I envision a local franchise where you rent playtime with as many LEGOs as you want. A tiered "communal" versus "private" play area pricing scheme could be implemented, so you can pay a little extra for a separate play area.
Blocks can be borrowed by the bucket, or you could ask for a pre-sorted kit. Specialty/one off blocks would be available in wall bins with the piece depicted on the drawer.
Plans would be available, with typical build times published so you can get a sense of how long a project might take. One could call ahead for a specialty bucket, if one were bringing one's own plans. Complicated requests might need more time and a detailed fax.
You could buy whatever you built, either by the kit (for those kits with many specialty pieces) or by the pound. I expect kits, plans and individual pieces would be available for sale to the general public as well.
There may be a case for storing unfinished projects so customers can visit periodically to finish larger, more complicated items. There may also be a case for consigning completed projects for sale.
Customers are requested to return all unpurchased blocks, less those in use by other customers. Cleanup of any remaining pieces would ideally consist of shoveling them into a sorting machine, though that part would require some development. In the meantime, it would be good, easy work for non-skilled labor.-- phoenix, Feb 27 2008 Lego Digital Designer http://ldd.lego.com/Go wild, build whatever you want. [MisterQED, Feb 27 2008] Lego Imagination Center "http://disneyworld...ationCenterShopPage [MisterQED, Feb 27 2008] LEGOLAND® Clubhouse http://www.legoland...59F-BA9D5C1D32C0%7DInside at least one of the LEGOLAND® theme parks. [phoenix, Feb 28 2008] LEGO Snacks http://www2.kellogg...l.aspx?product=8213To munch on while you build [Canuck, Mar 02 2008] LEGO my Eggo http://www.strangen...o-shaped-eggos.htmlLEGO Shaped Eggos [csea, Mar 03 2008] As long as they're sorted by colour as well as shape.-- dbmag9, Feb 27 2008 Í would be there all the time.-- zeno, Feb 27 2008 Cptlztn: "Lego" (it is not an acronym).-- MaxwellBuchanan, Feb 27 2008 This was baked by my former employer who built himself a real-life castle. He built it ALL out of Legos first...-- xandram, Feb 27 2008 This is actually baked by Lego. You can go to their website and virtually build anything you want using all the parts you want and in the end order a kit and they will send it to your house. See link.-- MisterQED, Feb 27 2008 Do they include step-by-step instructions on how you put it together in the first place?-- DrCurry, Feb 27 2008 1. Align 'male' bumps in block to mating 'female' receptacle. 2. Repeat as necessary in any possible configuration desired.-- RayfordSteele, Feb 27 2008 "This is actually baked by Lego." Fair enough. I saw this as a playground first, build center second...a place where parents could take their kids on a rainy day and let their imaginations run wild. After all, who doesn't like LEGOs? Who doesn't always want a few more than they have?-- phoenix, Feb 27 2008 I'd share my LEGO with you any day!-- po, Feb 27 2008 //Fair enough. I saw this as a playground first, build center second// Actually that is also kind of baked by Lego & Disney. (link)-- MisterQED, Feb 27 2008 //I'd share my LEGO with you any day!// Oh for goodness sake. Capitalized bridges and now this. I think I preferred it when you were all lowercase.-- MaxwellBuchanan, Feb 27 2008 pokes out tongue!-- po, Feb 27 2008 Have you seen a doctor about that tongue?-- MaxwellBuchanan, Feb 27 2008 Isn't this Legoland?-- bungston, Feb 28 2008 [MaxwellBuchanan]: I didn't capitalize LEGO®, the LEGO Group did. You should take the issue up with them.
[MisterQED]: It's okay if you don't like the idea. There are also LEGOLAND theme parks with club houses where "you can stock up on bulk LEGO® bricks, Make & Create kits and much more." (link). These aren't local to most folks either, and as near as I can tell neither LEGOLAND nor LEGO Imagination Center® have freeform play areas - they're just stores with giant models on display.-- phoenix, Feb 28 2008 [Phoenix] Ooops - you are right, and please accept my apology. It never used to be an acronym, and the capitalization seems to be a later innovation. You learn something new every day.-- MaxwellBuchanan, Feb 28 2008 like the real length of horsehair, yes indeedee-- po, Feb 28 2008 Even if this *is* baked at LEGOLAND - I'll tell you that the cost is prohibitive. I used to live near LEGOLAND California - and I just looked up the cost of admission. $59 US for adults, $47 US for children & seniors. This isn't something the average family is going to do more than once a year on a rainy day.
I think a LEGO play center such as [phoenix] is describing would have to have a reasonable admission cost, to make it a common pastime for rainy days. That would make it different enough from any already baked version to qualify. There are enough "off-brand" LEGO-similar blocks on the market that you could probably even get away with not making the place affiliated with LEGO, if they wanted to cause legal problems.-- drememynd, Mar 02 2008 Would they offer snacks (see link) at this playground?-- Canuck, Mar 02 2008 Though I might offer a croissant, perhaps you'd prefer a LEGO shaped Eggo? [link]-- csea, Mar 03 2008 ///1. Align 'male' bumps in block to mating 'female' receptacle. 2. Repeat as necessary in any possible configuration desired.///
I read a book like that once in school, until the teacher confiscated it.-- BunsenHoneydew, Mar 04 2008 ....[+] ..[+][+] [+][+][+]-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Mar 04 2008 random, halfbakery