Full size Lego house

[Orignac]

Hi, hope i'm posting in the right place. I thought this might be of interest for some of you.

James May (from TV's Top Gear) is attempting to build a full size house out of Lego as part of a new TV series to be shown in the UK later this year.

Press release is here :-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressr ... /toy.shtml

Can't wait

[Draykov]

For those about to build, we salute you!

[Solo]

Barring direct involvement from LEGO this seems rather absurd. Considering the challenge the Mythbusters faced amassing their pile of bricks for the boulder, a house is going to take a huge amount more. Plus, I question the feasibility of a roof of plastic held together solely by friction. Those large LEGOLand sculptures have internal supports that keep them from toppling over. Short of witchcraft I don't see this turning out quite as they plan.

I cynically await further updates.

[Gingerbeard Man]

I'm pretty sure the emphasis is on "attempting to build a full size house out of Lego". Just building a house with no issues at all would make for a dreadfully boring TV show.

[meeotch]

I'd love to see just how well a Lego toilet would work. Even with some pretty good SNOT construction, something tells me "stuff" would stick to the plumbing.

[Talon Karrde]

James May is my hero, he will do it. Plus I'm pretty sure they're reinforcing it with steel beams.

[ThinkingImpaired]

Barring direct involvement from LEGO this seems rather absurd. Considering the challenge the Mythbusters faced amassing their pile of bricks for the boulder, a house is going to take a huge amount more.

Yeah I don't see him getting the tens of millions of bricks necessary to make something of that size.

[GrayMattR]

I share all the previous doubts for practical reasons but I think this sounds like a fun stunt. Of course a Lego house wouldn't withstand full-time occupancy but his intent to get kids unplugged is great. Maybe he'll donate all the pieces to local schools, charity, etc. when he's finished and dismantles everything.

[Lego Engineer]

That's a lot of bricks. Whether it's full size house or one gigantic pile of bricks at the end this will be impressive.

[cfl_sw]

Looks like I'm going to have to buy a new house

[Dalek Caan]

Yes we are using over 5 milion bricks - it is only a single storey/cottage type space.

[Solo]

Have any in progress shots to share?

[Dalek Caan]

Well building hasn't started, and I'm only acting as a sort of off site "LEGO expert" ie - what type of bricks work where, construction techniques, etc... so I won't really know how it looks till I watch the programme.

[Orignac]

Construction starts Monday....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/surrey/8168892.stm

[Lord of Pies]

Ooohhh...this is taking place very near to where I live! I might pop down and have a look at how it is going....I can't imagine that ti will all go to plan, especially regarding the plumbing. How will they get running water to work effectively?

[bigospedros]

I've volunteered my services to help build. However, so have a LOT of other people. So much so, that this event is now ticketed (albeit free tickets) and you have to turn up and get a ticket on a first come first served basis. That ticket will lead to a 1 hour building slot on the day where you will help and be filmed doing so!

Fun fun fun ... I still think I might go along, just to see what it's all about.

[Joedward]

Saturday August 1st 2009 from 10:00
James will be holding five Lego building sessions at which we can accommodate 120 people each. If weather means the event can be held outdoors as well we may be able to allow more people to take part.
The sessions will be held at 10:00, 11:30, 13:00, 14:30 and 16:00. All sessions will last one hour each. Every session will be filmed and so you must be prepared to appear on TV!
Due to the huge level of interest we have received we are turning this into a ticketed event – but there will be no charge.
You will be able to collect two tickets per person for one of the above sessions from 09:00 on Saturday morning.
Once the tickets are gone, you can wait to see if we can accommodate more people at the sessions but we can make no guarantees.
If you are unsuccessful on this occasion, you will be able to register your interest for future sessions.
PLEASE REMEMBER THAT JAMES WOULD ALSO LIKE YOU TO BRING ANY UNWANTED LEGO WITH YOU THAT YOU ARE HAPPY TO DONATE TO HIS HOUSEBUILDING CAUSE.

I volunteered as well, and will be there, but really, really early. Just so I get a chance to help build. Should be fun, and it'd be interesting to see one or two of you crazy people if you turn up too.

[Jabba the Taff]

Would have loved to have been able to get across to that. I even had some Mega**** that I was sneakily sold, that I was prepared to donate. Hope anyone who goes enjoys it. Odds on there not being enough bricks, and having to carry on to Sunday?

EDIT: It's in a wine estate, this house could be wonky.

[Jabba the Taff]

It's coming along!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/surrey/8179678.stm

[bigospedros]

I'm glad I didn't bother driving the 140 mile round trip if some folks were there at 4.30am!! By the sounds of it, you were just using 2 x 4 bricks to build bigger bricks and that's it. No actual house construction happened today apparently.