Is the Imperial Hotel still standing in Tokyo?

No, the original was demolished in the 1960s. Only its entrance lobby survives, now relocated to a museum.

How many pieces does set 21017 have?

The set has 1,188 pieces across 103 unique parts and colours.

Is this set part of a wider LEGO Architecture series?

Yes, it belongs to the Architect sub-line, which recreates buildings by well-known architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright.

Architecture

Imperial Hotel

The Imperial Hotel in Tokyo was one of Frank Lloyd Wright's best-known buildings, and it famously survived the 1923 Great Kanto earthquake that devastated much of the city. LEGO® Architecture recreates the now-demolished hotel as set 21017, with 1,188 pieces. This page lists every part and colour used in the model.

Set number: 21017
Year: 2013
Pieces: 1,188
Minifigures: 0
Theme: Architecture
Different parts: 103

What can I build with it?

View the official building instructions at LEGO® ↗

Parts list 103

As BrickLink list (XML)

Import on BrickLink: Wanted → Upload, upload the file (or paste its content), pick a Wanted List and add the parts.

Spare parts (9)

These extra parts come with the set in case one gets lost.

Description

A building that outlasted an earthquake

Wright designed the Imperial Hotel with earthquake resistance in mind, using a deep foundation and flexible building sections rather than a single rigid structure. When the Great Kanto earthquake struck shortly after the hotel opened in 1923, it stood largely intact while much of Tokyo around it was destroyed, cementing its reputation as an engineering landmark. Despite that legacy, the hotel itself was demolished in the 1960s; only the entrance lobby survives, relocated to a museum. This set preserves a building that no longer stands in Tokyo itself.

Part of the Architect series

21017 belongs to LEGO Architecture's Architect sub-line, developed with designer Adam Reed Tucker to recreate buildings by well-known architects, including other Frank Lloyd Wright works such as Fallingwater and the Guggenheim Museum. These sets prioritise recognisable form over fine detail, so the hotel's distinctive horizontal banding and overhanging roof lines read clearly in the finished model. At 1,188 pieces, it's one of the larger sets in that sub-line.

Colours that echo the original materials

Tan, light bluish grey, trans-brown and dark bluish grey stand in for the Ōya stone cladding and concrete of the real building, which was known for mixing quarried stone with brick. Tan dominates the façade, while the grey tones mark out the base and structural elements. The trans-brown pieces add subtle accents, likely at windows or light openings. With 103 unique parts, the set offers noticeably more variety than the smaller sets in the Architecture range.

Building a collection of the range

For anyone collecting the Architect sets, the Imperial Hotel adds a building that no longer physically exists, which makes the model something of a standalone record rather than just a display piece. The parts list on this page makes it easy to track down specific pieces if a model needs repairing rather than replacing outright. At 1,188 pieces, with its own small nameplate base, it sits well alongside other architecture builds, especially other Frank Lloyd Wright sets such as Fallingwater if you're building a themed shelf.

FAQ

Is the Imperial Hotel still standing in Tokyo?: No, the original was demolished in the 1960s. Only its entrance lobby survives, now relocated to a museum.
How many pieces does set 21017 have?: The set has 1,188 pieces across 103 unique parts and colours.
Is this set part of a wider LEGO Architecture series?: Yes, it belongs to the Architect sub-line, which recreates buildings by well-known architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright.

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