LEGO's Massive "Home Of The Brick" Delights Fans In Denmark

On September 28, 2017, LEGO fans of all ages finally got the chance to visit the massive 82,000 square-feet, 100-feet high, LEGO house aka “Home of The Brick.” Located in the iconic toy’s hometown of Billund, Denmark, the impressive structure, that has been in the works since 2014, is the brainchild of Danish architect Bjarke Ingels. Its exterior, resembling 21 gigantic LEGO blocks, is covered in colorful tiles giving the illusion that the entire building is made of the popular bricks. A 2X4 keystone brick placed on top welcomes visitors flying into Billund Airport with light beams from its eight knobs.

Part public art piece, part amusement park, the LEGO house has something for everyone — from the youngest enthusiasts to AFOLs (Adult Fans of LEGO). Upon entering, visitors encounter four color coded areas, each signifying a different aspect of play and learning. The Red Zone allows kids to put their creative skills to work using the millions of colorful bricks scattered under a cascading LEGO “waterfall.” The Green Zone, which tests social skills with storytelling and roleplay, includes activities like writing and directing a LEGO movie. The Blue Zone is dedicated to cognitive play, with fun tasks like guiding robots on Arctic missions to rescue trapped mammoths. The Yellow Zone allows visitors to express their emotions by using the bricks to build fish and releasing them into a large “aquarium” or planting their LEGO flower creations in the extensive LEGO meadow.

Those tired of playing with the over 25 million bricks, or not in the mood, can admire the large gallery of fan-built LEGO creations, learn about the toy’s fascinating 85-year-old history, or buy themselves a set or two at the LEGO store. The Home of the Brick also features numerous public spaces for visitors to relax in, as well as a number of playgrounds to entertain kids. While the outdoor spaces are free, visitors who want to visit the experience zones and galleries have to pay 199 Danish Krone ($31.56) per person.

No park excursion is complete without a good meal. At the Home of the Brick, visitors can choose from one of three restaurants — Brickaccino Café, Le Gourmet, and Mini Chef. While all have unique features, it is Mini Chef that is likely to be the favorite with kids. The family restaurant allows patrons to build their order with color-coded LEGO bricks. They then insert it into a screen on the table and watch as the animated chefs “make” the food. When ready, the meal is placed inside a cool-looking LEGO lunchbox and delivered by a robot waiter via a conveyor belt.

While having a sleepover at the Brick House is not an option for most, four lucky individuals will soon get a chance to do just that. On November 7, the LEGO Company teamed up with Airbnb to stage a contest that will enable one lucky winner and his/her three guests to stay inside the magical house for a night on November 24. To be eligible, competitors have to answer the question, “If you and your family had an infinite supply of LEGO bricks, what would you build?” on the Airbnb/LEGO House page before November 16. Judges will score participants based on the creativity and originality of the responses. So if you are a LEGO fan, be sure to get your entries in before the deadline.

Resources: lego.com, huffingtonpost.com, theverge.com, businessinsider.com