LEGO Review: The Architecture skyline model of Singapore makes for a gorgeous display set

1/12

Note: This feature was first published on 8 February 2022.

Officially revealed in January, the Singapore (21057) set is the latest addition to the LEGO Architecture Skyline lineup, and consists of 827 bricks. As with many of the popular Architecture sets, the Singapore set lets you build up iconic buildings in Singapore's skyline, including the Marina Bay Sands and Fullerton Hotel.

2/12

What I love about the Architecture series is that the instruction booklet comes with many trivia about the iconic landmarks that the set is based on - and the Singapore set is no different. If you're looking for a gift for an overseas friend, or a tourist wanting to remember this sunny island by, I think this is a fantastic set to consider.

3/12

For seasoned LEGO builders, putting 827 pieces of bricks into a set is a breeze. But beginners will also find that the set is really easy to build, without any technical combinations that you'll find in more advance sets like the Ultimate Collector Series from LEGO's Star Wars themed sets. If you're curious, it took me just under an hour to finish building the set, and this is considering I took my time to appreciate the build (and pausing to take photos).

4/12

Almost all LEGO Architecture sets start with the building of the base, and the Singapore set is no different. The size of the set is not exactly small, measuring at 27cm in length and the tallest building reaches up to 17cm when completed. It's substantial enough to standout on your desk or on a display shelf.

5/12

Recognise these? Yup, the famous shophouses at Boat Quay! LEGO's tribute to Singapore's historical quay is fantastically represented with just two bricks. Mad props to the LEGO designer for this smart design, Rok Zgalin Kobe.

6/12

Perhaps my only gripe with the set is the choice of landmarks chosen. While I appreciate instantly-recognisable buildings like OCBC Centre and One Raffles Place being represented as a part of Singapore's skyline, I thought there are other better choices than Lau Pa Sat or what looks like Peninsula Plaza behind the row of shophouses (it's not named in the set). Then again, it's also likely a case of LEGO choosing a mixed of low and high-rise buildings to give the set a sense of depth.

7/12

I had a lot of fun building the One Raffles Place tower. There's some smart thinking in making the building "tall" without using too many bricks - you build it horizontally - and achieving the angled facade of the top of the building. The building is then secured to the base via the two vertical clip bricks.

8/12

Almost complete. Unsurprisingly, the Marina Band Sands buildings occupies more than half of the base and is literally the most recognisable landmark in Singapore now. Fun fact: Marina Bay Sands had its own LEGO Architecture set (#21021) that was released back in 2013, is out of production now, and is highly sought after by collectors.

9/12

There's no mistaking the towering Supertree Grove of Gardens by the Bay. In a way, the various shades of colour used for the water and foliage represent the tropical nature of Singapore well. It also adds more vibrancy to an otherwise plain set.

10/12

The back of Marina Bay Sands are made of grill pieces to represent the hotel rooms facing the sea. It's actually quite brilliant, but I thought the "holes" at the back of the One Raffles Place tower sort of spoiled the overall rear aesthetics.

11/12

Despite some of my misgivings about the set, albeit really small ones, I really do like the LEGO Architecture Singapore skyline set. It's a really beautiful looking display set that matches best with, in my opinion, the Tokyo skyline set. Some readers have rightly pointed out the missing Merlion, arguably Singapore's most famous landmark. But I'm not quite sure if that landmark fits within the overarching skyline theme of this set, and so I thought it was wise to have excluded it.

12/12

The LEGO Architecture Skyline Collection model of Singapore (21057) retails for S$99.90. The set was initially scheduled to go on sale on Jan 3, 2022. But the pandemic has led to an unprecedented global supply and logistics crunch, and the set is now scheduled to be released this month instead (February). It will be available at LEGO Certified Stores, LEGO Official Store on Lazada, Shopee, Amazon and other major retailers and department stores in Singapore.