BDP11: Tranquil Market
Posted by Huw,
Crowd Support for BrickLink Designer Program series 11 is underway, so here's another article contributed by a project designer:
Hi, I’m Owen (_brickbytes) and I’m excited to share my latest model created for Series 11 of the Bricklink Designer Program: Tranquil Market.
Inspired by traditional Japanese architecture, as well as a tranquil ‘slice of life’ aesthetic, this model features a detailed market diorama, with a restaurant interior, small residential space, and outdoor details including a functional minifigure-scale vending machine!
I started by developing some prototypes for the vending machine, as I knew that it would be a central feature of the model. At first, I built some iterations with the rubber technic axle connectors (45590) to see if I could create a reliable drink vending function. In testing, I found that these prototypes would release the entire contents of the vending machine all at once; not particularly ideal.
To improve on this, I saw that the vending machine in the Ninjago City Docks (70657), addressed pretty much all of the functional issues I ran into. By orienting drinks vertically and indexing with a 1x2 tile, you could controllably release the drinks with gravity. Inspired by the solution in that set, I landed on a design that bridges the robust functionality of a controllable, gravity fed system with the visual design of a Japanese vending machine!
I really liked the idea of having further customisation as an aspect of the model so I opted to incorporate a swappable decoration feature! This allows you to easily customise the position of the tree and utility pole builds.
With the core functionality of the model established, I iterated on, and refined the structure of the model. This involved optimising the staircase to the left, the restaurant on the lower floor, and design for the residential unit. This included plenty of digital prototyping in Bricklink Studio, and some physical testing with parts I had on hand.
In development, I ideated with some different layouts, but landed on a design that incorporated some fun reverse triangle geometry. Below is a figure of some key connections between two 12 x 3 wedge plates that creates a 20° angle between the primary and secondary section of the main model.
To bring everything together, I looked at what sort of storytelling was missing, opting to include an artist’s vendor cart and a cyclist with a yellow bike and corresponding bike rack on the model.
The final build consists of 853 pieces, 3 custom stickers (road signs and vending machine banner), and 4 minifigures. Designed for a relaxing build experience, the build incorporates a range of authentic details, layout customisation, and engaging play features into a beautiful desktop vignette!
I really hope you enjoyed learning a bit about my design process! This one was an especially interesting challenge as I aimed to balance a high level of detail and playability with a relatively limited part count. I also had some fun creating custom materials in Blender to elevate the final visualisations!
Please vote for the project here and if you want to check out more of my projects, you can follow me on Instagram & Flickr (@_brickbytes). Thanks for reading!
80 likes
20 comments on this article
Ooh, I like this! Nice layout, not too big, yet packed with details. Would 100% buy this!
Looks good, although I think I would like it better if the apartment was larger and covered the entire width of the roof.
I love this. Little buildings with lots of character, could slip into a City Modular build scape or Ninjago. BDP is outshining Ideas program yet again
Thanks for the writeup! The geometry of the 20 degree angle is well-executed and the vending machine is really clever too! Lots of fun details and clever techniques in a set that won't break the bank or my shelf!
@infiniteimprobability said:
"Looks good, although I think I would like it better if the apartment was larger and covered the entire width of the roof."
Nice try, but think about the heating bill. It's probably only heated passively from the stove downstairs, on working days only. Coming soon to a neighbourhood near you!
Tired of seeing similar games and castles. Will we never have a Victorian dollhouse or something similar, which is what we see in normal cities? My interest in Lego is dwindling more and more..
@Gus_teXeda said:
"Tired of seeing similar games and castles. Will we never have a Victorian dollhouse or something similar, which is what we see in normal cities? My interest in Lego is dwindling more and more.."
You could you just build it yourself, of course. ;-)
I like this article for detailing the creative process, and sharing which building techniques went into it. Also actual pictures instead of renders with fake lighting you can never achieve in real life -- or at least not without buying additional lighting kits.
The building itself is quite charming, even if it isn't a Victorian dollhouse.
Definitely feels very 'natsukashii' for me, loving this a lot!!
@Sepulchure said:
" @infiniteimprobability said:
"Looks good, although I think I would like it better if the apartment was larger and covered the entire width of the roof."
Nice try, but think about the heating bill. It's probably only heated passively from the stove downstairs, on working days only. Coming soon to a neighbourhood near you!"
Nah, that's not how heating traditionally works in Japan. Don't heat the entire house, but just heat the space you're in with a kerosene heater, or better, whip out the kotatsu!
@ToysFromTheAttic said:
" @Gus_teXeda said:
"Tired of seeing similar games and castles. Will we never have a Victorian dollhouse or something similar, which is what we see in normal cities? My interest in Lego is dwindling more and more.."
You could you just build it yourself, of course. ;-)
I like this article for detailing the creative process, and sharing which building techniques went into it. Also actual pictures instead of renders with fake lighting you can never achieve in real life -- or at least not without buying additional lighting kits.
The building itself is quite charming, even if it isn't a Victorian dollhouse."
Nooo, the housing crisis also reached Lego many years ago. THE END
There are at least three sets already made with almost the same 'typical Asian food stall'. 31131 80044 40906
Do we need more?
@thor96 said:
"There are at least three sets already made with almost the same 'typical Asian food stall'. 31131 80044 40906
Do we need more?"
The first is more like a western style building with a noodle restaurant than a Japanese building. And is discontinued.
The second one is a big play set. And discontinued.
The third is a GWP behind a big paywall. And soon to be discontinued.
Seems like there's a market for a set like this.
@Gus_teXeda said:
" @ToysFromTheAttic said:
" @Gus_teXeda said:
"Tired of seeing similar games and castles. Will we never have a Victorian dollhouse or something similar, which is what we see in normal cities? My interest in Lego is dwindling more and more.."
You could you just build it yourself, of course. ;-)
I like this article for detailing the creative process, and sharing which building techniques went into it. Also actual pictures instead of renders with fake lighting you can never achieve in real life -- or at least not without buying additional lighting kits.
The building itself is quite charming, even if it isn't a Victorian dollhouse."
Nooo, the housing crisis also reached Lego many years ago. THE END"
This implies LEGO City also has politicians... :'-)
Looks fantastic!
@thor96 said:
"There are at least three sets already made with almost the same 'typical Asian food stall'. 31131 80044 40906
Do we need more?"
That's what I meant. It seems like the same thing is just being done, or is it just me?
@thor96 said:
"There are at least three sets already made with almost the same 'typical Asian food stall'. 31131 80044 40906
Do we need more?"
Since I don't own any of the sets you mentioned, I'd personally like to add this BDP set to my collection which, to me personally, looks even better than the other 3. (But that's just my opinion.)
Supported, and definitely would get this if available.
I was finally lucky enough to take my first trip to Japan recently and have come to love and appreciate their architecture more and more, and this surely feels like something you would have passed by.
Love it, thanks!
@WizardOfOss said:
" @thor96 said:
"There are at least three sets already made with almost the same 'typical Asian food stall'. 31131 80044 40906
Do we need more?"
The first is more like a western style building with a noodle restaurant than a Japanese building. And is discontinued.
The second one is a big play set. And discontinued.
The third is a GWP behind a big paywall. And soon to be discontinued.
Seems like there's a market for a set like this."
Well, we have another one in June 80121
@thor96 said:
" @WizardOfOss said:
" @thor96 said:
"There are at least three sets already made with almost the same 'typical Asian food stall'. 31131 80044 40906
Do we need more?"
The first is more like a western style building with a noodle restaurant than a Japanese building. And is discontinued.
The second one is a big play set. And discontinued.
The third is a GWP behind a big paywall. And soon to be discontinued.
Seems like there's a market for a set like this."
Well, we have another one in June 80121"
Which is distinctly Chinese, not Japanese.....
And besides, it is also a completely different thing, so why couldn't these coexist? I mean, they also make tons of western style buildings in all shapes and forms, should they also stop doing that?