Brick City, a LEGO exhibition

October 2, 2023

Words: Wilson Barlow

Photography: Courtesy of Warren Elsmore

What Can You Create With 250,000 LEGOs? Ask Warren Elsmore

More than 250,000 LEGO… That’s what U.K.-based artist and author Warren Elsmore used in “Brick City,” his exhibition recreating iconic architecture across every continent (yes, even Antarctica is represented). Among the 37 sites he “built” are the vibrant streetscapes of Old Havana and the Painted Ladies of San Francisco, along with monumental structures like St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow, the latter taking 100 hours and 3,000 bricks to construct. There’re a whopping 9,000 in his New Orleans scene, where LEGO minifigures are celebrating Mardi Gras. See them all at the National Building Museum in Washington, through spring 2025.

a replica of San Francisco's Painted Ladies made of LEGO bricks
a replica of New Orleans made of LEGO bricks
a replica of St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow made of LEGO bricks
Brick City, a LEGO exhibition

read more

  • a bird's eye view of the colorful lego building

    DesignWire

    Milestones of Design – 90 Years

    The brands are celebrating 90 years of design milestones alongside Interior Design.

  • DesignWire

    MoMA X Vans Versus Lego X Adidas

    In a battle of four design titans over fashionable footwear supremacy, MoMA has released a two-part line with their fellow Americans at Vans, while Denmark’s LEGO has joined forces with Germany’s Adidas for t…

  • DesignWire

    15 Designers Share What Inspired Them as Children

    September is synonymous with back-to-school, and as classrooms beckon it’s natural to reflect on childhood experiences and memories. We’ve rounded up the reminiscences of 15 talents in the interior design, ar…

recent stories