Winding Back the Clock: 10255 Assembly Square Review

Theme: Creator Expert
No: 10255
Release Year: 2017
Cost: AU $449.99 | US $299.99
Pieces: 4002 (with nine minifigures)

To celebrate the 90th Anniversary of LEGO this year, I’ve decided to do something a little different and review an old favourite Modular – 10255 Assembly Square, from way back in 2017! It’s the big one – still the only modular released that’s another half a baseplate bigger again, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the theme. With two separate buildings and a nice little public square in the middle, there’s plenty to explore.

There’s nine minifigures included, with this set being the last of the Modular theme to include classic smiley faces on the minifigures. 2018’s Downtown Diner saw the introduction of the more detailed faces as we know it now. It was a pretty big topic of conversation when it happened, with people a little sad that the classic smileys were gone. There’s a florist, a baker, a barista, photographer, dentist, ballerina, music shop owner, LEGO fan and a baby, one of the first sets to include one. Even today I’m really quite happy with the minifigures. There’s good detail on them, and one I don’t have, the dentist! He was unique to the set and the torso hasn’t been seen since. The other standout for me is the barista. We’ve seen a few of these over the years, and plenty of the other characters, but the barista is one of my favourite minifigures. There’s also a chihuahua included too.

If, like me, you the modular tiling was the worst part of a modular, then be prepared for another half baseplate’s worth of it. It is completely worth it though, as it’s way better than just studs. There’s some excellent tile patterns, and while they’re simpler than what we see now, it still looks great.

Having two multi storey builds means more building options, and that’s a good thing. Across the two buildings there’s a whopping nine different rooms. What I will say from the outset is that it’s a slightly frustrating build! 34 bags across six numbered build stages means you’re opening a lot of bags at once. At the most I opened seven a couple of times. There were parts all over the build table and it took a while to find what I needed. That being said, it’s great to just take your time and get stuck in. There’s parts we almost take for granted now that were introduced with this set – the 1×1 SNOT brick with studs on adjacent sides, corner tiles, curved tiles, corner door frames and more. Let’s take a look at the levels one by one.

On the bottom floor there’s the florist and bakery on the right, and a cafe on the left. The cafe is simple, with some very stylish outdoor seating (those tables are great), a booth and single chair for seating inside, plus a counter and coffee machine behind. There’s a couple of slices of what I can assume are cherry pie as well. These are printed on the 1×1 quarter circle tile, new at the time. We’ve got a plethora of these now! There’s a cute little walkway to the other building, with some overgrown lattice over the top. This joins up with the florist – my favourite on the ground floor.

A really clean and striking wall pattern, bold flowers everywhere, and a parrot in blue, green and yellow feathers – again, another new addition to the range in 2017. I remember getting pretty excited about this bird! The facade of this build also has the big, bold flowers above the door, and a flower shaped doorknob. A great build to have in the middle.

Next door is the bakery, with roller door windows and an angled door, new to the set. The roofline looks lovely and the hanging lights out the front use the acetylene torch handle – really clever! The inverted dome above the door carries all the way up and it’s stunning. Inside there’s heaps of cakes, and a giant wedding cake, using a Technic turbine element for the bottom, with a bride and groom on top! So clever. This room also has a hidden play feature. Push the green axle at the back and the (beautiful) oven door will open to reveal a batch of cookies ready to take out.

Heading upstairs is the dentist’s surgery. The sign on the window says “prevents yellowing” – a classic LEGO curse where white elements turn a light shade of yellow over time. The dentist’s office is simple but it works really well. The chair is just awesome! It’s a shame that the waiting area sees the chair, but there’s only so much room. The sink has some water in the bottom, as well as a plughole, thanks to a 1×2 Technic brick, and oddly there’s a truncheon (a little bat) hidden in the drawer! I don’t want to know what that’s for. Budget anaethetic maybe?

Next door is a photography studio, with a rather vintage camera clipped to the floor thanks to a ball joint and some clips in the legs. It’s pointing towards a curved white roll of paper. Very clever. The front windows also have white window panes at the top, to represent some half drawn blinds.

Above the cafe is a great little music store! It’s currently selling a drum kit, saxophone (new for me I think), acoustic guitar and an electric guitar. The acoustic guitar is rare, only being seen in the Mariachi for CMF season 16. The cash register is a bit chunkier, and the shop is pretty sparse apart from that, but it’s a fun inclusion.

Above the shop on the top floor is a dance studio with a piano (absolutely stunning), and a proper reflective mirror! The piano is just wonderful, with three foot pedals, loads of detail and a great shape. I love it. A very empty floor as the dancer needs the space, but it’s a great one. The roof has an access panel and a skylight, and some very nice carved stonework around the edges.

The centre building’s top floor has no front facing windows. It’s got some really lovely greebling, using Thor hammer pieces and two large Technic excavator buckets to form the curved roof. This is just excellent, and not at all obtrusive on the other side – a roof top terrace. There’s an outdoor kitchen and siting area and it has a fire escape that leads to  a door behind the dentist. There’s also one that goes from the back door of the dentist to the back of the bakery.

Lastly, at the top there’s the AFOL’s apartment. This is just excellent. There’s a fold out sofa, small little kitchenette with a toilet in the room behind, and then there’s the LEGO sets. There’s a little train scene with a track going around a lake and through a tunnel (is that 10233 Horizon Express going around?), 10181 Eiffel Tower in the corner, the box for 10182 Cafe Corner on a printed tile – the one that started this Modular awesomeness off, plus 10220 Volkswagen T1 Camper Van and 10242 Mini Cooper Mk VII on the shelf at the top. It’s so good. It really is!

The top has a great dark blue spire reaching up, with some more detail on the roofline (I love that chicken) and then there’s also a fountain in the centre on the ground floor. Simple and so effective.

This is a killer set. It’s aged so well, and will continue to be a fan favourite for years to come. I’d dearly love to see an oversized modular like this again. Maybe for the 20th? It’s big, with plenty to look at, and still looks fantastic on the street. I’m so happy to have this in my collection. It’s a must have for the modular fans, and a great way to celebrate the 90th anniversary of LEGO!

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A special thank you to LEGO for sending me a copy to review. All thoughts on this set are my own and are not influenced in any way, shape or form. The provision of sets for review does not guarantee a favourable review.