes a built-in stabilizer for windy conditions. There’s a companion app that allows for real-time control, flight logging, and competitive challenges. A quick 30-minute charge provides 10 minutes of flight, with a range of up to 230 feet. Built with a carbon fiber body and reinforced motor mount, it is durable and includes a self-landing feature for out-of-range flights.

POWERUP 4.0 | image courtesy of POWERUP

ROBOT COMPANION EILIK

Meet Eilik, a robot companion designed as a high-tech toy for users of all ages, including grown-ups. It flashes different emotions and expressions. When users touch its head, belly, or back, it responds with animations. Each area triggers different reactions. Eilik can interact with other robots of its kind. It chats, plays, and engages with them in friendly arguments. Users need to update its firmware, so they can get the new features and mini-games.

Eilik robot companion | image courtesy of Eilik

GOCUBE WITH BLUETOOTH CAPABILITIES

Grown-ups looking for high-tech toys with a nostalgic twist can appreciate GoCube. It’s a speed cube that has Bluetooth capabilities. Users connect it to a companion app. Then, they can use the cube to compete with other online, play games, and even learn from interactive lessons. The design of GoCube is for all skill levels. There’s a step-by-step tutorial to help beginners master it and the different games. The device tracks the users’ progress and mistakes, allowing real-time feedback. GoCube says the device promotes problem-solving, spatial awareness, and hand-eye coordination through educational mini-games.

GoCube | image courtesy of GoCube

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Artist Katherine Duclos transforms LEGO bricks into abstract compositions that encapsulate fleeting moments of transition and personal memory. Her latest work presents a series of modular works, each assembled brick by brick in response to a period of upheaval in her life.

Duclos’ affinity for LEGO as a material stems from a deeply personal moment in 2021, when her then four-year-old son—an avid LEGO builder—offered her a small arrangement of bricks, saying, ‘I thought you’d like these colors next to each other.’ Struggling with spatial orientation and traditional instructions, Duclos found an alternative approach: using the bricks as modules of color, akin to fragments of paper or pigment. Their dry, tactile quality also accommodates her sensory sensitivities, making them an ideal medium for expression.

Sometimes, the tyranny of symmetry reigns supreme (orientation 2) 15.5×15.5×2.5″, painted and pure Lego on painted Lego bases, mounted on cradled wooden panel, 2024 | all images courtesy of Katherine Duclos

the artistic process becomes a means of regulation

By arranging painted LEGO bricks into modular compositions, Katherine Duclos seeks to create a sense of control and order amidst the uncertainty. The Vancouver-based artist composed the pieces of this collection during a period while her family was moving after seven years in their rental home—a change that heightened her need for structure and control. Times of transition and upheaval are particularly difficult for autistic families, and as her home became more chaotic and the future seemed unclear, Duclos turned to her artistic process as a means of regulation. 

As an autistic artist with ADHD, Duclos describes her process as a means of sensory regulation, where the act of arranging LEGO bricks by color and light reflection becomes a grounding force amid the chaos of transition. The works reflect hues and light conditions she associates with her former home, helping her navigate an uncertain future while underscoring a lifelong connection to color as an anchor. The pieces, wired for multiple hanging orientations, shift dramatically with changing light, reinforcing the ephemeral nature of memory.

Her unconventional use of LEGO caught the attention of The LEGO Group, leading to a collaboration for their Miami Art Basel pop-up, Center for Creative Flow, at the W Hotel in 2023. Over six weeks, Duclos created more than 45 square feet of abstract constructions, later housed at LEGO’s Massachusetts headquarters. A documentary titled Small Tiny Starts, released on LEGO’s YouTube channel in 2024, explores her artistic journey, the collaboration, and her family dynamic.

The fairies will find us if we leave a trail (orientation 4) 30.5×30.5×2.5″, painted and pure Lego on painted Lego bases, mounted on cradled wooden panel, 2024

Fireflies and lilacs (orientation 4) 15.5×15.5×2.5″, painted and pure Lego on painted Lego bases, mounted on cradled wooden panel, 2024

When the walls are high and the light is right, all gardens can be secret (orientation 2) 15.5×15.5×2.5″, painted and pure Lego on painted Lego bases, mounted on cradled wooden panel, 2024

When the walls are high and the light is right, all gardens can be secret (detail) 15.5×15.5×2.5″, painted and pure Lego on painted Lego bases, mounted on cradled wooden panel, 2024

The fairies will find us if we leave a trail (detail)
30.5×30.5×2.5″, painted and pure Lego on painted Lego bases, mounted on cradled wooden panel, 2024

Temper your touch please (orientation 2) 30.5×15.5″x2.5″, painted and pure Lego on painted Lego bases, mounted on cradled wooden panel, 2024

Sometimes the asymmetry is so subtle it’s subversive (orientation 2) 15.5×15.5×2.5″, painted and pure Lego on painted Lego bases, mounted on cradled wooden panel, 2024

I will ahead of you and scaffold the light so you can always see the path forward 30.5×15.5″x2.5″, painted and pure Lego on painted Lego bases, mounted on cradled wooden panel, 2024

Let your sad light be a beacon (Raincouver) 30.5×15.5″x2.5″, painted and pure Lego on painted Lego bases, mounted on cradled wooden panel, 2024

I will ahead of you and scaffold the light so you can always see the path forward 30.5×15.5″x2.5″, painted and pure Lego on painted Lego bases, mounted on cradled wooden panel, 2024

project info:

name: Lego Work 2024

artist: Katherine Duclos | @katherine_duclos_rose

The post LEGO bricks turn into pigments for modular, abstract compositions by katherine duclos appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

LEGO unveils the Vincent Van Gogh Sunflowers set, so users can remake the artist’s famous painting in bricks. It’s the follow-up to the Starry Night set back in 2021, which has around 1,552 pieces. The company reproduces the artwork in blocks in collaboration with the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. In this way, LEGO captures the details of Vincent Van Gogh’s Sunflowers (1889) painting, from the brushstrokes to the number of petals.

There are 2,615 pieces in the set, and they evoke three different shades of yellow just like in the painting. The LEGO Vincent Van Gogh Sunflowers set features 16 sunflowers with adjustable petals, a removable frame, a hanger element to affix the end result on a wall, as well as a tile with the artist’s signature. The set is available for purchase starting March 2025, with a brick LEGO installation set to be on view in the Van Gogh Museum from June 2025.

all images courtesy of the LEGO Group

translating the impasto effect of the artwork into bricks

The LEGO blocks for the Vincent Van Gogh Sunflowers set are tactile and detailed. The disk florets, for example, have triangular, shard-like pieces to depict the petals. The design team also recreates the brushstrokes of the other flowers in the painting with pieces that are shaped like chili peppers. They clinch on the removable frame as a design accent to the overall canvas. For the vase, the company adds a tile with Vincent Van Gogh’s signature in a light blue color, completing the ensemble of his LEGO Sunflowers set.

LEGO Designer Stijn Oom says that the design team has collaborated with the Van Gogh Museum and its experts for the 3D version of the original artwork. In the end, they’re able to translate the impasto effect of the artwork into the LEGO Sunflowers set, which creates the balanced composition of the painting. To celebrate the launch of the set, the LEGO Group has made two lifestyle brick replicas of the painting, which is set for a permanent display in the LEGO Store in Amsterdam and the Van Gogh Museum. 

LEGO reproduces the artwork in blocks in collaboration with the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam

Brick-built installation on display in the museum

A brick-built LEGO installation is also on view in the Van Gogh Museum between June and August 2025. After that, the piece moves to the LEGO House Billund and LEGO World in Utrecht. There’s going to be a virtual curated tour, so online users across the world can still see the installation on their devices. Vincent Van Gogh painted the Sunflowers in 1889 during his time in Arles, France. Decades later, LEGO takes this artwork as their inspiration for the recent set, and users can get their hands on it starting March 2025.

LEGO captures the details of Vincent Van Gogh’s Sunflowers (1889) painting

the design team is able to translate the impasto effect of the artwork into the LEGO Sunflowers set

some pieces clinch onto the removable frame

there’s a tile with the artist’s signature

the blocks in the set are tactile and detailed

there are 2,615 pieces in the set

LEGO unveils the Vincent Van Gogh Sunflowers set, so users can remake the artist’s famous painting in bricks

the set is available starting March 2025

project info:

name: Vincent Van Gogh Sunflowers set

company: LEGO | @lego

museum: Van Gogh Museum | @vangoghmuseum

location: Museumplein 6, 1071 DJ Amsterdam, Netherlands

The post vincent van gogh’s sunflowers painting becomes a LEGO set with 2,615 bricks appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

On LEGO Ideas, a user named eliot.obrien recreates the 1970 Minimoog analog synthesizer using blocks, complete with functional keys and knobs. The LEGO Minimoog analog synthesizer faithfully captures its real-life sibling. The creator even makes the rotating knobs, pitch wheels, pushable keys, and the rotating control panel playable. 

When the user flips the musical instrument, they see that the rear of the control panel is removable as well. The material glistens as if it were made of steel. Tugging this means the user reveals the LEGO circuits and electronics inside, parts that bring the instrument to life. There are also ports just above the control panel. This part, where the rotating knobs and pitch wheels are located, can be stowed and flipped up, depending on the user’s taste.

all images courtesy of eliot.obrien and LEGO Ideas

LEGO minimoog analog synthesizer recreates 1970 instrument

The recreated LEGO Minimoog analog synthesizer pays homage to one of music history’s iconic instruments. It first hit the market back in the 1970s. Dubbed as the start of a musical revolution, it is then the first synthesizer sold in retail stores. It has sold 12,000 units over the course of 13 years. Producers and musicians use the musical instruments in a variety of genres, from progressive rock and jazz to funk, pop, disco, and more.User eliot.obrien wants to bring back this historic moment. He submits the project on LEGO Ideas in December 2024. 

He says that he’s an avid electronic music listener and a (very amateur, as he describes himself) producer. ‘I wanted to make a product idea that follows with my passion and provides a great display piece for fellow music fans, that would fit right alongside other music-themed sets Lego has produced in the past,’ he writes. While the 1:1 faithful recreation of the instrument is still an idea, eliot.obrien has garnered around 4,822 supporters, so far. If it reaches around 10,000 supports, it can lead to LEGO turning the Minimoog analog synthesizer blocks into a real-life model.

a user named eliot.obrien recreates the 1970 Minimoog analog synthesizer, complete with functional keys and knobs

there are ports just above the control panel

when the user flips the musical instrument, they see the movable and removable control panel

tugging this means the user reveals the LEGO circuits and electronics inside

detailed view of the LEGO circuits and electronics

so far, the 1:1 recreated scale is still an idea

project info:

name: Minimoog analog synthesizer

company: LEGO Ideas 

user: eliot.obrien

project: here

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Retro designs in modern tech rekindle ‘old’ days

Retro designs have made their comeback as modern tech, from the Barbie and Motorola flip phones to the Polaroid camera in LEGO form. Their functions and buttons have since gotten a massive upgrade, but away from these modern touches, it’s nostalgic to have them back. They look and feel familiar, reframed into statement must-haves relieving the simpler days. Recent technology operates like rapid-fire: one touch is all it takes for features to activate. It wasn’t like this in the past. Users needed to click number ‘six’ three times on their cellphone’s keypad if they wanted to type the letter ‘O’, and they had to wait for the camera film to show them what they photographed.

They must plug the cables to their sound devices for the speaker to start playing music, and the gaming controllers had their own consoles, unlike the two-in-one fix these days with smartphones and the downloadable games and apps. Some users have embraced modern technologies; others miss the gadgets from the past. But there are those who want the best of both worlds, the modern tech with retro designs, and they’re the ones who can enjoy the keypad on the Barbie flip phone, the ejecting film in the LEGO Polaroid camera, the tactile buttons on GameSir’s gaming controller, and the retro pixel-art animation on Divoom’s Ditoo Bluetooth speaker.

HMD Barbie Flip Phone | image courtesy of HMD

upgraded flip phones from barbie to motorola and samsung

Fans can appreciate the renaissance of retro designs in modern tech, but bringing back the vintage designs for a nostalgic flick isn’t always the case, at least not so much with the arrival of the official Barbie phone. It was part of the Barbie mania that took over brands and cities across the globe during the premiere of the movie in 2023. Its wick keeps burning because Mattel continues the buzz when they team up with Human Mobile Devices (HMD), the company that used to make Nokia smartphones, to release the official Barbie phone.

But it’s not an all-screen phone. It’s a flip phone with a tactile keypad. It has a soft click when the user folds it up because of the hinges. There’s a click-clack sound again and again when the user types on the keypad, and that’s a kind of feeling smartphones these days can’t replicate, even with vibrate on keypress. Mattel and HMD aren’t the only ones because Motorola has also released the Razr 40 Ultra, and Samsung, a long-term player in the flip phone game, has introduced several models, including its recent Galaxy Z Flip6. But the Barbie phone gets an edge because, among these names, it’s the only one that hasn’t abandoned the tactile keypad (yet).

the Barbie flip phone has a tactile keypad

modern retro cameras include LEGO polaroid and fujifilm instax

At times, giving in to the retro designs of modern technology can sound as if people were joining just for the recent trend. And why not when the modern retro gadgets do contend as must-have items or gifts? Some of them look cool, but others just tap into the hibernated inner child in people. The latter is a possibility the moment LEGO Ideas releases their Polaroid OneStep SX-70 because it’s a building set for adults who want to recreate the Polaroid camera in the past, but in LEGO form. It’s for both beginner and master photographers, and to top it off, it operates just like a real vintage Polaroid camera model.

No, it can’t take actual pictures, but photographers can load one of the included photographs and eject them out of the camera when they click on the shutter. If users still want an actual camera that takes pictures while still keeping the retro vibes of the design, they can also snap up the Fujifilm Instax Pal. It’s a pocketable digital camera that looks like a surveillance cam, and it prints photos as soon as they click on the shutter. Fujifilm adds a built-in speaker into the model, so users can hear the ‘click’ sound, and when the films stop rolling because there aren’t any pieces left, they can plug in a microSD card to save the photos and transfer them to their computer or cloud drive later.

Motorola Razr 40 Ultra | image courtesy of Motorola

retro pixel art in speaker design and modern gaming controller

It’s nice, though, to have retro-designed modern gadgets around. They can be a well of references for creatives who want to shake up the design of their works. They also remind us of what we left behind, a time that has passed but we still associate good memories or experiences with. It might be a familiar feeling with game consoles as they improve, but luckily, the brands have maintained the physical buttons on the controllers. GameSir, though, takes advantage of people’s use of smartphones and devises X2S. It’s a Type-C mobile gaming controller for iPhone 15, Android, and HarmonyOS smartphones, so users don’t have to keep tapping their screens. The design recreates the buttons of Nintendo 2Ds, complete with analog triggers, clicky buttons, and a joystick. 

It’s also expandable to fit the majority of smartphone sizes these days, and it’s rubber-coated so it doesn’t slip from the gamers’ grip as they spend hours on their screens. While they’re at it, they can also play music in the background using Divoom’s Ditoo retro pixel art Bluetooth speaker. It resembles the arcade machines in the past with its tube-TV-like screen, which is home to its speaker, and the tiny keyboard-like buttons with a tiny joystick. When it plays songs, the keyboard illuminates in neon colors, and the screen lights up with retro pixel animation. The speaker feels nostalgic to have these retro looks back into the present time. Their design elements might just prove how they’ve already stood the test of time, and by the looks of it, they’re not dying down anytime soon.

unlike the Barbie Flip Phone, the Motorola Razr 40 Ultra only has a screen without tactile keypad

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 | image courtesy of Samsung

so far, the Z Flip6 is the most recent flip phone Samsung has released

LEGO Ideas Polaroid camera | image courtesy of LEGO Ideas

the LEGO Polaroid can eject images like a real instant camera

Fujifilm Instax Pal | image courtesy of Fujifilm

users of the Fujifilm Instax Pal can add their microSD card to save their photos to an external source

GameSir’s X2S mobile gaming controller | image courtesy of Gamesir

the GameSir X25 controller is suitable for iPhone 15, Android and HarmonyOS smartphones

Divoom’s Ditoo retro pixel art Bluetooth speaker | image courtesy of Divoom

the speaker’s screen projects retro-pixel animation when music plays

project info:

gadgets: HMD Barbie, Motorola Razr 40 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy Flip6, LEGO Ideas Polaroid OneStep SX-70, Fujifilm Instax Pal, GameSir X2S Controller, Divoom Ditoo Retro Pixel Art Bluetooth Speaker

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The post from barbie flip phone to LEGO polaroid camera, retro designs stir nostalgia in modern tech appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

CEBRA Architecture collaborates with the LEGO Group to break ground on a 50,000-square-meter Innovation Campus at the Billund, Denmark, headquarters of the company. Designed with input from employees who used LEGO bricks to model ideas for their future workspaces, the campus reflects creativity at its core. This hands-on design process aligns with LEGO’s vision for a dynamic, team-centered environment. In addition to workspace innovation, the campus will feature one of the world’s largest LEGO element libraries, fostering imagination and sustainable design. ‘I am thrilled to mark the beginning of the construction of another new campus as we continue to invest in attractive workplaces for our colleagues around the world. Not only is the building design creative at its core – it is also true to our sustainability ambitions, including our commitment to reducing carbon emissions,’ shares Niels B. Christiansen, CEO of LEGO Group. 

all images courtesy of LEGO Group

the innovation campus brings together more than 600 designers

Over an 18-month consultation period, employees have been working closely with Aarhus-based CEBRA Architecture, using LEGO bricks to capture and refine concepts that would shape an inspiring and eco-conscious workspace.

Designed to spark creativity and sustainability, this LEGO campus will house over 1,700 product marketing, development, and design team employees, uniting over 600 LEGO designers under one roof. The facility features six interconnected modules of up to four stories, incorporating play zones, atriums, and green spaces that prioritize daylight to inspire innovation. At the heart of the building will be one of the world’s largest LEGO element libraries, with around 20,000 unique pieces in 70 colors, providing designers with a comprehensive resource for creativity and product development.

employees used LEGO bricks to model ideas for their future workspaces

the building aims for LEED Platinum certification

Sustainability is integral to the Innovation Campus, with FSC-certified timber used throughout its core and walls to reduce emissions. The building is designed to meet LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum standards, ensuring energy efficiency, biodiversity, and water conservation through the planning of geometry, height, and facade design. Green spaces and maximized natural light further underscore the LEGO Group’s commitment to an eco-friendly and engaging workplace.

Set to open in 2027, the Innovation Campus builds on the ongoing investment of the group in its Billund headquarters, where over 5,900 employees work. It joins the LEGO Campus, opened in 2022, and the upcoming Kornmarken Campus, as part of the company’s commitment to a world-class, collaborative workspace for its global team. ‘Innovation Campus will be an inspiring workplace that honours the modular design of LEGO bricks. With colleague input playing a key role in shaping the overall design, the campus will foster creativity, inclusivity, and the free flow of ideas,’ states Julia Goldin, CPMO of the LEGO Group. 

the new campus will house one of the world’s largest libraries of LEGO elements

employees have been working closely with CEBRA Architecture

uniting over 600 LEGO designers under one roof

project info:

name: LEGO | @LEGO Innovation Campus
architect:  CEBRA | @cebra_architecture
location: Billund, Denmark
area: 50,000 sqm

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