LEGO 21044 Architecture : Paris Building Kit

What I love most about this set is the way it captures the essence of Paris. It's like having a miniature version of the city on my desk. I can admire the stunning architecture and beautiful cityscape anytime I want. The building process was also a lot of fun. The instructions were clear and easy to follow, and the pieces fit together perfectly.

Challenging kit teaches about Parisian architecture

We put this together with our young grandson, with help from his older cousins. From the start, opening this is an educational experience — quotes about Paris in three languages, English, French, and Spanish, are printed inside the box. As with all Lego kits, the parts are conveniently packaged by building, and a thorough, easy to follow instruction booklet is included to guide you through the complicated building process. What makes this booklet special is that it includes full descriptions and pictures of the Parisian buildings in the kit, including the Champs Elysee. While much of this went over our younger grandson’s head, it enriched the experience for us as we built the skyline with him, reminiscing about our visits to Paris and telling him stories. The ... MoreWe put this together with our young grandson, with help from his older cousins. From the start, opening this is an educational experience — quotes about Paris in three languages, English, French, and Spanish, are printed inside the box. As with all Lego kits, the parts are conveniently packaged by building, and a thorough, easy to follow instruction booklet is included to guide you through the complicated building process. What makes this booklet special is that it includes full descriptions and pictures of the Parisian buildings in the kit, including the Champs Elysee. While much of this went over our younger grandson’s head, it enriched the experience for us as we built the skyline with him, reminiscing about our visits to Paris and telling him stories. The building itself is challenging because there are many tiny identically shaped and colored. However, the effort is worth it, and it’s exciting to watch as each building takes shape and adds to the skyline. The entire project took about five hours over two days, and we were all pleased with the results. Another great LEGO experience!

Christmas Gift

My eldest grandson is now 16 but still likes to have a surprise for Christmas. So a few years ago I found these lego sets and knowing he loved lego as a little one thought he would like this. This is now number three and I was right he loves them. So he still feels like a little one and not a big boy. They sit on helps shelf once made up.

Elegant Display Piece; Educational and Enjoyable Build

I am a huge fan of the Lego Architectural series and have bought and built most of the sets. I am particularly fond of the Skyline series. These sets are labeled age 12+, but they are clearly targeted to more mature builders, of which I am one. That said, if you are considering purchasing one of these sets for educational purposes, you would be spot on.Each set features well-known landmarks from an internationally-renowned city. The builds themselves are intricate and as detailed as possible, given the limited space. A particular plus is the premium build instructions booklet, which provides details concerning the landmarks. Guaranteed, you will learn something. A weakness of these same elegant booklets is that with very few exceptions they will not lie flat.All ... MoreI am a huge fan of the Lego Architectural series and have bought and built most of the sets. I am particularly fond of the Skyline series. These sets are labeled age 12+, but they are clearly targeted to more mature builders, of which I am one. That said, if you are considering purchasing one of these sets for educational purposes, you would be spot on.Each set features well-known landmarks from an internationally-renowned city. The builds themselves are intricate and as detailed as possible, given the limited space. A particular plus is the premium build instructions booklet, which provides details concerning the landmarks. Guaranteed, you will learn something. A weakness of these same elegant booklets is that with very few exceptions they will not lie flat.All sets are elegant and suitable for display. A real bonus feature is that since the sets are so narrow, they are relatively easy to display. For example, most of the sets will easily fit on a bookshelf in front of the books.The Paris skyline set includes the Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Elysées, Tour Montparnasse, Grand Palais, Eiffel Tower and the Louvre.

Great Capture of Paris Landmarks in Microscale

This is a fantastic LEGO set extending the Architecture Skyline Series with Paris, covering many of the great landmarks of this famous city. If you are a fan of Paris, of LEGO, or of the Architecture Skyline collection, or you think you might be, then this is a great set. This model is also good for display, and is suitable for older children and adults. The pieces come in 4 bags divided into two groups. When you build it, the instructions will have you build using the pieces from the bags labeled "1", then once those bags are completed, continue with the pieces from the bags labeled "2", and so on. Within some of the bags are smaller bags as well. I've found that it's useful to open all of the bags for the particular number, but keep the pieces a little bit ... MoreThis is a fantastic LEGO set extending the Architecture Skyline Series with Paris, covering many of the great landmarks of this famous city. If you are a fan of Paris, of LEGO, or of the Architecture Skyline collection, or you think you might be, then this is a great set. This model is also good for display, and is suitable for older children and adults. The pieces come in 4 bags divided into two groups. When you build it, the instructions will have you build using the pieces from the bags labeled "1", then once those bags are completed, continue with the pieces from the bags labeled "2", and so on. Within some of the bags are smaller bags as well. I've found that it's useful to open all of the bags for the particular number, but keep the pieces a little bit separate. The pieces aren't randomly distributed between bags - instead, all of the pieces of a particular type may be in one or two bags, so if you dump the bags out and keep the pieces slightly separate, once you've found which pile your piece is in, you may find the rest of them in that same pile or in that one and one other.The instruction book is beautiful; I love that the Architecture series has a much more adult-friendly look. The black booklet matches the box, and the pages inside have black background so it is a very nice effect. The first 9 pages of the instruction book talk about the city of Paris and the landmarks that are represented in this set, including some nice photographs of the actual landmarks and Paris itself. All text is provided in English, French, and Spanish. The instructions themselves, in usual LEGO style, are all pictures and symbols.

Lego for Adults!

My kids have recently really started getting into Lego and while they love to tinker about and make their own creations, they and I both love when they get a new kit and make a designed creation. First, they are exercising some visual spatial skills in looking back and forth between the instructions and the actual design they are forming in front of them and checking for accuracy. Finding the correct pieces among the array is also a good skill (ask any mom whose kids can't ever find their library book or their baseball glove). The instructions are illustrated, not written, so it will appeal to a wide segment of kids irrespective of reading ability. And they are very easy to follow. My 6 year old has taken to it quite quickly (I'll admit that my now 12 year old was ... MoreMy kids have recently really started getting into Lego and while they love to tinker about and make their own creations, they and I both love when they get a new kit and make a designed creation. First, they are exercising some visual spatial skills in looking back and forth between the instructions and the actual design they are forming in front of them and checking for accuracy. Finding the correct pieces among the array is also a good skill (ask any mom whose kids can't ever find their library book or their baseball glove). The instructions are illustrated, not written, so it will appeal to a wide segment of kids irrespective of reading ability. And they are very easy to follow. My 6 year old has taken to it quite quickly (I'll admit that my now 12 year old was older before she could do them, so you have to know your own child). The completed pieces are usually displayed in our house for a week before they are dissembled and added to the bin for other creative engineering builds.But this architecture Lego set is a particularly large challenge. Not only the sheer number of building blocks, but the tricky small pieces in the set. The quality of Lego is fantastic, as expected, and the attention to detail they put into the Eiffel Tower -- it's been a real lesson in learning about architecture and about Paris and France. It's sparked a number of great conversations between my kids and myself while we have been building it.Best of all, Lego retain good value down the road, so even when the kids have grown out of them, you can easily rehome these toys to other children or adults.If you have questions or found my review helpful, please let me know!

New office decor

I brought this to help decorate my office and it has become a great conversation piece. It only took 2 hours or so to build. Very easy to follow instructions. Sits at about 30cms tall so not too large. I purchased online and arrived very quickly and in good condition. I think I've got myself a new addiction!

No more skylines please

I wish they would make these seperate from architecture sets. I want to do Lego architecture for its design details and representations of monuments throughout the world this is like an expressionist painting of several building with as little detail as possible. Plus it seems like they are doing so many of these now to fill time between releases of better architecture sets. I feel like I have to buy them to complete my architecture collection but I don't enjoy them nearly as much as the detailed buildings. Lego should make skyline it's own category for those who wish to have more of these. Also the price is going up and I don't feel like they are good value for the price these days. As far as Paris specifically the buildings were mainly repetitive small pieces but ... MoreI wish they would make these seperate from architecture sets. I want to do Lego architecture for its design details and representations of monuments throughout the world this is like an expressionist painting of several building with as little detail as possible. Plus it seems like they are doing so many of these now to fill time between releases of better architecture sets. I feel like I have to buy them to complete my architecture collection but I don't enjoy them nearly as much as the detailed buildings. Lego should make skyline it's own category for those who wish to have more of these. Also the price is going up and I don't feel like they are good value for the price these days. As far as Paris specifically the buildings were mainly repetitive small pieces but the Eiffel was a nice solid design although the scale compared to the building just doesn't seem quite right, could be me. It's alright but I hope the next architecture set with a full building will come soon.

Paris adventure

This Lego set enables you to build a collection of iconic structures of Paris. Included in the set are the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs-Elysees, Tour Montparnasse, Grand Palais, and the Louvre with its glass pyramid. This is entirely an architectural set, so there are no mini-figures included in this set. Since the actual buildings are so large, the scale of this set is quite small, and standard mini-figures would dwarf the buildings. The tallest piece in the set, the Eiffel Tower, is 8” high and the entire piece sits on a base that measures 11” x 4”. Special pieces in this set include some ridged dome pieces from the bottom of the Eiffel Tower, transparent dome pieces from the Grand Palais, and some interesting transparent pieces from the glass ... MoreThis Lego set enables you to build a collection of iconic structures of Paris. Included in the set are the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs-Elysees, Tour Montparnasse, Grand Palais, and the Louvre with its glass pyramid. This is entirely an architectural set, so there are no mini-figures included in this set. Since the actual buildings are so large, the scale of this set is quite small, and standard mini-figures would dwarf the buildings. The tallest piece in the set, the Eiffel Tower, is 8” high and the entire piece sits on a base that measures 11” x 4”. Special pieces in this set include some ridged dome pieces from the bottom of the Eiffel Tower, transparent dome pieces from the Grand Palais, and some interesting transparent pieces from the glass pyramid in front of the Louvre. Lego rates this set for ages 12+.My 12-year-old nephew enjoyed putting this set together. He enjoys architectural sets a lot, so this is right up his alley. Although he had great fun with it, I see some potential confusion ahead. The buildings are not to scale with each other, and they are all gathered together on the one base piece, as if they were neighbors. In the real world, these buildings are scattered throughout central Paris, and not within the same block as they appear on this base. But if Lego were to put these buildings on separate bases so that they could be scattered, the set would have no unity. Hmmm…I guess I’m looking for too much realism; this collection is sort of like a collage postcard, not a model city. In any case, my nephew hasn’t been to Paris yet, so he doesn’t mind the lack of realism regarding scale and location. I think the set would be a good prequel to seeing the city in person, to get to know the iconic buildings by feel before walking around and in them. Overall, this is an interesting architectural set, but keep in mind that it has very limited attention to details of scale and location.

The best educational toys

Lego architecture are the best educational toys I have chance to buy for my kid. It’s a somewhat sculptural challenge for kids, but an awareness of the mysteries of space and form is very useful. It’s what lifts the solving of a problem into something special. Making things that test the structural capability of the set is also useful – how far can you cantilever before it topples over? You’ll find that you begin to understand structure after a while.