Comparing LEGO Icons Sherlock Holmes to fan-designed projects

Sherlock Holmes has already generated plenty of fan interest in LEGO Ideas, years before the reveal of LEGO Icons 10351 Sherlock Holmes Book Nook.

Italian builder Luigi (known on LEGO Ideas as DreamnBricks) has had not one, but two variations of a LEGO Baker Street make it past the 10,000 supporter mark on LEGO Ideas, years before the reveal of 10351 Sherlock Holmes Book Nook. Luigi’s design was pretty different to what we will be getting in the LEGO Icons theme in June, but it does highlight that the interest in the detective has been there in the LEGO community for a while.

The fan-designed builds were modular versions of the iconic Baker Street flat, complete with minifigures of Sherlock Holmes, Watson, Mrs. Hudson and Moriarty. The design even spilled out into the street with a horse-drawn carriage to expand the scope of the world.

With more room to play with, Luigi could pack in more details than in 10351 Sherlock Holmes Book Nook – but this would surely have come at a far higher price too. For the 1,359-piece book book, LEGO builders will still be paying £109.99 / $129.99 / €119.99 – but modulars on the scale of what Luigi had in mind would easily cost upwards of £200, if you look at the Modular Buildings Collection.

Plus, we still have almost all the characters from the fan design in minifigure form, and more besides with Irene Adler and Paige. 10351 Sherlock Holmes Book Nook is designed to be incorporated into a book lover’s space, sliding into place in a bookshelf, whereas a modular Baker Street would be more of a traditional LEGO set that might not have the same wider appeal.

More and more, we’re seeing LEGO sets that are geared towards people who might not own a set already, between LEGO Botanicals, Art, and now a book nook, as well as display-focused builds across other themes. These brick-built pieces look at home on any shelf, whether it’s already stocked with LEGO sets or whether it’s nestled among books or other home decor.

The LEGO Icons set taps into the same community that voted a LEGO Ideas Sherlock Holmes project into the 10K Club not once, but twice, yet also adapts the idea to suit an audience that might be new to LEGO building or not know quite where to put a book-loving LEGO set in their home.

LEGO Icons 10351 Sherlock Holmes Book Nook will be available to buy from June 1 for £109.99 / $129.99 / €119.99. Pre-orders are open now on the official online store.

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