The idea for the Metropolis Block Set came from a walk. Evgeny and I were in a city we'd never visited, and our son started asking questions about every building we passed — who designed it, what's inside, why it's shaped like that. We realized that cities are natural conversation starters: about culture, history, diversity, architecture, everyday life. We wanted to bring that into a block set.
Most block sets tell a child what to build. The Metropolis Block Set starts with a city, and lets the child decide everything else — who lives there, what happens next, and what kind of world they want to make.
The result is 52 handcrafted pieces that build streets, towers, parks, museums, and apartment buildings — and come with characters that make the city feel inhabited. Here's what makes it one of our most distinctive products.
What's in the Box
The Metropolis Block Set includes 52 carefully handcrafted pieces designed specifically for city-building play. Unlike standard block sets that use generic shapes, every piece in this set has a purpose in the cityscape.
Key Specifications
The Craftsmanship Behind the Blocks
Handcrafted Pieces
The product page calls the 52 pieces handcrafted. The surface keeps the natural texture of the wood, so there is slight variation from piece to piece.
The blocks are coloured with a non-toxic, water-based wax colour that lets the grain show through. To clean them, wipe gently with a soft cloth.
One Wood: Linden
The Metropolis set is made from lindenwood, also called basswood. It is light, fine-grained and takes colour well, which suits small architectural pieces.
Each block is a small handmade object. Not identical to the others. Not perfect. Exactly like a real city — where no two buildings are quite the same.
How Children Play With It — By Age
The Thinking Behind Open-Ended Play
The Metropolis Block Set is designed explicitly as an open-ended toy — meaning it has no fixed outcome, no instructions to follow, and no "correct" way to use it. This is a deliberate philosophy, not a product limitation.
Pairing the Metropolis Set
The Metropolis Block Set was designed to be standalone but works particularly well with a few additions from the AVDAR range. The Town Folks Set ($32, sold separately) adds seven more peg dolls representing different community members — diverse in age, role, and appearance — and pairs naturally with the city the child builds. For older children who love architecture, the Museum Block (inspired by the Suzhou Museum) expands the city's cultural landmark.
What Parents Are Saying
"Feels like building a little city — my kid makes up stories while playing. So fun!"
"Modern and unique design. Totally different from other blocks — both kids and adults love it!"
"Each piece is well-crafted with smooth edges and vibrant colors. No splinters or rough surfaces — safe for little hands. Feels like it will last for years!"
Is the Metropolis Block Set Right for Your Family?
The Metropolis Block Set is ideal for children aged 3 and up who are interested in construction, storytelling, and imaginative play. It suits families who value open-ended, high-quality toys over prescriptive plastic sets, and who want something that will be genuinely used — and genuinely loved — for years.
At $160 for 52 pieces, it sits at the quality end of the wooden block market. It conforms to EN71, ASTM and CPSIA.
If your child already loves blocks and you're looking for something that grows with them in complexity and meaning, this is one of our most thoughtfully designed products. We built it for the long play sessions — the ones where you look up and realize two hours have passed.
Build a city. Tell its story.
52 handcrafted pieces · EN71, ASTM, CPSIA · Free shipping in the United States · $160
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