Combine a pop-up book and LEGOs, and what do you get?  A feat so impressive and manic we can’t quite wrap our heads around it. Now, we’ve seen many LEGO stunts before, but none like this. Designed and intricately constructed by a faceless Japanese LEGO builder who goes by the Youtube moniker “talapz, this pair of pop-up LEGO models defy all orthogonal logic. Click through for the video(s)!

The models recreate two Japanese temples, the Todai-ji and the Kinkaku-ji, both of which are hidden in their own custom-designed LEGO case that opens to reveal the micro-structures inside. Fashioned out of innumerable blocks arranged in several patterns, colors and textures, the case alone could qualify as a showpiece. Crack it in half, then things get more interesting and complex. The four walls of each temple come together seamlessly as you flatten the spine of the case, while a small landscape of trees and ponds surfaces from all around the central structure. Fold the case back up, and the models collapses as easily as they popped up.

Explanatory text and diagrams at the end of the videos are meant to give an idea of the mechanics underlying the design, but, be it the Japanese text or the rapid-fire flash of images, it’s all kinda hard to decipher. There seem to be a lot of hinges and something something. What we can make out is that each set took a couple of months to design and build. That’s dedication.

by Architizer Editors

posted in Uncategorized

tagged design, LEGO, LEGO design, pop-up, pop-up book

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