Using your imagination to create whimsical and thought-provoking designs is a great way to think outside-the-box, and these examples of toy-inspired architecture are utilizing playful references to create mind-blowing structures.
Toys are often items that are associated with what little children play with, but since certain toys are often cherished and beloved by people well into their adulthood, there's no surprise that certain architects are utilizing those references in their designs. With the popularity of such classic toy brands as LEGO and Barbie continuing to gain momentum amongst children and adults worldwide, incorporating those iconic looks and themes into large-scale pieces of architecture serves to create a whimsically original and sentimental overall appearance.
From creative overpass designs that resembles a giant slinky to vibrant buildings that look like colorful LEGO pieces, these examples of toy-inspired architecture will surely have adults feeling nostalgic about their childhood.
28 Examples of Toy-Inspired Architecture
From Building Block Architecture to Puzzle-Filled Condos:
Tana Makmanee — Jul 25, 2013 — Art & Design
28
Fantasy-Filled Stores
The Pilar's Story Toyshop is Made for Children
27
LEGO-Inspired Architecture
Turkish Company Designnobis Presents the D-Eco Brick
26
Lego Street Repairs
Jan Vormann Takes His Dispatchwork to the Streets of New York
25
LEGO Building Add-Ons
Habitat Make Us Blind Exhibit Imagines the Possibilities for Vacant Lots
24
Colorfully Layered Cafes
The Mocha Mojo Coffeehouse Looks Like a Playful LEGO Land
23
Surreal LEGO Cityscapes
The Habit Makes Us Blind Project Builds Urban Planning Awareness
22
Prefabricated Playgrounds
The Play Modern Cuba and 2cuba Playhouses are Built With Minimal Tools
21
Building Block Sculptures
Lene Wille Creates Playful and Professional Pieces With LEGO
20
Puzzle-Filled Condos
The Geometrix Design Russian Apartment is a Picturesque Family Home
19
Giant LEGO Bridges
Australian Team Create 46-Foot Freestanding Bridge
18
Real-Life Toy Car Ramps
The Double Loop Dare Brings Hot Wheels to Life
17
Colorful Toy-Inspired Architecture
Childminders Center is the Ultimate in Child-Friendly Design
16
Building Block Architecture
GGF Architects' Wahroonga Preparatory School Looks Made With LEGO
15
Life-Sized LEGO Blocks
Tara Ketchum's Concrete LEGO Blocks are Solid
14
Jenga-Inspired Architecture
The Cafe Kureon by Kengo Kuma and Associates is Multi-Dimensional
13
DIY Home Construction
German HIB System Makes Building Blocks for Custom Homes
12
Pirate Sailboat Toy Houses
The Red Beards Revenge Pirate Ship Playhouse by PoshTots is Life-Size
11
100 Foot LEGO Building
50th Anniversary Tower
10
Contemporary Toy Homes
The 'Tdo Wallpaper Dollhouse' is Also a Luxury Lamp
9
Iconic Toy Structures
The LEGO Sydney Opera House Pays Tribute to a Beautiful Design
8
Japanese Toy-Inspired Infrastructure
Prostho Museum Research Center is Made of Wooden Sticks
7
Toy-Inspired Overpasses
The Slinky Springs Bridge is Colorful and Fun
6
Blocked Interior Designs
The LEGO Apartment Presents an Alternative Style
5
Starry Toy Shops
The De La Cuna A La Luna Store Boasts a Constellation-Inspired Ceiling
4
Building Block Architecture
The 'Build Up Japan' Project Creates the Metropolis Out of LEGO
3
Roman Toy Block Architecture
Ryan McNaught's LEGO Colosseum is Captivating and Accurate
2
Building Block Stairways
The Wieden + Kennedy Office by Featherstone Young
1
Customizable City Exhibits
‘Reimagining Chinatown' Dives Into L.A. Urban Culture
Related Ideas
Coral Reef Restaurants
Entering Urban Interiorites is Like Setting Foot in a Whale's Mouth
All-Inclusive Loft Living
This Martin Building Company 'SoMa' Apartment Has a Lot to Offer
34 Building Block Habitats
From LEGO Cathedrals to Jenga-Inspired Architecture
$21-Million Apartments
'The House' in Tokyo is the World's Most Expensive One-Bedroom Apartment
Lethal LEGO Body Armor
Lego Enthusiast Benny Culkin Creates Halo-Inspired Body Armor
Landscape-Blended Architecture
The 'Liyuan Library' Fuses Nature and Man-Made Structure
33 Technological LEGO Finds
From Toy Brick Picture Cameras to Tech-Savvy Toys
Imaginative Recreational Workspaces
The LEGO Denmark Office Has a Slide and Building Stations
27 Lego Creations
From Candle Blocks to Luxury Toy Jewelry
Timber Coattailed Seating
This Wooden Chair by Pasi Savunen Has Been Clad with a Sense of Occasion
Carchitecture Structures
Leger Wanaselja Car Part Home Used Over 100 Vehicle Scraps
Arboreal Tropical Villas
The ‘Treehouse' by Van Der Miszewski Architects is Stunning
Floating Refuelling Rafts
The S2S Project Makes it Possible to Live Light on the Earth's Oceans
Light-Flooded Architecture
Montblanc House by Studio Velocity Favors Wide Open Spaces & Sunlight
Bullet-Proof Plastic Bottle Homes
Houses Being Built in Nigeria Use 7,800 Plastic Bottles Each
Arboreal Abodes
Whole Tree Architecture is Putting a Green Spin on Building Convention
LEGO Meth Labs
The Breaking Bad LEGO Set is Full of 18+ Appropriate Fun
Eclectic Coffee Shop Redesigns
Cielito Querido Cafe Branding Embraces Idiosyncrasy
Building Block Clutches
The Agabag LEGO Purse Collection is Quirky
Worldwide Eco Housing Designs
Off the Grid Housing Around the World Gives Hope for Green Future
Modern Whimsical Accommodations
The B4 Hotel by Simone Micheli is Wacky and Wonderful
Adorable LEGO Accessories
The Cutebricks LEGO Jewels are a Building Block Dream
Fun-Focused Workplaces
The Davison Inventionland Office Looks like One Giant Theme Park
Building Block Sculptures
Lene Wille Creates Playful and Professional Pieces With LEGO
Climbing Cycle Storage
The Manifesto Bike Hanger Keeps Your Ride From Reaching Thieves
Fibrous Treetop Towers
The Agung Sedayu Center Will Thrive Amidst a Sea of Mangroves
Tiny Transformative Apartments
Christian Schallert Redesigns His Home on a Daily Basis
Block-Made Retail Landmarks
The Mr. Attacki LEGO Apple Fifth Avenue Flagship Store is Realistic
Freight-Hauled Homes
The Patrick Partouche 'Container House' is Modernly Made of Eight Pieces
Modern Chinese Water Walkways
L & A Design Group's Footbridge Features an Artificial Island
Building Block Cathedrals
The Abondantus Gigantus is a Church of LEGO
Moat-Splitting Platforms
Sunken Bridge Parts the Waters to Make Way for Tourists
Life-Sized Car Loops
The Hot Wheels Loop Billboard Looks Super Realistic
Scribbled Paper-Like Interiors
The Ubojnia & XII Collection is Deceptively Dioramic
Dizzying Contortionist Towers
The Wavy GT Tower East by ArchitectenConsort is Fascinating
Overgrown Pedestrian Overpasses
Issy les Moulineaux Promenade is a Natural Connection in Paris
Offbeat Jungle Gyms
Monstrum Playgrounds Creates Ridiculously Imaginative Recreation Areas
Stackable LEGO Ledges
The Build It Modular Fixture is Secure in Assembly and Striking on Display
Yin-Yang-Inspired Architecture
The Tianjin Ecocity by Steven Holl Relieves Dense Chinese Cities
Sharply Angled Abodes
The Nth Fitzroy House by AM. Architecture is Modern and Sophisticated
Eternal Damnation LEGO Depictions
Mihai Mihu Recreates Dante’s Inferno Using the Popular Blo
Hollywood Getaway Homes
The Coldwater Studio by Casey Hughes is Sweetly Surreal
Piled Twig Furniture
The Studio Floris Wubben Eyrie Chair Emulates A Bird's Nest
Enlarged Pictogram Architecture
The Design of the Little Factory was Inspired by a Cartoon Symbol
Fighting Game Mini Figures
Julian Fong Crafts Custom LEGO Toys Inspired by Street Fighter
Lego-Inspired Exhibits
The Island of Life Installation by Satoshi Hirose is in Technicolor
Red Winding Walkways
West 8 Architects' Twist Bridge Inspires Imagination in a Functional Way
Watercolored Wormlike Walkways
Wormy Tent Walkways by Family and PlayLab Use Space Cleverly
Subculture Street Art Shops
The TOYKIO Store is Three Shopping Areas in One
Toy Brick Picture Cameras
The Legotron Camera is a Snapshot of DIY Success
Traveling Container Hotels
The Pop Up Hotel Moves Around the World
Delectable LEGO Desserts
Betty Crocker Building Block Cake is a Tasty Toy Treat
Designer Kiddie Playhomes
The SmartPlayhouse Offers Personal and Stylish Spaces for Children
Alienesque Cube Architecture
The Guangdong Museum is Inspired by Ancient Chinese Artifacts
Illusory Toy Car Photography
Lost Highway by Stuart McGarey Shows Hot Wheels on Retro Roads
Predatory Pirate Shoots
The Nicolas Guerin August 2011 Fiasco Magazine Shoot Channels Jack Sparrow
Hilarious LEGO Statues
Nathan Sawaya's Stephen Colbert LEGO Sculpture is Absolutely Overwhelming
Weightless LEGO Recreations
The Paul Vermeesch Diorama Pays Homage to Artist M.C. Esher
Abstract Lego-Like Toys
The Balancing Blocks are Made Up of Unusual Shapes
Luxuriously Relaxing Restaurants
Le Sergent Recruteur Provides Enjoyment with its Elegant Setting
LEGO-Like Lighting
The Luxit Lights Look Like Playful and Iconic Building Blocks
Monstrous Interactive Retail
The Jou Jou Toy Store Gets Interactive with Branding
Building Block Animal Art
The Unofficial Taxidermy LEGO Kits Would Make Great Stocking Stuffers
Faux Micro Cities
The Evol Building Series Mimics Metropolitan Design
Belting Bricked Singers
LEGO Freddie Mercury Pays Homage to the Iconic Musician
Giant Digit Architecture
You Will Never Miss the Numbers House When Visiting its Owners
Latticed Rotundas
David Trubridge Presents the Dream Space Dome, a Quiet Place to Relax in Nature
Latticed Lumber Bistros
The Niseko Look Out Cafe Provides a Compelling View Inside
Meditative Office Partitions
The Monastery by Eriksen Skajaa Architects is Peacefully Futuristic
Building Block Architecture
GGF Architects' Wahroonga Preparatory School Looks Made With LEGO
69 Adventurous Pirate Innovations
From Contemporary Captain Fashion to Swashbuckling Playgrounds
Gender-Neutral Toy Stores
Shed Architects Designs Harrods Toy Kingdom for Both Boys & Girls
Musical Cylinder Structures
The Loopcamp by Malka Architecture Creates Sound With Wind Power
Life-Sized Hot Rod Toys
Team Hot Wheels Brings Kid's Cars and Ramps into Reality
Insightful Script-Writing Posters
The 'LEGO-fied Pixar Story Rules' Posters are Wise
Building Block CD Cases
The Camp America 'Intuitions & Dreams' Album Comes With a LEGO Case
Cave-Like Treat Shops
The Ice Cream Castle by Scenario Interior Architects is Made for Children
Hanging Night Clubs
Urbanplunger Designs Building That Suspends From Other Structures
Solar-Powered Cities
The Fujisawa Sustainable Smart Town Will Be a Planned Eco Conurbation
Undulating Double-Layer Bridges
The WXY Nanhe River Landscape Bridge is a Functional Work of Art
Recycled Creature Lamps
The Deep Sea Angler Lamp by Justin La Doux is Terrifying
Building Block Fashion Accessories
Les Petits Joueurs LEGO Clutch is for Playful Fashionistas
Blocked Interior Designs
The LEGO Apartment Presents an Alternative Style
Geothermal-Powered Architecture
Netanya City Hall by Yaniv Pardo is Futuristic
Chic Advertising Apartments
The Billboard House from Apostrophy's is Large and Livable
Life-Size Toy Fauna
The Lego Forest in the Australian Outback is an Arboreal Amazement
Building Block Lunchboxes
The LEGO Lunchbox is the Nerdy Way to Bring Food to School
Abstract Architecture Posters
Vision Reality by Exergian Showcases Designs from Around the World
Building Block-Infused Accessories
The LEGO Bracelets by Etsy Shop Owner Allysin are Kitschy
Athletic Toy Reenactments
The Olympic Fencing Controversy is Explained Brick by Brick with LEGOs
Bricked Smartphone Covers
The iPhone Brick Case is Designed Squishy and Sturdy
Fabulous Furnishing Transformations
Resource Furniture Preserves Form and Function to Fit in Space
Pulp Building Blocks
Paper Punk Teaches People How to Think More Spatially
Animated Toy Proposals
Walt Thompson Made a LEGO Stop-Motion Video to Pop the Big Question
Sun-Soaked Structures
The Meridian 'First Light House' is a Solar-Powered Marvel
Irregularly Stacked Buildings
The Thandalam Project by ABIBOO Architecture is Stunning
Building Block World Events
The News in LEGO 2011 Series Recreates the Year's Top Stories
Eco LEGO Alternatives
Earth Blocks Offer a Green Conscious Option with its Cedar Composition
Upscale Sandwich Eateries
The Subway Cafe Revamps the Chain with a Classy & Sophisticated Look
Orange Peel Eco Abodes
Aguas De Marco Uses a System of Adjustable Orange Shades to Heat/Cool
Extreme Sports Toy Companies
Hot Wheels Will Attempt the World's Longest Car Jump at the Indy 500
Grocery Trolley Roller Coasters
The Matt McVeigh Trolling Shopping Cart Sculpture Mocks Society
Building Block Bins
These Lego Recycling Containers Stack and Connect
Softly Sculptural Architecture
A-cero Architect's House in Madrid Looks Like a Monument
Life-Size LEGO Medical Machinery
Eric Harshbarger's Anesthesia Machine Replica is No Toy
Mismatched Block Sculptures
This Pard Morrison Artwork Clashes Beautifully
Toy-Inspired Soap Campaigns
These Fab Detergent Print Ads Use LEGO Stains to Target Children
DIY Masonry
The MecoPress by MecoConcept Lets You Make Your Own Bricks Like an Egyptian
Translucent Tourist Attractions
The Skywalk on Tianmen Mountain Requires Extra Underwear
Songstress-inspired Interior Decor
The Get the Look: Taylor Swift Post Mimics Her Music Video
Virtual Pop-Up Shops
Christmas Shopping Made Easy with Wal-Mart’s Virtual Pop-Up Shops
Toy Cake Molds
The LEGO Cake Mold is Playful and Nostalgic
Industrial Candelabras
These Solid Candelabras from KiBiSi are the Ultimate Urban Home Accessory
Road-Kill Cafes
Hillbilly Tea Offers Up Meals That are Au Naturel
Building Facade Games
The 3D Fanta Projection Captures Attention in Dubai
Playable Toy Block Instruments
The Ross Crawford LEGO Ukelele is a Fully Functional Music Maker
Record-Breaking Truck Stunts
The 332-Foot Tanner Foust Indianapolis 500 Jump is Ridiculous
Monarchic Theme Parks
Seibu Amusement Park Lets Guests Play King for a Day
Roller Coaster-Inspired Highways
The Sheikh Zayed Bridge in Abu Dhabi is Extremely Exquisite
Shuttered Science Structures
Lyons' John Curtin School of Medical Research is Futuristic-Looking
Appreciation Entrees
Cafe Gratitude Demonstrates Generosity With Free 'I am Grateful' Dish
Bold Bricked Branding
The LEGO New York Times Magazine Logo is Intricately Detailed
Building Block Toning Tools
'Stack-A-Doodle' Stackable LEGO Block Crayons Double the Fun of Colors
Seawater Energy Devices
Ecotricity's Searaser Device Turns Waves Into Green Energy
Board Game Cafes
Snakes and Lattes Blends Coffee With Chutes and Ladders
Toy Brick Atom Smashers
The LEGO Large Hadron Collider Makes Science Fun
Toy Brick PC Cases
The LEGO PC 1.0 Keeps Your Computer Looking and Running Cool
Entrancing Train Captures
Yurikamome by AppuruPai Records the Ride with an Open Shutter
Green Gangplanks
Blackfriars Bridge Will Become the World's Largest Solar Span
Swashbuckling Playgrounds
The Pirate Ship Playhouse Offers Luxury Area for Boundless Imaginations
Fantastical Slumber Spots
Posh Tots Gives Your Child the Bedroom of Their Dreams