Review: 21318 Treehouse
Posted by CapnRex101,
Nine years have passed since the brilliant LEGO Ideas theme was introduced and this range has become increasingly ambitious, contributing an outstanding assortment of larger models which began to appear during 2017. 21318 Treehouse surpasses earlier sets in this regard, containing 3036 pieces!
This model appears remarkably detailed within official images and differs quite significantly from previous sets, providing an extraordinary selection of plant elements. Furthermore, the price of £179.99 or $199.99 seems reasonable and this should therefore prove to be an exciting addition to the growing LEGO Ideas series.
Box and Contents
LEGO Ideas packaging varies considerably and this design is excellent. Its bright green colour scheme certainly stands out beside other sets, conveying the inherent natural environment of a tree house. The generous collection of colourful leaves is displayed along the top of the box while the reverse shows its alternative autumnal appearance alongside some images that demonstrate the interior details.
Opening the box reveals 21 bags that are numbered between one and nineteen while ten further bags contain the summer and autumn leaves. The instruction manual is notably substantial, comprising 428 pages, but no stickers are included as any decorated elements are printed. This has become standard practice for the Ideas range and will hopefully continue.
Several pages are devoted to information about the Plants from Plants initiative along with comments from Kevin Feeser and César Soares, the creator of the original Ideas project and the LEGO designer who produced this model. César mentions an interesting personal connection with tree houses as two such structures were included in his design portfolio when applying to join LEGO.
Minifigures
Four minifigures are provided to populate the tree house, presumably representing a family. The male figure features a textured hair piece with an alternative hat while his shirt was initially created for 60202 People Pack - Outdoor Adventures. In fact, the torsos for each of these four minifigures have previously appeared in the City People Pack released last year.
That seems appropriate given their shared outdoor theme, although greater variation might have been beneficial. Nevertheless, the female minifigure looks superb, wearing a detailed medium nougat jacket with a sand blue shirt underneath. Her double-sided head also looks great and I am delighted to see a female character with relatively short hair.
A couple of children are included as well. Once again, their torsos originate from 60202 People Pack - Outdoor Adventures but both designs are lovely so I welcome their return. The boy features a smiling head with glasses while the girl includes some subtle freckles. Moreover, this minifigure sports a dark blue cap which is moulded together with her ginger hair into a single component.
In fact, both children include ginger hair, demonstrating pleasing consistency. Exclusive elements are always appreciated but I think these four characters are perfectly satisfactory to inhabit the enormous tree house. Numerous accessories are provided but they are distributed throughout the model, hence none are shown here.
Construction
This model stands on a simple base which is assembled around a Technic frame. It therefore appears somewhat reminiscent of 71043 Hogwarts Castle during this phase and incorporates several colourful pieces which are surrounded by green slopes. Fortunately, these are subsequently concealed as dark green plates are laid across the frame.
However, one area of the base consists primarily of dark azure and trans-clear plates which form an interesting water texture. This building technique is quite effective and has not appeared in an official set before. Dark green wedge plates are also used perfectly around this stream, creating a curve that appears natural.
Tree houses are inherently top heavy and this structure is accordingly anchored to its base with white Technic beams. These are surrounded by a frame with studs on each side and layered reddish brown and dark brown plates represent the bark. Furthermore, 1x2 brackets connect these parts to the base, providing additional support which ensures absolute rigidity.
Exposed studs also dominate the next layer of the tree trunk and I appreciate the inclusion of colour-coded elements which are helpful during assembly. Some larger branches are also constructed here and they will eventually brace the cabins. One such branch makes exceptional use of a 1x2 palisade brick and a 1x1 round tile with vertical shaft which maintain its angled position.
While the base of the trunk features a Technic core, this section instead relies upon plates that cover multiple pieces. The resultant structure feels remarkably robust and the angled bark is attached using 1x1 round plates with horizontal bars, some of which remain visible in the image below. There are tiny gaps between the plates enclosing the trunk but the brighter pieces inside are completely hidden.
Having completed the largest section of the tree trunk, attention next shifts to the three cabins. Their construction occupies almost a third of the instruction manual which surprised me, although there is sufficient variation between them to maintain enjoyment. For example, the interior furnishings differ significantly and assembling these items reminded me of Modular Buildings.
Moreover, the integration between these interior accessories and the walls is impressive, exploiting every corner of the available space. The walls are assembled in eight sections which are connected using hinge plates at the top and bottom. For that reason, they feel rather fragile until construction is completed, at which point the walls are secure.
Similar building techniques are employed when assembling the second cabin, although this structure includes a greater number of windows so feels even sturdier than its predecessor. In addition, a small rope bridge is constructed immediately after the cabin and is among my favourite aspects of the entire building experience, using the curved shape of 1x1 rounded plates with clips to form a structure that is twisting in two directions.
The final cabin features similar octagonal walls but its interior is unique. I like how the lantern outside the door has been constructed, including a piece that was originally designed to form Black Panther's ears. This brilliant technique is reminiscent of 71040 Disney Castle where the Witch King of Angmar's crown fulfilled the same role.
Dark blue roofs for each structure are assembled next. These are deceptively complicated, featuring small ball joints that enable their shallow conical shape. Nevertheless, they remain quite rigid as the roof panels are intended to slot into place around the central beams, as demonstrated in the image below.
Technic pins secure the uppermost section of the tree trunk and I believe this is the most impressive. Click hinges are positioned diagonally using a 4x4 turntable and they also protrude from each side of the trunk, providing connection points for numerous branches. This part of the model also differs from lower segments as the reddish brown plates remain separate from those underneath, allowing the top to be removed with ease.
Focus then returns to the base of the model, where several flowers and some nice furniture is placed. An attractive staircase is also installed at this stage and makes great use of two bar elements, around which the curved steps are positioned. Similar techniques have appeared in other sets but completing these spiral staircases is always very satisfying.
Unfortunately, the construction process concludes with its most tedious component as attaching nearly one hundred leaves is not particularly enjoyable. The results are excellent though and I like how bright green plant stems have been used to strengthen the leaves. Alternative flame yellowish orange stems are provided for the autumnal foliage.
The Completed Model
Varied possibilities exist when designing a tree house and this rendition appears reasonably faithful to the original creation that Kevin Feeser submitted to LEGO Ideas. The model measures 37cm in height and includes three large cabins around the trunk. However, its colour scheme has been changed quite dramatically so the revised structure includes much brighter shades than its source material and looks fantastic on display.
For example, the dark green base is remarkably detailed and contrasts with the central tree. I love the medium nougat picnic table with its realistic wooden design and the elegant candelabra is a wonderful reference to Kevin's model, cleverly incorporating a white lipstick component! The pumpkins are lovely too, especially since the larger one features a piece that was only recently introduced.
Another modern element forms petals here, with a flame yellowish orange flower at their centre. This technique is remarkably effective and using wands to create the teepee fire is ingenious, even though three logs seems inadequate. Nevertheless, I like the pearl dark grey cooking pot suspended over the fire and the tree trunk is beautifully printed with a message from the fan designer.
The textured stream looks magnificent too, consisting of dark azure elements which appear distorted through a layer of trans-clear plates. Its gentle curve is attractive and I like the dark tan rocks that are sprinkled across the model. In fact, removing one of those rocks reveals a trans-yellow gem hidden in the ground which is fun. The swing is similarly impressive, although I think suspending this from string might have been better than using chains.
Reddish brown plates dominate the trunk but they are accented with dark brown and dark tan pieces. Furthermore, a small bird house is situated below the cabins and this includes a white bird which has only appeared twice previously. The wooden staircase looks superb as well, featuring elegant curved sections and medium nougat treads that contrast with the surrounding reddish brown parts.
Climbing towards the first cabin seems slightly dangerous towards the top as the balustrade becomes rather low. Nevertheless, this area of the model is delightful. There is plenty of space for minifigures to stand around the edge behind the railings and the medium nougat colour scheme is perfect. I like how bricks with varying profiles have been combined and the scattered exposed studs look great.
Each cabin includes a removable roof and their respective interiors appear as detailed as the exterior. The wooden furniture certainly suits this environment and I am particularly satisfied with the miniature wall clock. However, its face could be improved as this round tile was originally created to represent a speaker. The printed ship in a bottle looks marvellous though, presumably making reference to 21313 Ship in a Bottle.
In addition, this room is furnished with a dark blue bed that looks realistic, albeit rather short. Scissors are kept underneath while the windowsills feature some golden binoculars, an envelope and a printed compass. The reddish brown hat rack beside the door is similarly appealing, providing storage for the aforementioned hat that belongs to the male minifigure.
Foliage extends beneath these cabins and looks reasonable, although they feel extremely fragile and the leaves shown below sometimes twist under their own weight. The lamp hanging underneath looks wonderful though. Moreover, I like the round window that is visible here and the dark brown water butt nestled between these two structures is an outstanding detail, catching rainwater from the roof.
While the staircase is appropriate for minifigures to access the upper level of the tree house, carrying heavy accessories up those steps might be dangerous. A simple winch is accordingly situated beside the second cabin, lifting some cherries, fish, an apple and a carrot. There are plenty of exposed studs for minifigures to stand here which is ideal for display.
The interior, on the other hand, is completely covered with sand green tiles. Removing the roof reveals some unusually dark bathroom fixtures, including a toilet, a basin and a shower. They consist primarily of reddish brown pieces which conform to the natural aesthetic of a tree house. The subtler details are particularly enjoyable, including a dark green toilet roll and medium blue soap beside the shower.
Minifigures must be able to travel between the different platforms and a bridge is accordingly provided. This looks fantastic, comprising five horizontal 1x4 tiles that are positioned in a curve around the trunk. The bridge does seem rather steep and I think a figure may struggle to clamber onto the next platform but such scaling issues are relatively minor in my opinion.
Previous cabins have been octagonal and the third structure is no exception, although it does feature an interesting balcony. Its rounded shape is somewhat unusual given the overwhelming prevalence of straight edges throughout the tree house but this design looks great and I like the pearl gold telescope placed out here.
That scientific theme continues inside where an insect specimen is kept on the windowsill along with a charming model cottage. However, such details are overshadowed by the colourful bunk beds that are designed for the children. Reddish brown oars surround the beds but the top bunk is actually attached to the wall for support. Fortunately, this connection point is almost entirely obscured by a bookshelf.
Moreover, the opposite wall includes a flower beneath a bell jar, a pair of binoculars and an excellent microscope. These tiny accessories certainly bring the environment to life and the microscope seems especially notable as many comparable models have been produced before but this traditional design is unique and looks quite realistic.
Accessing each cabin is obstructed by the branches above them. Fortunately, these branches can be removed. Their connection with the trunk feels absolutely secure but they can be separated with ease which is impressive. The dark blue roofs include some nice texture and I like the dark azure highlights too, although there are numerous gaps that reveal colourful elements beneath each panel.
Bright green and dark green leaves have been combined to outstanding effect, creating a reasonably dense canopy. The branches certainly remain visible through the leaves and more leaves would have been welcome but I think this structure looks nice, particularly in combination with the olive green and dark brown elements sprinkled among those branches.
I am equally impressed with the apparent randomisation of the leaves. Their colours and shapes look fairly inconsistent which is great for an organic model, although certain patterns are actually repeated. Of course, these leaves are made from a slightly softer material than many other LEGO parts so they often droop when not properly supported. That is evident here and may disappoint some people but I consider this fitting for a tree.
Many trees change colour during autumn and that is reflected here as 55 new flame yellowish orange leaves are provided to replace the bright green components. Meanwhile, 35 dark green leaves should be swapped with the same quantity of dark orange leaves, creating a resplendent autumn tree house! This version changes the entire atmosphere of the model and appears cosier to me.
Swapping between the different leaves is rather tedious but that would be impossible to avoid, unless an entirely separate branch assembly was included. I think the autumn leaves alone are sufficient and definitely appreciate their presence, although the brighter green design remains my favourite. Even so, this is a lovely addition to an excellent creation!
Overall
21318 Treehouse is an outstanding LEGO Ideas set. It looks absolutely spectacular on display, featuring exceptional detail across its exterior and similarly intricate highlights inside each cabin. Furthermore, the harmonious combination between organic design and fabricated structures works beautifully and I think the enjoyable building experience reflects that.
Comparing this model with Kevin Feeser's original project reveals certain differences, the most notable being its more colourful design. The mysterious atmosphere of its predecessor was fun but I think the official set represents an improvement, particularly given the addition of autumn leaves which provide a perfect alternative for displaying the tree house. Its price of £179.99 or $199.99 feels reasonable too so I am delighted with this set.
I hope you have found this review informative. Let us know by liking this article and share your thoughts on the set in the comments below.
This set was provided for review by The LEGO Group but the review is an expression of my own opinions.
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72 comments on this article
The picture in the sunshine looks epic Huw, great photography.
I love the colour scheme of this set and it has 4 figures I originally thought it had 3, nice they put effort into the figures that probably didn't need to be included.
Aaaaaaand now I have to buy this. I love how it looks with the autumn color scheme.
absolutely LOVE the autumn scenery
I can't help but think of Swiss Family Robinson when I see this set. And that's a good thing!
Day 1 purchase for me. Thank you LEGO company.
Thank you for the review Brickset! I've understood today why this set is so awesome, it was built by Cesar Soares, a truly master and talented builder when it comes to medieval/terrain landscapes and layouts! I am considering seriously to buy this one!
One word: EPIC.
We need more sets like this. How about an EPIC castle?
I like the chains for the swing. String is annoying to work with. Great set!
I'm gonna be honest, this set looks really challenging to build. Many LEGO sets I can look at and figure out the idea of the design without looking at instructions, but this set takes it to a whole new level considering the strength of the structure and the unusual angles of many components. Truly a well thought out design as well as a unique and challening build.
very nice advancement on the original ideas version. like the option to change colour of the leaves, defo buying this
I can take no credit for the photos, they are all CapnRex101's excellent work.
I didn't liked it too much at first (the price is pretty high), but now I think this set is so charming and ingenious! I will definitely save to get one later.
Great review and Thank you LEGO company!!!!!. love the message from the fan designer
on the tree trunk
This is the best D2C of the the year and it isn't particularly close. Corner Garage was solid but unexceptional, Apocalypseburg didn't get me hyped and the T-rex was lame. How does it look posed next to Old Fishing Store?
Note that you can swap out the dark green for white bricks and remove the foliage and you can get a winter treehouse for your Winter Village. You can even use the pink foliage from the cherry trees in Ninjago for a spring-themed scene if you want to go full Mishra's Factory and have all four seasons.
Indeed they are Capnrex101's photos ,whoops.
I was waffling but the review, particularly the Autumn photography, sold me on it. Looks amazing.
It looks great, and thanks for the good review.
It definitely also reminds me of Swiss Family Robinson. The original model reminds me a bit more of SFR, and I was hoping that vibe would continue. However, I think it would be easy enough to tweak the model to make it appear to fit that time period instead of the modern setting of the final set.
The autumn foliage is stunning. I did like how much thicker the leaf coverage was on the original. Thankfully green leaves aren't too hard to find, although modding the autumn foliage might be a lot more expensive.
I love this model and cant wait to get it. The only thing I can see that doesnt quite look right is, with the autumn leaves on the tree the green base looks a little out of place but that can be remedied with some flower studs in fall colors.
Only disappointed to learn that I have to bricklink pieces to make a second branch assembly so its easier to switch between seasons.
I have so many questions about plumbing & drainage right now; the toilet in particular doesn't bear thinking about...!
Must admit: I'd dismissed this set at first glance, but this review has made it a must-have. Darn you again, Brickset!!
Wow, what a great set! I honestly didn't care about it at first, but after your review I think especially my daughter would love it. She loves here Friends sets and there are so many fine details in this!
Amazing Set, great review. IMHO it really is an upgrade over the original project
Whoah! If only I had that kind of money!
When I saw the teaser yesterday, I noticed the bear, the skunk, the birds and bunnies.
I was dreaming to have some in the building, not only a single bird.
Anyhow I will buy this set tomorrow.
And maybe later also some more birds and bunnies.
At Lego Bricks & Pieces, the skunk and the bear are marked as out of stock.
One of the best releases of the year for sure, but for me the trunk looks too big (girth wise) considering the height of the tree. Needs must for stability I suppose.
Does this set remind anyone else of the treetop homes of the Chima gorilla tribe?
What a lovely set!
I'm still amazed that LEGO should release such a 'niche' set, particularly one with such a high parts count, but I'm absolutely delighted that they have - bravo!
This is so poetic and relaxing... true masterpiece.
I keep forgetting this is LEGO. I see just a dream.
I really like it with the fall leaves... I think make that dark green grass more brown, or adding in fallen leaves at the bottom, would complete the fall look a bit better.
Hmm, would it be wrong to enhance the foliage with spare leaf pieces that predate the plants-from-plants varieties? I stocked up on what colors were available back in 2015.
The Ideas theme is worth every penny.
Way to go, Lego.
The addition of fall color is brilliant. My only complaint, and this is going to sound petty, is that the set is too big.
At least, it's too big for any scene I'd ever put in my house, which is entirely too bad as it's a great set in isolation.
Very cool, especially with the autumn leaves, but I already have the Ewok village, so...
The Australian Price of AUD$280 is remarkably reasonable. With a US Price of USD$200 I was expecting at least AUD$300 and even AUD$320.
I think the official press release and the in-depth reviews we’ve seen today show the set in a much better light than the leaked photo of the box did (literally and figuratively).
I love this set but won't buy.
Kinda reminds me of the Ewok Village. Would consider if it's cheaper.
This may be the first Ideas set I pick up. The Fishing Store was cool, I just never got into it as much.
Love this set so much. Too much Bright Green doesn't exist!
This release, with its abundance of flora, gives me hope that if they do the The Pirate's Bay set that was so exceptionally popular in the recent round of Ideas voting earlier this year, they might actually do it justice and include all of the amazing features it contained rather than cutting corners. It's nice to see full-fledged sets rather than budget-minded corner cutters. :)
It's gonna be so expensive ... but I love it. It's gorgeous. The orange and yellow leaf colour scheme looks unbelievably cool.
I think the story is that the whole family is living in the house. It's okay for the two kids (with their own room and bunk beds), but the two parents have to sleep in that tiny, short, single bed? That's a bit rough.
What an exceptional set! I'd never have thought that I'd find one of the most detailed bathrooms in an official set ever in a treehouse... Not to mention the other two rooms...
I wasn't particularly excited to learn that this had passed the Lego Review and would go into production, but having seen its unusual construction and exceptional details, I'm moving it above Apocalypseburg on my want list. It can act as an extension to the Ewok Village or help convert that set into Lothlorien...or just be itself and still make me very happy. Thank you for the very informative review!
@CaptnRex101 I want to know if you’ve ever lost any pieces outside while photoing these lovely shots ;-)
I believe this is the first set to feature toilet water.
It looks beautiful. Unfortunately my Lego budgets (money, space and time) can't cover this but I can dream of it.
Just like the Swiss Family treehouse originally at Disney, mine is going into my ever expanding amusement park (along with with Toy Story 4 coaster used as a kiddie coaster and the Creator UFO carousel) I’m adding this summer.
When this set was selected for production I had my doubts. Although the original was majestic, I didn't find it appealing. It wasn't bad, it was just seemed too big, and somewhat cluttered and boxy. I think it turned out to be a beautiful set.
2019 will be a reaaaaaal expensive year! First the impressive Mustang, then the Tantive IV, Steamboat Willie, Empire State Building, Trafalgar Square, the Harley Davidson Fat Boy, Jurassic Park T-Rex, Stranger Things, probably another huge Star Wars Set....
.... and now this! Maaan, i need more money :-) I have to sell all my vinyls!
This model is so detailed and has such a lot of lovely details - the birdhouse, the absolute wonderfull orange leafs, the swing....
Show me the way to the next LEGO Store....
Is it true that the leaves are from the new organic plastic? rather than ABS
On the one hand, I think this is an awesome set in it's own right which I will certainly buy at some point.
On the other hand I think the original fan design was superior overall and had a totally different feel to it. Mysterious, dark, foreboding, somehow to me more interesting than the rather too cheerful final design.
Whenever I get to build the retail set I will definitely build the autumn version, which looks so much nicer imho.
@Nordbart:
The leaves have never been produced in ABS. They've always been polyethylene. As far as we know, all polyethylene parts have been sourced from sugarcane since the Plants From Plants promo set was released. Chemically, sugarcane PE is indistinguishable from PE sourced from petroleum because both are produced from ethyl alcohol, which has a specific chemical formula.
This is much too serene so I will need to display the treehouse with the JW T-rex for some cartoon mayhem!
If there's anything I think could be improved it'd be to put tiles under the roots, so that they don't float above the green studs, as if they don't go down into the ground.
@Purple Dave: Assembly Square also includes toilet water.
Wow, this review has definitely changed my views on this set. After seeing the extraordinary level of detail on this model, I might actually get it at some point. Thanks for the excellent review!
Awesome set
Oof, I love this, but I'm under no illusions that I'll ever have that much money spare xD Once again, I will be content to just admire it from afar! ^^
Amazing set, though; and great review, I really appreciate all the effort you guys put into making them ^^
And the bathroom drains to where exactly?
@Mr Classic:
Not all trees have roots that stay sunken into the ground. Yeah, this seems to be an extreme case, but there is precedent.
The problem is, it looks like these roots don't float above the studs, but rest directly on them. In order for tiles to work in this case, the entire tree would need to be raised up half a plate thickness just to make room for the tile tops.
@Astrobricks:
Uh...ever been to an appliance store? Demo units only!
@Your future president - It is interesting that you should mention losing an element during photography. I had never lost a piece outside before photographing 21318-1 Treehouse! The first group of outdoor photos was taken on Monday and when looking through those images at home, I noticed that a bright green plant with three leaves was missing from the base in the latter photos. I returned to take some additional photos the next day and found the piece that I had lost, fortunately.
Definitely like the flame yellow/dark orange combination better. They look better with the tree colors & especially the roof.
@Purple Dave: They float above the studs indeed, being secured to the base with the new "T tile", https://brickset.com/parts/design-41682 (there are build videos on YouTube that show this).
Perhaps if you ask the designers about the missing drainage of the bathroom fittings they will say "In our world, we don't make mistakes, we just have happy little accidents" ;-)
It's a happy little tree after all. Then again, where is his friend? Because as we all know, everyone needs a friend... :-)
Sorry, couldn't resist, the image on the packaging just reminds me a little of many of Bob Ross's paintings.
Absolutely beautiful. Being from the Northeast, I love the change in foliage. I will most likely keep it autumnal and as some type of transition into the Winter Wonderland! I am really looking forward to this challenging build. I have not picked up all of the Lego Idea sets, but this was a day 1 pickup. Loved the price point too. Reasonable for the amount of pieces. I have a hard time spending more than $199.99 on a "toy". Or at least the wife does :-) Those expensive ones require a whole different level of explanation. These reviews always help and are so informative. Thanks!
@AustinPowers:
Here's his friend!
https://rebrickable.com/parts/87995/minifig-hair-bubble-style-afro/308/
https://brickset.com/parts/design-3626cpr0971
https://rebrickable.com/parts/973pr1763c01/torso-painters-smock-with-buttons-scarf-and-paint-spots-print-white-arms-yellow-hands/
https://rebrickable.com/parts/970c00pr0215/legs-and-hips-with-paint-spots-print/
@Havok211--or you end up with an extra 100ish pieces for your own MOCs! (Looking at the glass-half-full side of things....)
"unusually dark bathroom fixtures" I mean, who wants to lug a ceramic toilet up a narrow, twisty set of stairs?
"Opening the box reveals 21 bags that are numbered between one and nineteen while ten further bags contain the summer and autumn leaves."
Ummm... shouldn't that be... two... further bags?
Sorry to be picky, great review as always and keep up the hard work!
@TimTam22 - No , there really are ten bags containing leaves!
Got mine today! btw great review :)
An ABSOLUTE stunner, possibly the best set of the past years!
Well done LEGO!
like the bird house