How the Shanghai Center Building was built
Posted by Huw,
When images of 21039 Shanghai surfaced a few weeks ago many of you wondered how the twisty Shanghai Center Building on the right was constructed.
The set is now available in the brand store in the city so thanks to NateV we can now find out. All is revealed after the break...
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36 comments on this article
Very interesting building technique! I might buy the set just for that!
I agree. Completely unexpected, but amazing. I will have it on my wish list.
Very interesting!
I only have 2 Architecture sets and found them boring builds. However, I love this set and definitely plan to get it!
Must have been a eureka moment for the designer. Very clever.
Wow! To be honest, i hadn't really thought about it, but just assumed it was a stack of 2x2 jumper plates
That's why even as an adult I still love Lego - endless creative possibilities.
Impressive. Most impressive.
It helps that the rest of the models hold up well, too. The World Financial Center is as good as the best MOC I've seen for the building. The smaller ones complement the skyscrapers.
I wonder how it holds the shape post-twist, though, or even if it can be done in LDD.
Very clever, I wonder how long it took the designer to come up with this amazing idea.
Such a cool build!
It was my first architecture set, and it was a ton of fun to build. All of the taller buildings have interesting design quirks that make the structures work.
I'm assuming this also has a bunch of 1x3 jumper plates (with two studs) in that pale blue as well, right? That's a new piece that hasn't been seen in many colors or quantities yet.
@Hectorus Vectorus Maximus, so far 2 days in and the twist stays good. I imagine at some point the internal axle may start to bend a little, but there isn't much strain on it really.
@Brainslugged, yest there are PILES of those 1x3 jumper plates (mostly light blue and a couple light grey).
BTW: if anyone at New Elementary is reading this...please review this set.
Definetly getting it!
That is the coolest thing ever. Well done Lego. :-)
Some Bricksetters correctly guessed at how the building was constructed when first revealed here. As others have said, this is a clever build. I like the other structures as well.
On the box the thing doesn’t even look LEGO because of the building technique
I... still don't get how it's done. Are those black poles flexible/rubbery or something?
Yes they are flexible.
very cool idea.
I have a personal affinity for the Shanghai Pudong skyline, and was amazed that LEGO was able to pull this off. It looks great!
Jang and I think someone else was right indeed!
Amazing. Can't wait to pick up this set. May be my favorite skyline set so far. Hoping they do Hong Kong and San Francisco at some point in the future too.
One question remains: is this an illegal build per LEGO's own guidelines?
knew that was how it worked!
@dutchlegofan50 I don’t see any techniques used here that could be construed as illegal. Those pieces are intended to bend like that. And all the connections are actually quite conventional in nature.
Mmmm - lovely light blue Jonathan Edwards and a properly good new building technique - what's not to like in this set?
Wonderfully representative of Shanghai, which is a a very hot place indeed. TLG hit a home run with this set. Can't wait to pick it up. Will it be released in Lego Stores and when?
How much is this gonna cost, retail?
They should have included the Jin Mao Tower.
when will Brickset have an extensive review of the set as a whole? it looks great and i can't wait to see the other buildings/new building techniques
I love the Architecture line and especially all the skyline sets. This looks great and I am really happy they are doing an Asian city.
I initially wasn't a fan of the Architecture sets, especially the skylines. But they have surely grown on me, and this set is a must for me, not only because of the ingenious building techniques, but because of the great design in general.
As for RRP, I would guess over here it will be 49.99 Euro, like the NYC skyline.
@Devineone Aw dang, imagine a Hong Kong-themed Skyline set.