Answers.Body: <p>James May built a full-sized LEGO house for his TV show <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_May%27s_Toy_Stories#James_May.27s_Lego_House_.28Episode_5.29">James May's Toy Stories</a> on the BBC back in 2009 using around 3,500,000 bricks. Whether you'd actually want to do this yourself...</p>
  
  <p>During the episode they spent some time with engineering students working out the most load bearing configurations of bricks especially for the upper floor, as well as working on the general structure.</p>
  
  <p>To get around the insurance requirements, in the end they resorted to building the house around a wooden frame including floors - and although they did continue working on the beams, and James did stand (rather nervously) on the final designs, they don't appear to have been released. </p>
  
  <p>With regards to the rest of the house (i.e. fixtures and fittings) there were some issues as I recall:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>Comfort - obviously lying or sitting on LEGO bricks without any covering is uncomfortable.</li>
  <li>Water Proofing - at one point in the show James shares a LEGO "glass" of wine with Oz Clarke - only to have most of the wine leak out of the glass. Without some sort of sealant, or multiple offset layers the gaps between the bricks aren't water-tight.</li>
  <li>Clutch Power - LEGO bricks are held together by friction (Technic pins not withstanding), and tend to break apart under incorrectly placed loads quite easily. This may be an issue when it comes to chairs, doors, etc.</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_May%27s_Toy_Stories">Wikipedia article</a><br>
  <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEFPhXl3QQY">Show on YouTube (part 1/5)</a></p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-04-24T15:28:55.023Z
Answers.Text: After seeing that, I think I'll prefer not to push my luck in this one (I mean seriously! look at the cracks!). +1 +V, well done!
Answers.UserDisplayName: Madara's Ghost
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-05-11T15:18:54.643Z
Answers.Text: Did they ever publish the structural designs for the upper floor joist? Would be interesting to see how they made the structure strong enough.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Skizz
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-05-11T17:04:28.740Z
Answers.Text: Not sure, I'll have a look around.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Ric
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-04-24T15:20:32.257Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2012-06-16T11:22:59.523Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2012-06-16T11:22:59.523Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Ric
Answers.Body: <p>If you want to know how many bricks you'd need, there is <a href="http://www.movoto.com/blog/novelty-real-estate/build-your-house-out-of-legos/?utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=pulsenews&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=pulsenews" rel="nofollow">some site to help you calculate it</a>.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-07-02T08:29:26.447Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2012-07-02T08:29:26.447Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Joubarc
Body: <p>I want to build something big. </p>
  
  <p>Should<sup>*</sup> I build a complete house (interior and everything) with lego bricks?</p>
  
  <p><sup>* By "should" I mean, will it be safe? How big can I go? How much do you think it will cost?</sup></p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2013-09-02T23:37:09.340Z
Comments.Text: I've always wondered.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Timtech
Tags: <building><safety>
Title: Is it possible to build a full-size house with Lego bricks?
UserDisplayName: Madara's Ghost
ThreadText: # Is it possible to build a full-size house with Lego bricks?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2012-04-24)
  
  I want to build something big.
  
  Should\* I build a complete house (interior and everything) with lego bricks?
  
  \* By "should" I mean, will it be safe? How big can I go? How much do you think it will cost?
  
  **Tags:** building, safety
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: I've always wondered.  
  
  ---
  
  ## 2 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2012-04-24. Score: 21 | Accepted answer
  
  James May built a full-sized LEGO house for his TV show [James May's Toy Stories](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_May%27s_Toy_Stories#James_May.27s_Lego_House_.28Episode_5.29) on the BBC back in 2009 using around 3,500,000 bricks. Whether you'd actually want to do this yourself...
  
  During the episode they spent some time with engineering students working out the most load bearing configurations of bricks especially for the upper floor, as well as working on the general structure.
  
  To get around the insurance requirements, in the end they resorted to building the house around a wooden frame including floors - and although they did continue working on the beams, and James did stand (rather nervously) on the final designs, they don't appear to have been released.
  
  With regards to the rest of the house (i.e. fixtures and fittings) there were some issues as I recall:
  
  * Comfort - obviously lying or sitting on LEGO bricks without any covering is uncomfortable.
  * Water Proofing - at one point in the show James shares a LEGO "glass" of wine with Oz Clarke - only to have most of the wine leak out of the glass. Without some sort of sealant, or multiple offset layers the gaps between the bricks aren't water-tight.
  * Clutch Power - LEGO bricks are held together by friction (Technic pins not withstanding), and tend to break apart under incorrectly placed loads quite easily. This may be an issue when it comes to chairs, doors, etc.
  
  [Wikipedia article](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_May%27s_Toy_Stories)  
  [Show on YouTube (part 1/5)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEFPhXl3QQY)
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: After seeing that, I think I'll prefer not to push my luck in this one (I mean seriously! look at the cracks!). +1 +V, well done!  
  > **username_3**: Did they ever publish the structural designs for the upper floor joist? Would be interesting to see how they made the structure strong enough.  
  > **username_2**: Not sure, I'll have a look around.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_4 on 2012-07-02. Score: 2
  
  If you want to know how many bricks you'd need, there is [some site to help you calculate it](http://www.movoto.com/blog/novelty-real-estate/build-your-house-out-of-legos/?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pulsenews&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pulsenews).
  
  
  ---
  
  