It’s time to kick off the 2025 set reviews with a look at the LEGO® Icons Fountain Garden. The recently revealed set is part of the newly dubbed ‘Gardens of the World’ Subtheme. It follows the release of what is now technically the first set in the line-up, the Japanese inspired Tranquil Garden set, released last year. The Fountain Garden encapsulates a tranquil Spanish space, filled with water features, plants and ornate tiling. Here’s a closer look at this interesting upcoming set.
Product Details
Set Name: Fountain Garden | Set Number: 10359 | Pieces: 10302 | Theme: Icons
Number of Bags: Bags x 10 + loose elements | Instructions: Paper booklet + Builder App | Stickers: N/A | Insiders QR: Yes
RRP: £89.99/$99.99/99.99€/179.99AUD/129.99CAD
Availability: LEGO Stores, LEGO Online & LEGO retailers from January 1st, 2025
As mentioned above, this is the second set in a new Icons Subtheme focused on gardens. The first set was inspired by a traditional Japanese garden, which was built in a tray. Some aspects of the set could be switched around to craft different garden scenes. The Fountain Garden builds on the customisable aspect of the Tranquil Garden which means the tray is built a little differently from the Japanese garden. The tray is where the build begins and as you construct it, you create a base with four large gaps in each corner. Hidden beneath the foundations of the base is a familiar flag, which is a fun detail, even if it is unseen once the set is complete. The base is elevated by a set of 2×2 round bricks which doesn’t add anything to the overall set but it does make it look a little better for display purposes.
Once the base is complete, it’s time to fill those four spaces. You continue the build of the base but the sections are removable. All four sections are the same size but feature different two ‘scenes’ mirrored. So there are two pergolas, these are white columned structures topped with terracotta tiles. The mix of flat tiles and ‘loaf’ bricks evokes traditional Spanish architecture. The two pergolas are also used to display two climbing plants. I found the red-flowered climber sits awkwardly compared to the pink-flowered plant. Both are mounted to the top section of the pergolas by a Technic pin. The pink plant is held in place by a green claw element, which does a decent job of securing it in place. The other one has a small stalk element which does nothing to stop the plant above it from moving. The other sections are less detailed and feature paths lined with squared hedges.
Those sections can be slotted into the gaps left in the base. They can be switched around but due to their shape, there are only two that can really be switched. By doing so the pergolas can either be augmented so the garden is landscape or placed at one end, creating a longer garden.
The moveable corner sections aren’t the only things which can be moved around. Similar to the Tranquil Garden, there are gaps dotted around the garden. These are all the same size, roughly a 2×2 brick. These can be filled by a selection of items including bushes, flowers, a tree, a water feature, a seat and some wildlife. Technically, all of these should be completely interchangeable but the tree can’t be placed in all of the gaps due to both its wider canopy and its base.
The best thing about the set is all the little details it has. The pathways and central fountain is decorated with unique printed tiles. The plants also use elements in unique ways. The two tall bushes use dark green coloured minifigure claws. The flowery shrub includes green sausages. The fountain also features blue power blast elements to replicate cascading water. In addition to the plant life, the garden is home to a trio of critters. These include a yellow bird, an olive green frog and best of all a beautifully decorated luna moth.
It’s an interesting set but probably one with limited appeal. That’s not to say it’s a bad set or offers a poor build experience. I enjoyed piecing together the various plants and the fountain, although fiddly to construct, it looks amazing. It’s nice that it now forms a series of sets as multiple gardens will make a more interesting display. They also complement the LEGO Botanicals sets, due to the focus on plants and interest use of elements to create them. For the MOC builders out there, you could quite easily incorporate the garden into a city scene or you can simply jazz it up by adding minifigures. So although it could lack appeal, I’d been keen to see more sets in the subtheme, maybe a cottage garden or a vegetable patch. The LEGO Icons – Gardens of the World: Fountain Garden set will be available from January 1st, 2025. (Minifigures are not included with this set)
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The LEGO Group provided this set for this review. The thoughts within this review are those of BricksFanz and do not reflect those of the LEGO Group. Providing a set for free does not guarantee a favourable opinion of the set.
