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A Walk Through a City We'd Never Visited — And the Block Set It Inspired
A Walk Through a City We'd Never Visited — And the Block Set It Inspired
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
Hand-Cut, Hand-Sanded, Hand-Colored
Every piece in the Metropolis set is cut, sanded, and colored by hand — not extruded or molded. This creates two things that matter: a surface texture that has slight natural variation between pieces (which children respond to with their hands), and a friction quality that helps blocks stack more stably than smooth, machine-finished alternatives.
We use natural water-based wood wax oil, imported from Germany, to color the blocks. It penetrates the wood rather than coating it, which means the grain remains visible and tactile. There are no harsh fumes, no formaldehyde, and the color holds for years. On first use, a small amount of surface color may transfer — simply wipe with a damp cloth, and it won't happen again.
Two Wood Species, Chosen for Different Reasons
The Metropolis set uses a combination of basswood and beechwood. Basswood is lighter and takes color beautifully — ideal for the smaller architectural detail pieces. Beechwood is denser and more structurally rigid — used for the larger building blocks that need to support weight in taller structures. The combination isn't accidental; it's a material decision based on how the pieces actually function in play.
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.
How It Compares
| Block Set | Pieces | Theme | Characters | Handmade | Certified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVDAR Metropolis | 52 | City / Urban | Yes — dolls, cat, dino | Yes | EN71 + ASTM + CPSIA |
| AVDAR Multi-floor | ~40 | Architecture | Family of 5 + dog | Yes | EN71 + ASTM + CPSIA |
| Generic unit blocks | 50–100 | None | No | No | Varies |
| Plastic city sets | Varies | Prescriptive | Yes | No | Varies |
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 ($— 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! The quality of the wood is unlike anything else we have."
"Modern and unique design. My kids love building their cities — the set includes so many shapes and building pieces, perfect for sparking imagination and storytelling."
"High-quality blocks with a smooth finish. Each piece is well-crafted — no splinters or rough surfaces. 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, it sits at the quality end of the wooden block market but below the price point of many imported European sets with smaller piece counts. For a 52-piece handmade set with triple safety certification, we consider it fairly priced for what it is.
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 · Triple certified · Free US delivery · $160
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