The Modular Buildings subtheme is a Creator/Advanced Models series of sets introduced in 2007 that feature larger detailed buildings, primarily aimed at older teenagers and adult fans of LEGO. many of the sets in the series are designed to connect together via TECHNIC pins to form the 'The Street Layout'. Café Corner, Grand Emporium, Palace Cinema, and Brick Bank are connecting corners by which two sides of the layout can be joined together. Typically new sets in this series are released once or twice a year.
2012 LEGO Sets
2012 was a very important year for LEGO license themes, namely, the contract with Lucasfilm was renewed to extend Star Wars sets until at least 2022. The LEGO Group also celebrated its 80th anniversary in August of that year. 2012 also marked the year for one of the largest number of new and important themes being released which included The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, Marvel Super Heroes, DC Super Heroes, Monster Fighters, Friends and LEGO Friends. With the introduction of all these new themes LEGO did discontinue a number of beloved themes in 2012 which included Alien Conquest, Atlantis, Pharaoh's Quest, Kingdoms and Harry Potter which did make a return six-years later, thankfully.