A rumoured description has surfaced of a potential LEGO Harry Potter set but one element of it has raised more questions than answers.
Rumoured details from Brick Clicker suggest that the much-anticipated LEGO Harry Potter 76416 Gringotts Bank will have a unique structure, including both the bank itself and a minecart system with buildable carts, complete with a hatch that suggests you'll be able to recreate the Golden Trio's epic ride through the depths of the wizarding bank.
However, it's also stated that the set can be attached to 75978 Diagon Alley, which means that the main bank building will need to be able to sit on a base plate at a similar scale to the four-building model of the wizarding high street. While Gringotts does tower above other buildings on Diagon Alley in the movies, the scale would still need to match up.
With all that in mind, it's got us thinking on how exactly 76416 Gringotts Bank. Luckily, there are some existing LEGO approaches that could offer some inspiration.
The Modular Building Approach
Bearing in mind that the bank floor will presumably need to rest on a base plate in order to match up with 75978 Diagon Alley, a straightforward approach would be for the set to be split into two sections, with the bank sitting on a base plate and the underground minerals existing separately. The idea of Modular Buildings in LEGO is that different parts can lift off easily to interact with the inside, so it would be fairly straightforward to lift off the bank to attach it to the underground section and engage the dropdown hatch for the minecarts to fall through.
Still, this would leave the minecart section sitting on its own as a fairly random display if you chose to display the set on its baseplate alongside 75978 Diagon Alley. While this isn't a rarity in LEGO sets, it does mean you'll need to find a small spot nearby for the extra section to sit.
Partially Exposed Structure
The recently-revealed LEGO Star Wars 75365 Yavin 4 Rebel Base takes an iconic and enormous structure from the Star Wars franchise and condenses it into a much smaller frame, with the interior and exterior taking up each side. This could also be a good way to display Gringotts, but we think with a piece count of 4,807 and a hefty price tag of $429.99, we imagine it'll be a little more detailed.
For example, another recent addition to the LEGO Harry Potter theme, 76422 Diagon Alley: Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, also leans into this two-sided facade, but with more filled-out walls and far more details. It even features a dropdown option for mail, which could provide inspiration for 76416 Gringotts Bank. However, if the LEGO Group followed the structure of 76422, this would put the lobby of the bank on the second floor, which sets it at a different level to 75978 Diagon Alley and therefore breaking continuity.
Two-way Display
A third option takes its lead from the now-retired LEGO Star Wars 75005 Rancor Pit, released back in 2013. It fits a lot of the same requirements, including a dropdown function and a central building area (Jabba's Throne Room) that exists above another buildable element below (the Rancor pit).
The two sections can exist one on top of the other but are also both detailed and sturdy enough to exist separately from one another, without the secondary part ending up looking like a spare part. In our opinion, this would be the smartest way forward for 76416 Gringotts Bank – but, of course, the LEGO Group could also go for something entirely new. Before we get official confirmation that the set is on the way, all we can do is speculate, so take this and all rumours with a pinch of salt.
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