Buildies turned block building into a child-sized cardboard fort: large, fold-and-stack pieces with tabs that lock together. In a 2014 account for Make:, Mike Senese describes assembling one set with his two nephews and finishing a four-level structure they could enter. It is a useful example of hands-on construction play, though the account documents one family’s experience—not a typical build time, durability test, or proof that Buildies was an official Minecraft product.
How Buildies blocks worked
Buildies were oversized cardboard construction pieces, described in Senese’s Make: article as roughly the size of a real cinderblock. The pieces folded into shape and connected through interlocking tabs, allowing children to stack them into a structure at a scale they could enter.
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A 2014 Fast Company profile identifies Brian Lilly as the product’s designer. It describes recycled-cardboard blocks, cardboard “mortar” pieces, and roof pieces. Lilly explained the design goal this way: “You know that moment when your kid builds a fort and then they put a blanket on top and the whole thing crumbles? I wanted to avoid that moment,” he told Co.Design. The profile also says Lilly’s daughter and her friends helped test prototypes and gave feedback; that is a reported part of product development, not independent safety or performance certification.
What happened during the reported build
Assembly came before construction
The box in Senese’s account arrived unassembled. The children first learned to fold the pieces and fit their tabs together. The family then split the work into an assembly line: removing perforated pieces, folding them, adding tabs, and placing completed blocks into the structure.
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One family’s build and time
For that session, the group assembled 44 full blocks and eight smaller blocks. Senese reports about four hours of work, including a half-hour lunch break, before they finished a four-level fort with a roof. They added blankets and pillows, and the children later transported the pieces to their home in a pickup truck. Those numbers describe one set and one group; they should not be treated as a standard assembly time or a guarantee of what another family can build.
Plan for scraps, space, and supervision
Senese noted cardboard scraps on the carpet and raised a concern about storing the blocks in a small space, observing that unfolding them seemed unwise. Before starting a large cardboard build, consider where the pieces will be assembled and kept, how scraps will be collected, and whether an adult should help with the folding and construction. The account does not report durability testing or long-term use, so it cannot establish how well the fort holds up over repeated play.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is Buildies available now?
The sources do not establish whether the original Buildies set is currently sold or still in production. Make: linked to a Kickstarter campaign that had only hours remaining when the article was published in 2014; that historical campaign status says nothing about present-day stock.
For a current example of the broader cardboard-fort category, Noodlenaut’s Build A Fort Kit is a separate product, not Buildies. Its product page lists 20 square pieces, 18 triangular pieces, 86 connectors, an assembly guide, and a storage box. The page showed a $79.99 price when accessed; price and availability can change. These details do not establish an Amazon listing.
Other approaches mentioned in current product research include Tiny Thinkers cardboard panels joined with Velcro connectors, GIGI cardboard construction blocks, and RIWI giant foam building blocks. They use different materials and joining systems, so none should be described as equivalent to Buildies. Check current regional availability and product specifications directly before choosing a set.
Quick Recap
What to check when choosing a fort-building set
- Building system: Determine whether the set uses interlocking blocks, panels and connectors, or soft blocks.
- Scale and access: Check piece dimensions and whether the planned structure is large enough for a child to enter.
- Setup and cleanup: Consider assembly effort, scraps, and whether children will need adult help.
- Storage: Look for a storage box or plan for the assembled or folded pieces to take up space.
- Age and safety information: Review the maker’s guidance for the intended age group and use.
- Availability: Confirm stock, shipping region, and current price with the seller.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
