kjm161
The Lion and the Rose / Livraria Lello 4
I have attempted to recreate one of the most beautiful book stores in the world in Lego. The Livraria Lello in Porto Portugal was built in 1906 by the engineer Xavier Esteves. It was founded by the brothers José and António Lello. I have renamed my MOC “The Lion and The Rose” since these can be found throughout my creation.
The Livraria Lello features one of the most exquisite staircases ever created that appears to float within the building. This iconic red staircase, with its ornate decorations that adorn its facade, is at the centre of my MOC and the rest of building was built around it.
“Thou who walked the room, shall then see a staircase which is a piece of surprising allure, for its apparent lightness which masks the audacity of its design. One feels the urge to climb it yet fears one’s weight may make it crumble.” (in Catálogo 1930 of Livraria Lello).
JK Rowling, who frequented the book store in the early 1990s is said to have been inspired by them when writing Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. A few the the characters from her novels can be seen browsing books in my MOC.
The ceilings of the Livraria Lello are equally impressive. A large stained glass skylight features prominently on the second story ceiling. Usually ceilings are ignored in Lego MOCs. I have tried to add some interest to my MOC with dual chandeliers, a stained glass skylight and decorated tiles.
There are numerous books for sale in my MOC. Some books displayed in the window are custom tiles from The Brick Show Shop. I have tried to create the characters from these novels in minifig form (luckily Lego has produced a couple of them already). The novels are “The Great Gatsby”, “The Wizard of Oz”, “Alice in Wonderland”, “Tom Sawyer”, “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea”, “The Old Man and the Sea”, “Gone With the Wind”, and “Treasure Island”.
I have slightly modified the exterior of the book store but have tried to capture its gothic and Art Nouveau style. The back and front facades on the first floor of my MOC are hinged to allow easy access to the interior. The back of the second floor is hinged as well. The roof is easily removed so the stairs can be seen from above.
The Lion and the Rose / Livraria Lello 4
I have attempted to recreate one of the most beautiful book stores in the world in Lego. The Livraria Lello in Porto Portugal was built in 1906 by the engineer Xavier Esteves. It was founded by the brothers José and António Lello. I have renamed my MOC “The Lion and The Rose” since these can be found throughout my creation.
The Livraria Lello features one of the most exquisite staircases ever created that appears to float within the building. This iconic red staircase, with its ornate decorations that adorn its facade, is at the centre of my MOC and the rest of building was built around it.
“Thou who walked the room, shall then see a staircase which is a piece of surprising allure, for its apparent lightness which masks the audacity of its design. One feels the urge to climb it yet fears one’s weight may make it crumble.” (in Catálogo 1930 of Livraria Lello).
JK Rowling, who frequented the book store in the early 1990s is said to have been inspired by them when writing Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. A few the the characters from her novels can be seen browsing books in my MOC.
The ceilings of the Livraria Lello are equally impressive. A large stained glass skylight features prominently on the second story ceiling. Usually ceilings are ignored in Lego MOCs. I have tried to add some interest to my MOC with dual chandeliers, a stained glass skylight and decorated tiles.
There are numerous books for sale in my MOC. Some books displayed in the window are custom tiles from The Brick Show Shop. I have tried to create the characters from these novels in minifig form (luckily Lego has produced a couple of them already). The novels are “The Great Gatsby”, “The Wizard of Oz”, “Alice in Wonderland”, “Tom Sawyer”, “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea”, “The Old Man and the Sea”, “Gone With the Wind”, and “Treasure Island”.
I have slightly modified the exterior of the book store but have tried to capture its gothic and Art Nouveau style. The back and front facades on the first floor of my MOC are hinged to allow easy access to the interior. The back of the second floor is hinged as well. The roof is easily removed so the stairs can be seen from above.