LEGO Architecture 20152 Dubai Skyline

After Tokyo, it's time to take a quick look at the other early 2020 LEGO Architecture skyline: the set 20152 Dubai Skyline (740 pieces - 64.99 €).

As announced, here we find a selection of emblematic buildings of the most famous city in the United Arab Emirates, a constantly evolving city where cranes are almost as numerous as buildings. This will not mean that the set will become obsolete in the years to come, unless one of the existing structures is demolished to build something even bigger, taller and more impressive instead.

In order in this skyline: the hotel Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Subway Station Ibn Battuta, The Dubai Frame, The Dubai Fountain, the Burj Khalifa and the hotel Burj Al Arab Jumeirah.

First observation, the base of the set is covered with Tiles beige (Tan) instead of the usual gray pieces. It is in keeping with the geographical context of the city, even if the streets of Dubai are not simple dirt roads ...

On the construction experience side, there are some good and some not so good. It starts off pretty well with the two hotel structures Jumeirah emirates towers, two almost twin towers with a resolutely modern design. the LEGO version is obviously super-simplified and struggles a bit to reproduce all the finesse and grace of these constructions, but there are some interesting techniques here used to achieve this result.

LEGO Architecture 20152 Dubai Skyline

LEGO Architecture 20152 Dubai Skyline

At the foot of the hotel, there is the metro station Ibn Battuta with its golden dome and its rails which run on a set of pillars. I appreciate this type of detail on LEGO skylines, even summary, they help to give context to the different constructions and to dress the base of the model. Four palm trees are planted on the base, they are embodied by pieces in Olive Green very apropos.

We then install the Dubai Frame, the giant photo frame (150 meters high) which allows spamming on Instagram. No frills here, we forget the elegant friezes and the mirrors which circulate along the frame and we are satisfied with a golden door frame which gives an illusion on this scale.

Before moving on to the most imposing construction of this micro-diorama, we assemble the hotel Burj Al Arab Jumeirah. The real sail-shaped building is magnificent. The LEGO version does its best with a lot of stacked pieces, clips and Harry Potter candles for a result that I find really very average. It's a little clumsy, really very fragile and it is only with a little distance that the whole works visually.

The last construction is the most laborious and the least creative. The Burj Khalifa is just a stack of irrelevant items with over a hundred blue 1x1 round pieces. It's more varied than the monochrome version of the set 21008 Burj Khalifa marketed in 2011, it is in my opinion much less elegant than the version of the set 21031 Burj Khalifa marketed in 2016 and it is especially an abysmal boredom. This is not really the level of what can be achieved with a product from the LEGO Architecture range. In defense for the designer of the set, the overall rendering of the construction is quite faithful to the reference model.

At the foot of Burj Khalifa, there are two micro-fountains that embody the aquatic and musical spectacle offered to tourists, like what we find in Las Vegas in front of the Bellagio. Symbolic but sufficient.

LEGO Architecture 20152 Dubai Skyline

In the end, I hesitate a little to qualify this set of product for tourists anxious to get a nice souvenir in an airport shop before leaving the city.

Nothing to say about the skyline in itself which allows to recognize Dubai at first glance thanks to the few easily identifiable structures, but we are however really hungry for the techniques used and the assembly of the Burj Khalifa offers nothing very exciting in this field. Mixed results therefore in my case for this box.

Note: The set presented here, supplied by LEGO, is as usual in play. Deadline fixed at December 25, 2019 next at 23pm.

Update : The winner was drawn and was notified by email, his nickname is indicated below. Without a response from him to my request for contact details within 5 days, a new winner will be drawn.

Ludovic MAHIEUS - Comment posted the 19/12/2019 at 18:26
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