I get it. Regular LEGO sets are expensive. Especially if you're looking at some of the larger, more complex sets. The LEGO Architecture series, for example, which replicates iconic landmarks from around the world, starts around $40 and makes its way up into the triple digits.
So what is a LEGO enthusiast on a tight budget to do?
Enter "MAKE-IT BLOCKS." This generic brand is offering their charming line of LEGO Architecture knock-offs at The Dollar Tree, and you know what that means: Each of these sets is only ONE DOLLAR each!
Let's take a look and see how well these sets compare to their real-life counterparts:
London Bridge
Considering the official LEGO version of the London skyline costs about $40, maybe this $1 version isn't so bad? Maybe we'll just call this a "minimalist" approach. I bet if you sold this as the "LNDN TWR BRDG" at Urban Outfitters they could probably get like $50 for it.
Empire State Building
You know, the Empire State Building is a little shorter and fatter than I remember it. Then again, maybe that's just what happens when you've lived in America long enough. That obesity epidemic gets to all of us eventually.
More like the Empire "Ate" Building, amiright? ...Right?
Fine. Moving on...
The Leaning Tower of Pisa
This might actually be the most accurate set on the list. Then again, how hard is it to not screw up the one building that already has structural issues?
The Sydney Opera House
So, I guess at this point, they just kind of started throwing a pile of plastic bricks together and calling it good. Or maybe it's one of those Rorschach tests, where they threw the pile of bricks together first, and then tried to imagine what monument it would look like... if it looked like anything.
Or maybe drugs were involved.
Yeah, I'm betting on the drugs.
Lincoln Memorial?
Okay, so hear me out on this: Yes, it's missing a few pillars, and the roof shape isn't quite right, but, this is clearly not the worst representation we've seen so far, right? I mean, if you're going to do a $1 version of the Lincoln Memo--
oh.
Okay, um, this is awkward. Let's try again...
The White House
This must be the version of the White House from the end of Deep Impact or Independence Day.
And finally, my personal favorite...
The Golden Gate Bridge
As someone who lives in California and is all-to familiar with the state's bloated budgets and less-than impressive results, I'm pretty sure this is pretty close to what the Golden Gate Bridge would look like if it were built today. Except instead of $1, it would somehow cost $23 Trillion and take 35 years to build.
