LEGO Ideas designers reveal 21359 Italian Riviera’s origins
Two of the designers behind 21359 Italian Riviera have revealed just how the upcoming Mediterranean LEGO Ideas model came to be.
The LEGO Ideas team today revealed 21359 Italian Riviera, a 3,251-piece set that will be joining the theme early next month. The build is based on Alex Sahli’s winning fan submission and features a rustic village located next to the Mediterranean Sea, one that looks to be packed with plenty of play and display potential.
Following the official announcement of 21359 Italian Riviera, Alex and LEGO Ideas Senior Model Designer Mary Wilson have discussed the creation of the set, revealing its origins, attention to detail and minifigure selection.
“Travel is one of my biggest sources of inspiration,” Alex said. “My initial idea for this model came out of a family trip to Italy, which had been the top country on my bucket list for a long time. I ended up doing lots of research in preparation for the trip and it inspired me to create a LEGO set that celebrated it.”
That inspiration ultimately led to Alex creating his own model, one that attempted to faithfully recreate a bustling slice of Mediterranean life.
“I knew there were a few things that I absolutely had to include, so I started with them,” he says. “That was a beach, clay-tile roofs, uniquely angled components, and colourful houses. Getting the colours right was one of the most important parts to me, as they are one of the most iconic and defining features of these towns.”
Following Alex’s model hitting the 10K mark, the fan build was then passed onto the LEGO Ideas team for them to work their creative magic on the set.
“I immediately was drawn to the colours and the liveliness of the build,” Mary recalls. “I appreciated the balance of rocks, water, and plants alongside the brightly coloured village.”
“Alex was wonderful to work with,” she continues. “In addition to the original submission, he provided photos and suggestions on how to improve his model. For example, he suggested that we embrace the twists and turns often found in the real Italian villages, which led to the entire model being built on two angled sections.”
When it came to the model’s initial minifigure count, the LEGO Ideas team decided to boost that number from six to 10, thereby giving builders more opportunities to stretch their imaginations.
“We imagined quite a few stories for the minifigures,” said Mary. “A grandfather and grandchild spending the day together, a food critic who comes to visit the award-winning gelateria, the owners living above their shops, and a none and grandson making trofie, a local dish, in the kitchen together.”
One minifigure in particular stands out in the LEGO Ideas set, with Alex himself appearing in 21359 Italian Riviera as a tourist, complete with camera accessory for documenting his visit to the Mediterranean village.
“It’s super cool to see yourself in minifigure form!” the fan designer exclaimed.
LEGO Insiders members will be able to pick up 21359 Italian Riviera exclusively from August 7, while everyone else can indulge themselves with the model on August 10. The LEGO Ideas set will be priced at £249.99 / $299.99 / €279.99 and Insiders will also be able to score a free Mediterranean Scene GWP from August 7 to 14 (while stocks last), plus an A5 notebook reward from August 7 for 1,500 points.
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