M.C. Escher + Lego = ?

October 7, 2002 4:57 PM

M.C. Escher + Lego = ? I used to make spaceships and houses with my Lego not 3D representations of famous optical illusions! [via Filepile]
posted by bhell13 (29 comments total)

Wow!
posted by timeistight at 5:09 PM on October 7, 2002

*brain explodes*
posted by Stan Chin at 5:14 PM on October 7, 2002

The trick is in the stairway closest to the bottom of the picture, right? Although it looks like they steps are, uh, stepped, they're actually flat and just slightly off horizontally, right?
posted by gsteff at 5:15 PM on October 7, 2002

as long as we're talking LEGO, how about some porn?
posted by CountZero at 5:17 PM on October 7, 2002

Right, that does it. Metafilter has taunted me with the myriad possibilities of Lego for long enough. Tomorrow I dig out the binbag of Lego from my childhood and start creating things that are ama-azing.

Excellent post.
posted by MUD at 5:35 PM on October 7, 2002

This is awesome. Nice link. I love this kind of stuff, despite the fact that I never owned a single Lego.
posted by Hildago at 5:39 PM on October 7, 2002

Yeah, but could they do it in Duplo?
posted by boneybaloney at 5:43 PM on October 7, 2002

Very cool. I was madly into Legos back in the day -- I had a huge Tyco castle set once upon a time (which, as a We're Not Lego innovation included 60 degree bends, for hexagonal goodness), and loved it. Seems like these guys still have the love.

I'm always fascinated by the different materials people will work with when they geek out. I identify heavily with the notion, if not the medium -- I like programming computers because I don't have too clean up afterwards, or buy more sets, basically.

One of my favorite bits of geekery, in the neighborhood of eccentric constructions, is the PostScript httpd implementation.
posted by cortex at 6:09 PM on October 7, 2002

Uh, I thought that physical models of Escher's work was, like, unpossible?
posted by dash_slot- at 6:26 PM on October 7, 2002

Very nice! Thanks!

But I want to see it constructed as a real, full-size building. I know for a fact there are plenty of architects out there who think if it looks good on paper, it's ready to build.
posted by Shane at 6:32 PM on October 7, 2002

you broke the first rule!
posted by machaus at 7:03 PM on October 7, 2002

Shhh! Maybe no one will notice.

Check out his other lego stuff. He's done some pretty cool stuff.
posted by jeblis at 7:06 PM on October 7, 2002

jiminy cricket, shouldn't these fellows be figuring out how to get us to Mars or something?
posted by jeremias at 7:20 PM on October 7, 2002

I would love to see pictures of the model from other angles - yes, it is "un-possible", but as he points out, it works from one, very particular, angle.

Very nice!
posted by yhbc at 7:25 PM on October 7, 2002

Uh, I thought that physical models of Escher's work was, like, unpossible?

Many of them, yes (unless you count fixed viewing orientation hacks like these). However, there are several that are eminently possible.

I have an on-off side project of cg modelling House of Stairs, complete with animated beasties, and 360 lens.

(I'm also gutted I didn't FPP this one myself.)
posted by inpHilltr8r at 7:32 PM on October 7, 2002

The trick is in the stairway closest to the bottom of the picture, right?

How do you explain the reflections in the walls then?
posted by inpHilltr8r at 7:41 PM on October 7, 2002

I guess he's saying that the white blocks aren't actually stairs, but a flat walkway (?)
posted by goethean at 8:03 PM on October 7, 2002

...on the lower right-hand quadrant, I mean.
posted by goethean at 8:04 PM on October 7, 2002

Yeah, I was referring to the right-to-left-ascending portion of the continually ascending stairway. I think that fourth of it is flat, although that wouldn't be the whole story even if true. Other theories?
posted by gsteff at 8:16 PM on October 7, 2002

Here's the builder's announcement on LUGNET. (discussion, links contain spoilers)
posted by stinglessbee at 8:23 PM on October 7, 2002

Suppose you're devising a lego for a new wing of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency...
posted by G_Ask at 8:45 PM on October 7, 2002

spoilers

Oh that's so cool, and so simple!

count the steps
posted by inpHilltr8r at 1:38 AM on October 8, 2002

Lego rocks. Er... Bricks.
posted by nthdegx at 5:16 AM on October 8, 2002

"How do you explain the reflections in the walls then?'

thats just the reflection from the Thames:)))))))))))
posted by clavdivs at 7:06 AM on October 8, 2002

WRM: Reflections in the Thames
posted by inpHilltr8r at 9:45 AM on October 8, 2002

I've been going around showing everyone in my office this link all day. Good stuff.
posted by jacquilynne at 10:27 AM on October 8, 2002

That's beautiful.
posted by Saima at 3:02 PM on October 8, 2002

Lego Math Sculptures here:

http://www.lipsons.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/mathlego.htm
posted by Morphic at 7:45 AM on October 11, 2002

I want to see Relativity done next.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 3:07 PM on October 11, 2002