Retired Lego Architecture Sets – Our TOP 5!

Retired Lego Architecture sets are pretty hard to come by.

But when they do, you’d instantly know that these are some of the best Lego Architecture releases that the company has ever done.

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We here at Shrunk Collectibles have found it to be the perfect opportunity to show you what these Retired Lego Architecture sets are all about.

We searched high and low for the best Lego Architecture sets out there.

It ranges from the Eiffel Tower Lego, the Lego Architecture White House to the United States Capitol Building (just don’t expect any Lego movie releases here).

Our TOP 5 Retired Lego Architecture Sets

In the end, we came up with this list that will have you building Lego Architecture set pieces for your collection.

Suffice it to say that these Retired Lego Architecture sets will turn you into a creator expert in no time at all!

So, wondering if you’re going to find the Lego Architecture Burj Khalifa, Sungnyemun Gate, or the Paris Skyline Lego Architecture set in this handy little list?

If yes, then just keep reading on!

1. LEGO Architecture 21030 United States Capitol Building Kit

“Reasonably Sized and Elegant Model”

Our Rating: 5

When talking about the best Lego Architecture series releases out there, very few could match up to this one.

Especially considering the ones with a lot of heft and expanse to it.

Ladies and gentlemen: this is the United States Capitol Building from the Lego Architecture series, and Lego building blocks have rarely looked so grand.

Cornerstone Set

Don’t get us wrong, we love all those delightful Star Wars and Lego movie releases.

But it’s almost always the case that these sets are, well, less regal than they are fun and quirky.

That’s not the case with this, because it’s one of those nearly legendary Retired Lego Architecture sets that have become a cornerstone of the series.

Much like the Lego Architecture Fallingwater or the Berlin Skyline building blocks set, the United States Capitol Building turns your tabletop into a Yankee doodle dandy building!

Lego in ‘Murica!

It’s not one of the tallest buildings in the Lego Architecture series—or in the real world for that matter.

What this set lacks in height, it more than makes up for in its overall area.

To tell you guys the truth (and his might underwhelm some of you) this is a building toy that only contains a little over a thousand pieces.

Now, in any other case, that seems like a pretty big brick count for any creator expert out there.

But we’re talking about the best Lego Architecture sets here.

And frankly, something like this deserves at least a couple thousand pieces in it.

Reasonably Sized

Regardless, though, this is the best Lego Architecture set you could get if you want a reasonably sized building toy that’s not too big or too small.

Standing at 6 inches high and about 17 inches long, the 1000+ brick count is well justified here.

It goes for a more expansive than a compact build.

Nice Vibes

It almost goes without saying that these Retired Lego Architecture sets are pretty hard to find.

But one of the best things about this one is that its price isn’t too ridiculous even today.

It has a decent size that’s comparable to the Tower Bridge or the Lego Architecture Trevi Fountain building toy.

It’s also one of the most elegantly designed releases from the series.

A Great Testament

It has an almost fully monotone build offset by its green roof.

The United States Capitol Building is a testament to how the best Lego Architecture sets out there turn lego building block from kids’ toys to legit models.

So, whether you’re building New York’s skyline or a White House Lego Architecture set, this Capitol building model is a perfect addition to iconic U.S. structures.

Simply put, Retired Lego Architecture sets rarely hit all the right spots such as this one.

2. LEGO Architecture 21013 Big Ben

“A Charming Little Clock”

Our Rating: 4.5

Retired Lego Architecture sets are a boon to any fledgling creator expert out there.

The series is a bit underrated in the grand scheme of these Lego building blocks.

So you could still snag some of the best Lego Architecture sets out there for a decent price.

Case in point: there’s this Big Ben model that’s perfect if you’re into structures and buildings from good ol’ England.

Her majesty would be proud with this one, as Lego manages to temper their in-house style with some rather economical design choices for this one.

Small and Compact

By that, we mean you shouldn’t expect this one to be similar to gargantuan near-unwieldy sets.

Examples include the Wall of China, the Lego Architecture White House, or the Lego Architecture Trevi Fountain building toy.

This one is compact to say the least, but in no way does it diminish its value due to its relatively small size.

Not so Big Ben

Yes, speaking out of bias, we’d say that we would have expected this one to have two things.

That includes not just a higher brick count (which currently stands at around 360+), but an overall larger size as well.

At 7 inches tall, this Big Ben toy is a total munchkin compare to the White House Lego Architecture set or Lego Architecture Burj Khalifa model.

But we’d be lying if we told you that this doesn’t have its humongous charm in spite of its relatively diminutive size.

And on a better note, it’s to scale with the Tower Bridge, so you could build yourself your own London out of building toy pieces.

All in all, you’re going to love putting this on your desk or inside your display shelf due to how beautiful the final product is.

Ring the Bells

It would have been way nicer if Lego actually put a working clock on Big Ben’s face, but that’s just wishful thinking.

As it is, building Lego Architecture sets like this one is all about simplicity, and boy, does Lego have that in spades here.

Capturing the primary details of the real Big Ben, you’re going to notice that Lego opted to go for broader strokes here.

By that, we mean you’re getting a model that’s not EXACTLY like the real thing, but more like a proper Lego-fied version of the iconic tower clock.

And that’s what the company is all about: keeping things level with their design language without straying away too much from the source material.

A Must-Have

And as far as Retired Lego Architecture sets go, you’re going to find that this Big Ben right here is a must-have.

Even if only for the way it combines Lego’s elements with real-world buildings.

3. LEGO Architecture The Leaning Tower of Pisa

“A Repetitive but Pretty Toy!”

Our Rating: 4.5

As far as Retired Lego Architecture sets are concerned, one thing is true:

The Leaning Tower of Pisa stands (err… leans?) as one of the most iconic releases from this corner of the brick world.

We will say this: the Leaning Tower of Pisa might be the best Lego Architecture toy for you if you’re looking for a set that’s rife with simplicity.

This particular building toy gives you a glimpse of what Lego Architecture was all about before the whole line expanded and boomed in the market.

Yup, it used to be that these Retired Lego Architecture sets didn’t go for size and instead went with a more desk-friendly approach to them.

Not complaining, though: Lego is Lego, and it’s always a joy to find these older releases!

Leaning Nicely

Let’s get this out of the way right now:

This is NOT the set for you if you’re looking for a more diverse colorpallete in your Lego building blocks.

Much like the Eiffel Tower Lego, the Lego Architecture White House or the Lego Architecture Burj Khalifa, this one goes hard on its monotonous themes.

As a result, you get a very clean looking set that would sit perfectly on your desk or your display case.

No, this isn’t like the Berlin Skyline building blocks set, the Paris Skyline Lego Architecture toy, or even the Sungnyemun Gate; this is monotone at its finest.

In this case, you’re getting nothing but white bricks all over, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Little Italy

Although larger than other releases like the Big Ben set, the Leaning Tower of Pisa stands at a relatively diminutive 10 inches tall.

But size isn’t all that matters (that’s what she said, hopefully).

A Unique Charm

The finished structure has that very unique charm that only the Leaning Tower of Pisa could give.

When it comes to its brick count, you get 345 pieces in this set.

That is far and away from the likes of the Lego Architecture Fallingwater, Wall of China, or the Berlin Skyline building blocks set.

But hey, as far as Architecture Lego sets go, you’re getting a pretty nice build here.

That is, if you’re willing to shell out more than the recommended SRP (yup, it’s pricey, and it sucks because of that).

On and On

An additional gripe we have with this set is how monotonous the whole build experience is.

Yes, the final product looks great, but it would have been nicer if the path towards it was also fun.

Because in the Leaning Tower of Pisa’s case, you’re building Lego Architecture bricks by sections that frankly all look and feel the same.

But that’s the thing: even the real Leaning Tower of Pisa has those repetitive elements to it.

So we can’t say we completely blame the company for this one. 

Great Color Choice

Also, going with white instead of a more limestone hue on the bricks—which is closer to the real thing—is a nice touch here.

It gives it a more model-like feel.

4. LEGO Architecture Great Wall of China

“A Set with Nice Colors!”

Our Rating: 5

Next up on our Retired Lego Architecture sets list is something from the East: The Great Wall of China.

And we will say that this is the best Lego Architecture set for you if you’re out looking to keep those pesky Mongolian invaders out of your borders.

Seriously, though, if you like building New York skylines, then you’re going to find this set to be palatable.

First off, it looks like Lego adapted a whole scenery here instead of just the structure itself, and it works wonderfully.

Superb Job

Credit where credit is due: Lego did a superb job.

We mean not just in recreating a section of the Great Wall of China here, but including part of the mountain range where it sits on.

As a result, you’re not just getting a Lego-fiedbuilding toy here; you’re getting a charming little landscape recreation.

Sure, it’s Great!

Four inches high, we won’t lie and tell you that we were completely struck in awe with this particular set.

We mean, come on, a couple more inches would have done wonders for this set.

This Great Wall of China is one of those Architecture Lego sets that would look great on any display shelf out there.

Especially with its length—which is at around 10 inches—and its overall look once you’re done constructing it.

Decent Size

Additionally, you could say that we here at Shrunk Collectibles are suckers for decent sized builds, and this one pretty much delivers on that.

It has a total of 551 pieces.

This is one of the best Lego Architecture releases for both hardcore brick heads and casual fans just dipping their toes in the whole brick building toy game.

Finally, Some Color

To be perfectly honest with you, we don’t find the Wall of China itself—in this toy, we mean—to be that impressive.

It has a color scheme that we’ve seen in most other Lego Architecture series sets out there and has a very flat design.

What makes this great, though, is the fact that all the green below the structure (the mountain range section) provides some much-needed contrast for the model.

It’s something we don’t usually see in the Architecture line.

Even better is the fact that Lego decided to opt for different shades of green here, with dark and light tones complimenting each other.

Bottom line: you’re going to find this as one of those Retired Lego Architecture sets that provide some color rather than just, well, structure.

5. Lego Architecture Fallingwater

“An Intricate and Beautiful Model”

Our Rating: 4.5

Last up on our Retired Lego Architecture sets list is the Lego Architecture Fallingwater set, and it’s probably one of our favorite Architecture Lego sets of all time.

We say that because you can’t help but be reminded that this building toy looks like it was ripped straight from Game of Thrones’ opening credits scene.

Suffice it to say that this looks like a model of a modern-day castle based on, well, a real-world modern-day castle.

And that’s just the beginning of it, because this set has some elements that we’ve been pining for in the Lego Architecture series.

Sure, it’s not one of the tallest buildings, but it’s definitely one of the most elegantly designed toys from the line.

Water Falls

As with other Retired Lego Architecture sets, this doesn’t have as much expanse to it, as it only stands about 5 inches high and 10 inches long.

However, that means it’s a perfect model if you’re looking for a Lego toy that doesn’t take too much space on your desk or shelf.

Additionally, this is one of the most nuanced buildings we’ve gotten from the line, as it doesn’t make use of repetitive shapes and bricks.

Instead, you’re getting a variety of builds here that would make any creator expert happy.

And we haven’t even started talking about the whole design element that Lego chose for this one.

Nicely Done, Lego!

First off, you’re absolutely going to love how the company incorporated color variances in this set.

It ranges from the gray bricks, tan ones, green pieces and all the way to clear, translucent bricks (for the waterfalls)

As a result, this is no boring set by any account.

We’d even go so far as to say that even younger Lego fans would enjoy building this iconic structure.

Longer Build Time

At 811 pieces, this veers toward a longer build time, which would have both newbies and seasoned brick heads elated.

Furthermore, it’s a nice touch for Lego to have added historical information about the real-world Fallingwater building in their instruction manual.

But hey, we didn’t expect less from the company; they’re known for edutainment, after all!

Retired Lego Architecture sets—Our Verdict

Whether you’re looking for Lego movie or Marvel super heroes, you could always find something in Lego’s whole catalogue.

With their architecture series, fans of history and—well—architecture will have something to enjoy for themselves.

It doesn’t matter if you’re into the Sungnyemun Gate or the Lego Architecture Burj Khalifa set; these are all bangers in our book.

Simply put, the Architecture series from Lego provides something that not even the largest Lego Star Wars Death Star could provide: inspiration based on the real world.

Not only that, but also the offerings from this line would make even the weariest brick head find renewed interest in Legos.

Like we said, Retired Lego Architecture sets are hard to come by, but it’s a joy every time they do!