Note: This is a classic review I originally posted on Eurobricks back in March 2011, when the Architecture theme was still finding its footing. The images (and their not-so-great quality) are also from 2011. The text and details has been updated in December 2025. Looking back at these early sets really shows how the theme evolved over the years.
So there I was, strolling through the LEGO brand store in Copenhagen, when I spotted this beauty sitting on the shelf a couple weeks earlier than expected. From the pictures on LEGO’s website, I’d already guessed it was the Farnsworth House, so no big surprises there. But man, seeing it in person was something else.
Farnsworth House
Farnsworth House
The Farnsworth House stands as one of the most iconic examples of International Style architecture. Designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe between 1945 and 1951, this weekend retreat sits on the Fox River in Plano, Illinois. The house embodies Mies’s famous principle “less is more” with its minimalist design featuring floor to ceiling glass walls and a floating steel frame structure.
What makes this building so revolutionary is how it blurs the line between interior and exterior space. The entire house is essentially one open room, with only the bathroom and utility core enclosed. Eight steel columns lift the structure above the floodplain, making it appear to hover above the landscape. It’s this sense of lightness and transparency that Tucker had to capture in LEGO form, and honestly, he nailed it.
The Box
The box itself measures about 20x26x7cm. Not huge, but here’s the thing that really stood out back then: it’s definitely thicker than your standard LEGO boxes. See, in 2011, the Architecture theme was still pretty new to the scene. LEGO had only launched it in 2008, and they were still experimenting with how to package these sets.
Front of the box
The fold up lid design that Architecture boxes became known for wasn’t really a thing yet with most LEGO themes. When you opened this box, it felt different from what you were used to. It opens up kind of like a book with that flip top lid, held closed with just one sticker. Inside, the box is absolutely packed with bricks, which fits perfectly with LEGO’s push toward more efficient packaging.
Back of the box
This box style was unusual for its time. Most LEGO sets back then came in traditional boxes that you’d open from the top. But Architecture was doing its own thing, creating this more premium feel that matched the adult collector vibe they were going for. Looking back now, you can see how this packaging approach influenced the direction LEGO would take with other adult focused themes.
The Manual
I was really hoping for a spiral bound manual like Fallingwater got, but instead we’re working with a standard glued back. Not a dealbreaker though. You still get 9 pages packed with information about the house and its architect, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. The background info really adds to the building experience.
Front page of manual
Page 27 of manual
The Build
Right off the bat, the build is pretty straightforward. Nothing too tricky here. Except… brace yourself… there are 238 1 x 1
White
tiles. Yeah, you read that right. Two hundred and thirty eight tiny tiles. They look absolutely stunning in the finished model, but getting them all aligned correctly? That’s a whole different story.
The construction follows a logical progression. You start with the base, move on to the patio, and then tackle the house itself. Each stage builds nicely on the last, though you’ll definitely want to take your time with all those tiles.
Design and Details
Here’s where this set really shines. Adam Reed Tucker absolutely knocked it out of the park with the design. The attention to detail is mind blowing. Every little element captures the essence of van der Rohe’s minimalist masterpiece. And the interior? Absolutely perfect. It’s these kinds of touches that make the Architecture line special.
The clean lines, the open floor plan, the way the structure seems to float above the landscape… it’s all here, recreated in LEGO form. You really get a sense of why this building is considered such an important piece of modern architecture.
The Parts
Let’s talk pieces for a second. You get 12 6 x 10
Dark Green Plates
. These had previously been used in the Architecture set 21006 The White House from 2010 and again in 21010 Robie House also from 2011. This specific brick started its use in 2009 and weirdly hasn’t been used since 2014.
Besides the 238 1 x 1
White Tiles
, you also get 52 2 x 2
White Tiles
and 46 1 x 1
White Bricks
, which are always nice but nothing special. But we do get 12 1 x 4 x 3
Trans-Clear Window Panels
, which is really nice and makes this the set with the 4th most of these pieces.
Price and Value
At $59.99, the Architecture sets don’t come cheap. But honestly? The design quality and display value make it worth the investment. These aren’t just models, they’re conversation pieces. When this sits on your shelf, people notice.
My Take
Build Experience: 5/10
Not gonna sugarcoat it. All those 1x1 tiles make the build pretty tedious at points. It’s repetitive work, and aligning them gets old fast. But that’s the price of perfection, right?
Design: 10/10
This is where the set earns its keep. The design is absolutely stellar. Tucker captures the essence of the Farnsworth House beautifully, and all those little details add up to something special.
Parts Quality: 8/10
Those dark green plates alone make this worthwhile. Throw in all the white pieces and variety of tiles, and you’ve got a solid parts selection.
Playability: 0/10
Let’s be real. This isn’t a set for playing. This is a display piece, pure and simple. It belongs on a shelf where people can appreciate it.
Overall: 9/10
This set is genuinely awesome. I’ve always had a thing for architecture, and this model just blows me away. I thought Fallingwater was incredible, but this? This is on another level entirely.
Final Thoughts
The Farnsworth House captures everything that made the early Architecture line great. Sure, the build can be a slog with all those tiles, but the end result is absolutely worth it. This was only the tenth Architecture set ever released, coming out during what I’d call the golden era of the Architect series.
Looking back from today’s perspective, this set represents a pivotal moment in the theme’s evolution. After the initial Landmark series focused mainly on skyscrapers and American landmarks, the Architecture series broadened the scope to include residential masterpieces like this one. The Farnsworth House sits alongside other early architectural icons like Fallingwater and Villa Savoye, showing that LEGO was serious about representing the full spectrum of architectural history.
This is a set that showcases both the brilliance of Mies van der Rohe’s original design and LEGO’s ability to translate iconic architecture into brick form. If you’re into architecture or just appreciate clean, modernist design, hunting down this retired set is worth the effort. Just maybe grab a cup of coffee before you start placing all those 1x1 tiles.
Part of the review was originally written when I first built the set back in 2011. Reading it again over a decade later, I stand by every word. The Farnsworth House remains one of the most elegant Architecture sets produced.