Background

LEGO. Some people may see the brightly colored plastic bricks as just toys, (they are found in the toy aisle, after all,) but they’re much more than that. With video games, educational experiences at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, and even a drivable full-sized two-seat sportscar that can reach 12mph, LEGO is far more than just a toy. Imagination is truly the limit, leading me to ask the question “why couldn’t LEGO be a medium for map making?”

Of course, LEGO has answered that themselves, with three of their own sets: World Map (set #31203), The Globe (set #21332), and Travel Moments (set #41838), but what else could be mapped in brick?

I am not a Master Builder, nor do I have millions of plastic bricks at my disposal, but I do have a computer and a copy of LEGO’s BrickLink Studio. BrickLink Studio lets users build models from nearly every brick in the LEGO inventory. For something simple, with the typical blocky look LEGO is known for, the software would be all I’d need.

Not every place would be suitable for a brick-based map; this would be one of those times when form comes before function. A grid-based city such as downtown Manhattan might work well, but might be too dense to be in anything less than a very large map. A subway map, however might be more suitable.

Having lived in the greater DC area before, I was very familiar with the map of the Washington Metro Area Transit Authority. A very stylized design, it featured basic colors and only horizontal, vertical, and 45-degree angles. It might be perfect.

Data & Tools

• Data Sources

  DEM Data: SRTM 1 arc-second void-filled elevation models from USGS Earth Explorer.

• Tools Used

  • Adobe Photoshop, for creating the reference grid
  • Bricklink Studio, for modeling LEGO bricks and rendering the final output

Process

Every project needs a plan, and while most people build LEGO sets from an instruction book and bags of pre-sorted pieces, I had none of that. I had a source map and an infinite number of LEGO bricks of all shapes and sizes.

1. Planning the Design

   • At its core, LEGO is based around a system of squares, and laying pieces on a flat surface results in a grid-like pattern. Photoshop is good at applying grids to images and, after trying a few different options, I settled on a 128x128 grid. Applying the image onto the standard WMATA map created a reference image that would allow me to translate the design into LEGO's blocky format.
   • LEGO fans have created tons of acronyms and naming conventions for the multitudes of ways of assembling their bricks. SNOT, MILS, SNIR, MOC, etc. Rather than thinking about specific techniques, I focused on the outcome: a flat map. This would be a simple build, made up of standard white baseplates and a layer of tiles
   • While LEGO does straight lines well, angles are complicated. Maintaining 45-degree angles and securing round station tiles would present technical challenges. As would incorporating natural features like rivers and parks, especially where they run alongside a metro line.
   

2. Execution

   Using BrickLink Studio, I assembled the map one LEGO piece at a time. While the grid reference map provides a place to start, not everything can be replicated in LEGO's limited shapes and colors. After several iterations, the following was decided

   • Metro lines would be two studs wide and use macaroni tiles for curves as much as possible.
   • Natural features would have smooth edges while metro lines would be more jagged, emulating the difference between the natural and manufactured elements of their real-world counterparts.
   • Regular stations would be made from 2x2 round tiles with inverted white studs, while transfer stations featured the larger 6x6 round pieces with alternating black-and-white macaroni.
   • State and county borders would be made from 1x1 tiles, with those for the county borders placed on every other stud. The state borders, being set at 45-degree angles, would end up as jagged lines. Despite being the same color as the Capital Beltway, each would still appear visually distinct from each other.
   

Key Results

The final design captured the feel of the WMATA map reasonably well, complete with the Potomac River, National Mall, and other features recognizable in brick form. Although some creative liberties were necessary, it's a successful experiment in creativity and exemplifies how a simple idea—making a map out of LEGO—can inspire new ways to see and interact with the world. After all, LEGO is only limited by imagination.

Upon researching further, I discovered that LEGO had created a similar map to celebrate the London Underground’s 150th anniversary. While their design incorporated labels for greater functionality, my approach prioritized flat-tile aesthetics over their stud-focused representation.