Critics of BIG poke fun at the blocky, elemental formalism that the firm employs — or did, at least in their earlier projects — by likening them to mountains of LEGOs. Bjarke seemed to be in on the joke when he (and a poor team of interns) built a gigantic 250,000-piece LEGO model at the Storefront for Art and Architecture in 2007.  The installation played to BIG’s critics and advanced Bjarke’s, admittedly sketchy, “hedonstic sustainability” agenda, balancing architectural “research” in form and program with unabashed, if unironic, fun. Six years later, Bjarke is embarking on another LEGO venture.

BIG will design the first ever LEGO museum in Billund, Denmark, according to a report by Architect Magazine. Known as the LEGO’s “Brand House,” the project’s function is being described as a “public museum and experience center.” The architect envisions an open museum with walls of “user content of such a high quality,” though what that says of the project’s spatial program, or even curatorial approach, we’re not sure. If you’re having any doubts, put them to rest. ”It will be the best museum ever,” Ingels promises—yes, EVER.

by Samuel Medina

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tagged BIG, bjarke ingels, denmark, hedonistic sustainability, LEGO, LEGO Brand House, LEGO museum

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