How to customize the timeless LEGO® Icons Tudor Corner (10350)

How do you expand the iconic LEGO® Icons Modular Buildings Tudor Corner (10350) set without losing its cozy charm and character? Well, you’re in luck – we have just the ticket!

There is so much more to our LEGO Modular Buildings than what meets the eye. From intricate details to architecturally delightful designs, not to mention rich storytelling.

Our latest addition, Tudor Corner delivers just that – bringing old-world charm and charisma into every nook and cranny. The Old Guarded Inn Restaurant, the haberdashery and the clockmaker’s workshop are quintessentially British with cozy, rustic style and vintage treasures.

But the beauty of this build doesn’t stop there – you can customize it to your heart’s content, too! And this is exactly what we’ve done – challenged a dedicated fan builder to expand and personalize this beloved set. The results? Charming, to say the least!

Bold beginnings

What’s better than one Tudor Corner set? Two! Our builder used two identical sets without using any additional pieces – building each set fully to highlight opportunities for creativity, before adapting the original. By taking the second set apart, they understood the design and used elements from that to seamlessly slot into the original.

Starting with the ground floor, our fan builder decided to expand the width of the building (16 studs) instead of adding another level, to give it a grander feel while keeping the coziness of it.

Remember, planning plays a key part. Ask yourself, “How can I shift the walls and floors?”, “How can I retain the authenticity of the set?”. Consider the story and narrative you wish to tell before you pick up those LEGO bricks!

Decisions, decisions…

The decision to expand the Tudor Corner opened the door for further imaginative storytelling. From a larger ground-floor restaurant with increased kitchen space and double oven (fancy) to a double-fronted haberdashery, housing exquisite hats to suit every minifigure. Not to mention a members-only refreshment space on the second floor, new bay windows, extended hallways, landings and two top-floor apartments. How the other half live, hey?

With each added feature, our fan builder ensured every room worked with the narrative and was realistic too, focusing on small details that bring the building and buzzing atmosphere to life.

Be brave with your decisions and if things go wrong – rebuild – that’s the beauty of LEGO bricks after all!

Charming challenges

Of course, an expansion of this stature comes with its challenges. Two testing moments spring to mind for our fan builder…

The first was the decision to double up and expand the building as a corner unit. They didn’t want the build to only feel bigger, but to add asymmetry to the expansion, in keeping with the aesthetics and architecture of the original.

By not exactly doubling the original set, it allowed our fan builder to construct freely, trialing multiple variations of roof bricks and angles to stay true to the Tudor style.

The second challenge was the trickiest – the steep pitch roof and rustic chimney. The roof was the hardest to maintain the right angles for, as well as crafting the chimney to come out of two adjoining sloped roofs.

It’s all in the detail with modular builds, so time and planning were key for the design of the roof to ensure smaller details were included, such as corner posts, black detailing and an added maintenance hatch with pipes.

Tweaks and tips

You can’t rush art, so when expanding any LEGO Modular Building, it’s important to not hurry the process. Start with the foundation, structure and functionality – then focus on the finer details to incorporate unique design styles and techniques from the original.

Top tip! You could expand your build further by using extra parts to add greater detail and fine-tuning to each room. If our fan builder could turn back time, they would have “brought more detail down the back of the building with new parts, refined tiling in the dining area on the second floor or added flair to furniture pieces.” Well, there’s always room for a few tweaks!

Whether you fancy yourself an architect or you’re eager to free your imagination among enchanting streets and inside endearing spaces, the Tudor Corner is, well, right up your street.

Capture your own story and spirit through customization and personalization to make a build you can be truly proud of. Remember, with LEGO building, the manual is only the beginning. Trust your journey of creativity and you’ll see what you can achieve!