Review : LEGO Architecture 21036 Arc de Triomphe

Small foray into the LEGO Architecture range with a set that will inevitably speak more to the public of this blog than the usual reproductions of buildings located on the other side of the planet.

The reference 21036 The Arc de Triomphe makes it possible to reproduce a well-known Parisian monument with just over 380 pieces.

It's a LEGO Architecture product, with the scale to go with it and the opportunistic symbolism of some of the pieces used to represent the different elements of the monument. And that's where the microfig, a very practical LEGO element for designers, comes into play.

The four artistic high reliefs are here replaced by microfigs and the LEGO designer has chosen to place them in a niche that absolutely does not exist on the monument. I understand the approach: to create some semblance of volume around the minifigure using depth and a different color, but the effect falls a bit flat.

The six bas-reliefs disappear altogether and are embodied by the underside of gray pieces. It will take some imagination to visualize them.

It is precisely the purpose of this range to reproduce monuments on a scale which requires diverting the main use of certain pieces to make them embody architectural details, but here we obviously reach the limits of the concept and the symbolism becomes a little cartoonish.

To console ourselves, we can judge that the flame of the Unknown Soldier in LEGO sauce is rather successful ...

Everything is assembled in fifteen minutes flat. Due to the architecture of the monument, some sub-assemblies have to be reproduced in several copies. Inevitable but not really exciting. Some interesting techniques to discover, in particular to reproduce the upper cornice.

If you like the hinge bricks (LEGO ref. 393701), rejoice, you will get 30 copies in this box.

From a certain distance, the one that separates you from the shelf on which you display your sets, the whole will create an illusion. Despite its approximate proportions and the liberties taken by the designer, we recognize the monument at first glance. It was already less obvious with Eiffel Tower from set 21019...

As for the public price, 34.99 €, it is much too expensive for this souvenir to assemble yourself. And LEGO has not even made the effort to integrate content in French in the instruction booklet contrary to what is indicated in the very emphatic product sheet on the LEGO Shop. The only words in French are Arc, de et Triumph... For a set that honors a French monument, it's a shame.

Note: We do as usual, you have until September 5, 2017 at 23:59 p.m. to manifest yourself in the comments.

Update : The winner was drawn and 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.