Adding the Boutique Hotel to your modular street (2)
Posted by Huw,
Yesterday I looked at positioning 10297 Boutique Hotel next to 10278 Police Station and 10270 Bookshop in the modular street. In the comments of the article you asked what it looked like lined up next to 10243 Parisian Restaurant.
So, I've dug it out, along with the architecturally similar 10211 Grand Emporium, so you can see for yourselves.
With 10243 Parisian Restaurant on the left. I think the gap between them looks a bit awkward, not to mention that the potentially noisy tropical bar could disturb diners in the balcony of the restaurant!
It looks better on the right, being a similar height, although as it's sat back further from the road there's a bit of the hotel's unsightly wall left exposed.
10211 Grand Emporium is another corner unit but I think it works better on the left of the hotel than the restaurant.
It's not too bad on the right, either, although the difference in height is more noticeable.
To be honest I don't think it goes particularly well with the restaurant on either side. You will have to play with your own collection of modulars to see what works best!
10297 Boutique Hotel is released on January 1st and will be available from LEGO.com. Be sure to read our review if you've not done so already.
Thanks to LEGO for providing the set for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
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54 comments on this article
Thanks Huw! This makes me curious how others will integrate the hotel in their modular line-up or cities. Time for a new series of storage solutions!
Yeah, I only have the PR and it just does not look natural next to the hotel. I may still pick it up, though.
This article is a prime example of why you shouldn't obsess, or really even take much notice of, ppp.
Boutique Hotel - 3066 pieces.
Grand Emporium - 2182 pieces.
Yeah, that doesn’t look as good as I expected. I really think the Boutique Hotel’s awkward shape just prevents it from looking good as a corner unit. I wish it took up more of the baseplate or it would’ve been a regular modular with a terrace bar like the Parisian Restaurant, and I definitely think it’s too short. I still like the build on its own but it clashes so much when integrated with other modulars that I might just skip it.
Thank you Huw. I'm actually a bit disappointed that the Parisian Restaurant doesn't look as good (to the left of the hotel) as I'd hoped. Still, as you say, experimenting when placing modulars is half the fun! :-)
I actually kind of like the "alley" implied by the negative space created by putting the Parisian Restaurant to the left of the hotel. I also really like how the hotel is almost an "end unit" modular... I think it would look good with streets on three sides, like the Flatiron building.
It's definitely a weird fit with the other modulars no matter where you put it, but to me that adds to its charm - I like that it's unique, which is really impressive given that it has 15 years of predecessors to which it can be compared!
Thanks @Huw for providing all of the comparison pictures!
@guachi said:
"This article is a prime example of why you shouldn't obsess, or really even take much notice of, ppp.
Boutique Hotel - 3066 pieces.
Grand Emporium - 2182 pieces."
Notably though, the Grand Emporium has basically no interior. It's basically a giant empty room with a cash register and a couple display tables. The Boutique has an incredibly detailed interior, which uses up a ton of the part count.
I still love it and its greens will simply have to clash in polite disagreement with my PR.
Hey, that looks pretty good with the PR on the left of the BH, IMO! I actually like the gap that is formed, since it looks a bit more natural than having a straight edge wall to the right of the PR, which would be the case when placing most other modulars next to it. Plus, you get to see more of the backside windows of the BH, which thankfully are as detailed as those on the front facade. It gives the modulars a bit more room to breathe, I think.
I like the juxtaposition of the restaurant terrace and the rooftop bar quite a lot and the colors are a bit more New Orleans garish. I can accept that. The real question remains: which modular will be responsible for the trash bin behind the hotel?
@rishi_eel said:
" @guachi said:
"This article is a prime example of why you shouldn't obsess, or really even take much notice of, ppp.
Boutique Hotel - 3066 pieces.
Grand Emporium - 2182 pieces."
Notably though, the Grand Emporium has basically no interior. It's basically a giant empty room with a cash register and a couple display tables."
Huh?
It may not be a cramped as newer Modulars' interiors, but considering how old it is there is quite a lot going on in the interior.
Better compare it to Cafe Corner or Green Grocer, both of which have far sparser interiors, the former not having any interior furnishings at all.
I like the new building, but something about its style "cheapens" the look of the Paris Architecture. It looks a little like the ill cousin in these, particularly with that nougat colour, it just looks too much like a modern building trying to emulate an older style and failing terribly.
Having said that I do like it, but the architectural style is simply not of the same calibre as the PR or GE.
Very interesting comparison and has shown me that there needs to be modulars between these.
Thanks for bothering to do this Huw, much appreciated. This is definitely a day one purchase for me.
I can also see now that when I build the top floor I am going to substitute sand green parts for those white and tan bricks on that end wall. That way for me it won't matter if a nearby building has a greater setback as it still should look ok.
I really like the Boutique Hotel but given that it sits further forward than most other modulars its unsightly side wall will be hard to hide no matter what's put next to it. This is disappointing as Lego could have sat the hotel back a stud or two to better fit the other buildings or they could have simply gave it a more forgiving side view.
I have both these modular buildings. and it is realy dissapointing how small the botique hotel is.
How is it 1000- ish pieces more then the grand imperium.
I think the PR would look a lot better next to the BH of either is built mirrored. Right now you get two alleys faceing each other and what makes each set great on it's own ( the playing with space, depth and negative space) is lost because the negative space is all in the middle, makeing it just look a mess.
This is also why the GE looks better next to the alley side of either; the straight side makes the "wonkey" side "pop" more.
There was a great article about how this all works a while back:
https://brickset.com/article/57168/the-composition-of-modular-buildings
Thanks for these additional photos!
To be honest, I think the preference a lot of people have voiced for the Parisian Restaurant is a little overblown—I feel like the gallery looks fine next to taller buildings, and it's not abnormal for a bit of an alley to exist between buildings in real life. But they do complement each other nicely as far as architectural style and business type are concerned.
The Grand Emporium, on the other hand, doesn't really work that well. It's way too tall and the very unique shape and high detail of the hotel doesn't do the boxiness of the Grand Emporium any favors.
@AustinPowers said:
" @rishi_eel said:
" @guachi said:
"This article is a prime example of why you shouldn't obsess, or really even take much notice of, ppp.
Boutique Hotel - 3066 pieces.
Grand Emporium - 2182 pieces."
Notably though, the Grand Emporium has basically no interior. It's basically a giant empty room with a cash register and a couple display tables."
Huh?
It may not be a cramped as newer Modulars' interiors, but considering how old it is there is quite a lot going on in the interior.
Better compare it to Cafe Corner or Green Grocer, both of which have far sparser interiors, the former not having any interior furnishings at all. "
The Grand Emporium definitely has more of an interior than those early models, but it's still rather light on its interior compared to many modern modulars. Not only are none of the floors tiled (not even the ground floor, something even the earlier Green Grocer has over it), but most of the interior space of the upper two floors is eaten up by the rather large opening for the lone escalator. Beyond the display tables there's not even any shelves or other wall displays.
That's not to say it's a bad set! But it's definitely a showcase of how much design standards for the modulars have developed since those early days, when the sets tended to be a little taller but both interior and exterior detailing was much simpler.
@guachi said:
"This article is a prime example of why you shouldn't obsess, or really even take much notice of, ppp.
Boutique Hotel - 3066 pieces.
Grand Emporium - 2182 pieces."
You're correct that part count isn't everything, given that it's abundantly clear which of those models is over a decade old
Also, why mention ppp if you don't give the ppp?
@rishi_eel said:
" @guachi said:
"This article is a prime example of why you shouldn't obsess, or really even take much notice of, ppp.
Boutique Hotel - 3066 pieces.
Grand Emporium - 2182 pieces."
Notably though, the Grand Emporium has basically no interior. It's basically a giant empty room with a cash register and a couple display tables. The Boutique has an incredibly detailed interior, which uses up a ton of the part count. "
Grand Emporium also has no interior walls whatsoever, which are much more necessary for a hotel than a department store, and eat up a lot of parts despite not affecting the exterior size at all. Moreover, its ground floor wasn't tiled, which would likely be criticized as cheap/lazy in a newer building, judging by the way many people reacted to the Corner Garage.
Even Grand Emporium's exterior used much more basic (and consequently, less parts-intensive) building techniques for the decorative molding around the windows of its upper stories compared to the Boutique Hotel's use of wheel arches, inverted half-arches, candles, etc. Again, this adds nothing to the Boutique Hotel's size, but adds greatly to the "premium" level of detail which fans tend to expect from a modern Modular Building.
If size is your only objective, then you're right, this set's high piece count isn't doing anything for it. But for a lot of builders, the Modular Buildings' level of interior and exterior detail is just as great a part of their appeal, if not greater.
I still like how it looks next to the Police Station because it means that Soap n' Suds ad is not hidden like it would be behind most other buildings.
@Huw said:
"although as it's sat back further from the road there's a bit of the hotel's unsightly wall left exposed"
That's a pity, as that wall is clearly meant to be hidden by another modular. You'd think the pavement/sidewalk should be the same width for all modulars (with Parisian Restaurant as a notable exception), but that's obviously not the case. Got to have a look through the series to see how much it varies.
Thanks for this @huw, I don't have the PR, having come late to Modulars so just have Assembly Square and the Diner but really like the look of the Boutique Hotel - and to wholly mix it up I think it would be interesting to put the hotel next to the Spring Lantern Festival 80107 Something to look forward to in 2022.
I think it looks better next to the other two currently available modulars as shown in the previous review. Maybe it is the much greater variety of pieces and colors? Or maybe it was designed like that intentionally. After all, not everybody can get the retired sets today.
Thanks for sharing! I guess I'll have to go back to putting a park in between with two balconeys looking over it (which wouldn't be that bad to be honest).
Sometimes I get a tad peeved when Lego does these complex architectural features which look nice when the model is on its own, but severely limit its ability to be put next to other modulars and make sense.
Detective's Office for example looks excellent next to the laundromat, the entire scene flows as if it had been one set.
Sadly this is not the case for PR, or this new hotel. I wouldn't blame the hotel for the street gap though, PR has always had that problem of being set back about 3 studs too far which is a real shame.
@fakespacesquid said:
" @guachi said:
"This article is a prime example of why you shouldn't obsess, or really even take much notice of, ppp.
Boutique Hotel - 3066 pieces.
Grand Emporium - 2182 pieces."
You're correct that part count isn't everything, given that it's abundantly clear which of those models is over a decade old
Also, why mention ppp if you don't give the ppp?"
Because one set is eleven years old? And I specifically said that it wasn't even a thing to compare or look at so why would I even provide it?
As to the extra pieces being used in the interior that others have mentioned - almost the entire time viewing the building will be spent viewing the exterior so interior details have less "display value" (though it's not zero) and I, personally, really hate tiled floors so I don't "value" interiors as much as a really nice exterior.
Seeing this makes me wonder if they could've made a small park instead of the art gallery next to the hotel, and maybe made the hotel a bit taller with those pieces instead? It probably wouldn't add up, but I think it would've worked pretty well.
Thanks for that HUS! I don’t suppose you’ll want this to be an ongoing series of articles, but I think AS would go well to the right of BH (against the big ugly wall). I think architectural styles are complimentary, and the front of AS (the white and blue building) is far enough forward to match BH.
Not sure about the left side. DD diner would be ideal, but I think the blocky white section on the top floor would be too exposed.
@guachi said:
" @fakespacesquid said:
" @guachi said:
"This article is a prime example of why you shouldn't obsess, or really even take much notice of, ppp.
Boutique Hotel - 3066 pieces.
Grand Emporium - 2182 pieces."
You're correct that part count isn't everything, given that it's abundantly clear which of those models is over a decade old
Also, why mention ppp if you don't give the ppp?"
Because one set is eleven years old? And I specifically said that it wasn't even a thing to compare or look at so why would I even provide it?
As to the extra pieces being used in the interior that others have mentioned - almost the entire time viewing the building will be spent viewing the exterior so interior details have less "display value" (though it's not zero) and I, personally, really hate tiled floors so I don't "value" interiors as much as a really nice exterior."
Those preferences are totally valid, and I'm sure you're not the only builder who focuses on exteriors! But hopefully you can also understand why builders like me who care more about interior detail would appreciate those non-size-related ways that higher piece counts can be advantageous. :)
Doesn't the Grand Emporium have interiors? I seem to remember "Where are my pants?" guy in one place and a large but (to me) mysterious sphere somewhere upstairs.
If only the venetian houses weren't sold out. So I could actually have something nice to pair this with.
Loving these articles! It’s great seeing it with the other Modulars. Makes the decision of where to place it making it a bit easier. Keep them coming!
Can any modular building cover the hotel's unsightly wall?
Still look forward to see someone put the cafe corner next to it, which is the closest looking building to the hotel, not to mention it's a hotel as well with the obvious sign. Around the same height as well and style wise.
@HugeYellowBrick said:
"Doesn't the Grand Emporium have interiors? I seem to remember "Where are my pants?" guy in one place and a large but (to me) mysterious sphere somewhere upstairs."
It has an interior but it's very basic (and includes a weird one way escalator.. no escape!)
@Huw if you’re still taking requests, I’d love to see this alongside Downtown Diner. I feel like the color scheme of the Diner might blend well with the Hotel. Also, if you have it available, it’d be fun to see this alongside Cafe Corner.
@Huw - thanks for taking the time to humour us and pull out these older sets. I know I really appreciated the shots with Parisian Restaurant!
Generally, I do like PR on the right, and I'm thinking that some creeping vines continuing up the wall from PR's awning will go a long way to masking the colour discrepancies.
I wonder how the 10190 market Street would look next to it with the low walkway.
My boutique hotel will have to go to left of Detective Office (unless I want to pull apart several blocks of Modulars)
Luckily the “plot” available has an S-curve just beyond the corner so I’ll actually have streets on three sides which so think will show it off nicely.
I know Parisian Restaurant is a fan favorite and on its own it is a beautiful build, but I feel like it doesn’t fit particularly well with any of the other modulars. It’s set a bit too far back, and because the stairs on the right, it creates a bit too much negative space between builds (I personally like the cramped and busy aesthetic of the modulars) it is disappointing though because I thought Boutique Hotel would finally be the perfect match with PR. But these pics definitely threw that idea away.
Whilst it does look a little awkward next to PR I see the opportunity to extend the cube museum onto the PR and remove it's stairs. It would then have a much larger terrace bar with single access from the BH and space to expand the museum. It's problems like these is why we buy Lego, surely.
I love the style and colours of the hotel but find the art gallery with bar on top to be so distracting, I doubt any sort of historical board would allow such a building to be so prominently built and even if they did, it just sticks out way too far!! The pictures with last years police station really highlight the issue, from a 45 degree angle you couldn't see the shop next to the station at all and the apartment seemed almost obscured too, plus the art gallery came out so far that the street lamp that's on the right hand side of the baseplate only leaves what looks to be a 1x1 gap for minifigs to move through. That on top of the exposed flat ugly side of the new build makes it seem like no one actually checked the new modular for compatibility to any previous builds at all.
I feel like it was designed to fit nicely next to the Police Station, the shaping of the left side allows the Soap Suds ad on the Police Station to stand out while from the other side we get to see more of the Boutique Hotel next to the station, which both happen to get somewhat blocked next to most of the other modulars. though the very obvious European styling of the Hotel clashes with the Police Station. Whether that's good or bad is subjective of course.
Hmmm... I think if you'd get 2 BH's, mirror build 1, making the gallery twice the size, that would be an awesome end-building for any street. Doesn't solve the ugly protrusion (instead doubling the problem), but still, would be pretty awesome.
@huw you have missed a little 1x1 white in the esterior on the second floor, on the top of one of the 'candle column'
^ Yes I did, but it's not corrected!
The only other modulars I have constructed at the moment are Detective's Office and Corner Garage and I don't think either of them would be a good match with the hotel so this will be the last article in the series!
I have a quick question. All of you who collect Modular Buildings are you going to consider the Venetian Houses 910023 a modular building to add to your collection? Or even a little more far feached the Retro Bowling Alley 910013? For me I think the Venetian House looks as good if not better than some of the Modulars but I have not collect all the Modular buildings so I was wondering for the hard core guys or gals what you guys thought.
@Huw: do you have "Assembly Square"? Maybe on the left of this BH? thanks
Yes but still in its box!
@Aanchir said:
" @guachi said:
" @fakespacesquid said:
" @guachi said:
"This article is a prime example of why you shouldn't obsess, or really even take much notice of, ppp.
Boutique Hotel - 3066 pieces.
Grand Emporium - 2182 pieces."
You're correct that part count isn't everything, given that it's abundantly clear which of those models is over a decade old
Also, why mention ppp if you don't give the ppp?"
Because one set is eleven years old? And I specifically said that it wasn't even a thing to compare or look at so why would I even provide it?
As to the extra pieces being used in the interior that others have mentioned - almost the entire time viewing the building will be spent viewing the exterior so interior details have less "display value" (though it's not zero) and I, personally, really hate tiled floors so I don't "value" interiors as much as a really nice exterior."
Those preferences are totally valid, and I'm sure you're not the only builder who focuses on exteriors! But hopefully you can also understand why builders like me who care more about interior detail would appreciate those non-size-related ways that higher piece counts can be advantageous. :)"
I agree too - if I build a MOC or modify a modular I focus almost entirely on the exterior - my Emporium is a case in point - extended to the side with an additional 32 baseplate and with an additional 2 floors, plus an additional storey in a mansard type roof extension (this is when dark green windows were plentiful and not expensive!) the only interior works involved the escalator and screen around the opening in the floor, together with some window dressing to the ground floor - i cant even access the building to inspect the interior due to the configuration of my room...
With regards to the new hotel, my layout has a 32 square baseplate projecting into a corner with the Assembly Square behind; it's effectively a corner site open on 3 sides so I think that will be the place for it...
I love the set on it's own and I think it's one of the more elegant buildings they've done. It looks very Parisian to me. It's just a shame it doesn't fit well with other modulars. I only have one other modular building (10255), so it shouldn't be too much of a problem for me, but I pity others who are trying to make nice continuous streets with all of the modulars.
I actually really like the Parisian Restaurant to the left of the Boutique Hotel. That said, I plan on not including the palm tree in the hotel's patio bar.
The Parisian Restaurant is my least favourite modular, but this pairing breathes new life into it. And I think each set's "negative space" compliments the other's, making the emptiness more visually interesting to me than either do individually.
@kenjr24 said:
"I have a quick question. All of you who collect Modular Buildings are you going to consider the Venetian Houses 910023 a modular building to add to your collection? Or even a little more far feached the Retro Bowling Alley 910013? For me I think the Venetian House looks as good if not better than some of the Modulars but I have not collect all the Modular buildings so I was wondering for the hard core guys or gals what you guys thought. "
I think they (the BL designer sets) count.
The 10190 Market Street was a fan design if memory serves me correctly. The designer program is just a second chance for Lego Ideas sets, so they are very much welcome on display with the rest of my collection.
@pazza_inter said:
" @Huw: do you have "Assembly Square"? Maybe on the left of this BH? thanks"
I thought Assembly Square too. I was thinking on the right of the BH though. It is similar height and has quite a narrow pavement which would hide the side of hotel better than most other modulars. Also the sand blue might contrast nicely with the hotel's colours.
It would look fine next to Grand Emporium if it were just a little bit taller. This is a classic example of shrinkflation.
There's also the issue that the shape is an obvious Flatiron Building homage but still needs to be integrated into a grid somehow like the other modulars and the palm tree is nothing like the foliage in the other ones