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The John Soane x Minecraft collab that allows you to explore ancient architecture
The Sir John Soane Museum in London has been recreated in Minecraft blocks, allowing children from across the world to explore the incredible architectural museum & ancient civilisations.

Digital twins are nothing new in architecture. The creation of a virtual, entirely digital, version of a proposed or existing building in order for different construction teams to work live on the same design, or for post-occupancy management and functioning of a completed project is now fairly common within the industry. Building Information Modelling software – or BIM, for short – such as Autodesk Ecosystem, Revit, Microsoft Azure, NVIDIA Omniverse, or IBM Maximo are regularly used in construction. A computer programme less commonly found in relation to important architecture is Minecraft…

At the Soane Museum in London, however, the children’s construction software has been used to create an experiential model of the famed museum, allowing users to not only explore a blocky version John Soane’s former house, but also create designs using the architects’ toolkit. Titled Soane’s Portals to the Past, the digital 3D model has been created by Blockbuilders, a UK-based third-party developer, for Minecraft Education, and is now available alongside lesson plans for free.



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In a way, this is a contemporary reimagining of Soane’s intent for his house-cum-museum. The architect always intended it to be a place of learning and creative inspiration, in his own lifetime and beyond. “It's about getting the collection out into the world, making it available to young people who then can create their own legacy building,” says Will Gompertz, Director of Sir John Soane’s Museum, who freely admits he had to be led in the project by younger people in the organisation.

One of those, Tallulah Smart, the Learning Officer, was more than excited to take the lead. Having worked at the museum for eight years, and playing Minecraft for 15, they said: “It’s a bit of a strange combination of two passions that are very different.” And it’s a fun combination – where it may lack in the exactitude of more professional BIM digital twin software, it makes up for with spirit and joy.



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The visitor to the Minecraft Soane Museum is first introduced by John Soane’s dog, Fan – the dog’s real name, Fanny (who is honoured with a portrait in the real house’s Breakfast Room) did not make it past the censors. Fan pops up with other characters, including Soane himself, to add context and help with interactive elements.

Some of those interactive elements act as portals beyond the Museum. Selecting an ancient Greek vase allows the user to travel to the Temple of Zeus at Olympia where help is needed to build the temple. There, the child (though adults can also dive in) might also learn about the origins of the Olympics and the order of columns. “We wanted to inspire a new generation of architects, and this game really inspires kids today to build and be creative” says Gompertz.



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While the Soane Museum has a constant flow of visitors (160,000 over 2024-25) the Minecraft twin may allow a few more from across the world explore it in new ways. Minecraft Education is used across over 40,000 school systems in 140 countries. Such technology is second nature to the youngest generations, but Gompertz thinks Soane would not only have understood it but loved it: “Soane loved new technology – he had one of the first interior baths in the country and was one of the first people to put central heating into a house, he was really visionary.”

While meandering the Minecraft museum may not carry quite the same aesthetic interest or romantic connection to the past as a free visit to the wonderful Soane Museum, it does offer a witty reimagining and could be a gateway for someone younger into the history and architecture of the place.



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Sir John Soane’s Museum at No. 13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields has been a national museum since the early nineteenth century. Designed by renowned architect Sir John Soane and filled with his world-class collection of paintings, sculpture, artefacts and models, the Museum retains the same fabric and design as at the time of Soane’s death in 1837. Today, the Museum encourages access to Soane’s legacy in its broadest sense: architecture and design, creative originality, a commitment to learning and enquiry, and the connections between past and present that the Museum and its collections reveal. The Museum is open Wednesdays to Sundays, 10am to 5pm. Entry is free. There is no need to pre-book–you can walk in on the day. Sir John Soane’s Museum, 13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London, WC2A3BP.
www.soane.org

Minecraft Education is a game‑based learning platform that inspires creative, inclusive learning through play. Used by more than 40,000 school systems across 140 countries, Minecraft Education supports students and educators with immersive lessons that build critical skills such as problem‑solving, collaboration, and digital citizenship across subjects including STEM and AI literacy. Minecraft Education support Microsoft’s longstanding commitment to advancing education and lifelong learning worldwide.
www.education.minecraft.net

Blockbuilders uses Minecraft Education as a tool to inspire and educate young people about the exciting career opportunities available to them in STEM fields. Their innovative approach to career education combines the fun and creativity of Minecraft with valuable information and resources to help young people explore and pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and maths.
www.blockbuilders.co.uk

visit

Soane’s Portals to the Past is available on Minecraft Education, accessible through most Microsoft software subscriptions for schools. A free demo is also available HERE for a limited time.

The Sir John Soane Museum is free to visit, more information available at www.soane.org/your-visit

images

fig.i The frontage of Sir John Soane’s Museum, including no. 12 - 14 Lincoln’s Inn Fields. Courtesy Sir John Soane’s Museum.
fig.ii Soane’s Portals to the Past branding. Courtesy Sir John Soane’s Museum.
figs.iii,v,vii,ix,xii,xiv Soane’s Portals to the Past screenshots. Courtesy Sir John Soane’s Museum and Blockbuilders.
fig.iv The Picture Room, at Sir Joh Soane’s Museum. Courtesy Sir John Soane’s Museum.
fig.vi The fireplace in the Library-Dining Room at no. 13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, part of Sir John Soane’s Museum . Courtesy Sir John Soane’s Museum.
fig.viii Details of Sir John Soane’s Model Room part of his Private Apartments. Courtesy Sir John Soane’s Museum.
fig.x The Dome, at Sir John Soane’s Museum. Courtesy Sir John Soane’s Museum.
figs.xi,xv Soane’s Portals to the Past installation at Sir John Soane’s Museum. © Will Jennings.
fig.xiii The restored Model Room at Sir John Soane’s Museum . Courtesy Sir John Soane’s Museum.
fig.ii Sed consequat ante eget magna rhoncus ultricies laoreet sit amet odio. © Lorem Ipsum
fig.ii Sed consequat ante eget magna rhoncus ultricies laoreet sit amet odio. © Lorem Ipsum
fig.ii Sed consequat ante eget magna rhoncus ultricies laoreet sit amet odio. © Lorem Ipsum

publication date
26 January 2026

tags
BIM, Blockbuilders, Computer, Digital twin, Game, Will Gompertz, Minecraft, Minecraft Education, Sir John Soane Museum, John Soane, Tallulah Smart, Video game