Paris

The Eiffel Tower, the finale of the build, was worth it. I had no issues with parts. I have now built all 10 and have never had an issue. Just need to be careful when there are many similar colors (multiple greys, black, clear black, clear etc). more less

This was my first Lego set. My daughter has legos and I have played with her but I have never had a set or build one of my own. After a visit to Legoland, my husband and I have become huge fans of legos. I loved building this set. It was so much fun and really engaging. more less

While this set reflects a set of fairly safe choices based on the history of the LEGO Architecture Skylines series, I feel like they missed the mark in a couple key areas. The worst offense is the square Arc de Triomphe, especially since it could have been fixed so easily. Even though this version of the Eiffel Tower expertly captures the shape of the building, it is too chunky and relies on disingenuous printed parts to achieve the curved supports on the base. It's too bad that the two most iconic landmarks of Paris weren't quite right, as the rest of the buildings in the model are quite satisfactory. more less

If you're tempted to dip your toes into the Architecture theme but haven't managed to yet, then this could be a great entry point for you. That said, if micro-builds aren't your thing, this is unlikely to change your mind. All in all, 21044 Paris is a great display piece and makes a great purchase for any AFOL Francophile. more less

It's a very competent rendition of the City of Lights, and all of the structures, with the possible exception of the skyscraper, are immediately recognisable. Parts have been used in unusual ways using sophisticated techniques to form their details at a small scale. There's a good balance of building heights and styles and the overall appearance is attractive. Yet, I don't really find it very exciting. It's probably because three of the buildings have already been rendered in Architecture sets and it seems just like yesterday that I last built an Eiffel Tower (although it was in fact 5 years ago!) more less

The Architecture line is probably one of the most progressive LEGO themes. Comparing the earliest models to what we have today, it has come a long way from stacking headlight bricks to innovative part use. Marketing the sets as a premium product for adult collectors used to price them out of the realm of parts packs for MOC builders, but those days are over. In the past two years, I've found myself buying some of the Architecture sets purely for parts. Despite their small size, they offer some neat techniques and look gorgeous on the shelf. more less

The beauty of LEGO Architecture is that it bridges the gap between ardent LEGO fans and people who might build casually, as they make excellent display pieces, even in a professional office environment. Diversity in building techniques makes the Paris skyline a great addition to the series, and its subject matter makes it a great gift for your Parisian-loving family and friends. It also contains a nice assortment of parts for building custom models, made all the more enticing thanks to the inclusion of some unique elements. more less