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How to build the Soma cube skyscraper

The skyscraper uses all seven Soma pieces, 27 cubes in total. Here is one solution: first the finished figure, then the pieces one by one from the floor up, in an order you can follow with real pieces.

ATPBZLV
The finished skyscraper, seen from the front left and above: the front is at the lower right, the left side at the lower left.
  • Vsmall corner
  • LL shape
  • TT shape
  • Zstep (Z shape)
  • Atwist A
  • Btwist B
  • Pbranch

Open in 3D, piece by piece

Opens the solver with this figure. Press "Next" to place one piece at a time, and drag to turn the view.

Step by step

Build in this order from the floor up, lowering each piece from above. Every piece rests on the floor or on pieces already placed.

  1. A

    Step 1 · Place piece A (twist A) on layers 1–2, across the whole width and depth. Three of its cubes lie on layer 1, and one sticks up onto layer 2.

  2. T

    Step 2 · Place piece T (T shape) on layers 1–3, at the front. It stands upright like a wall running from left to right.

  3. P

    Step 3 · Place piece P (branch) on layers 2–3, across the whole width and depth. Only one cube is on layer 2; the other three lie on layer 3.

  4. B

    Step 4 · Place piece B (twist B) on layers 4–5, across the whole width and depth. Three of its cubes lie on layer 4, and one sticks up onto layer 5.

  5. Z

    Step 5 · Place piece Z (step) on layers 4–6, on the left. It stands upright like a wall running from front to back.

  6. L

    Step 6 · Place piece L (L shape) on layers 5–7, at the back. It stands upright like a wall running from left to right.

  7. V

    Step 7 · Place piece V (small corner) on layers 6–7, at the front. It stands upright like a wall running from left to right. All 7 pieces are in place and the figure is finished.

Layer by layer, seen from above

Layer 1 is the floor. In each plan the top edge is the back of the figure and the bottom edge is the front.

TAAA
layer 1 · floor
TTAP
layer 2
TPPP
layer 3
ZBBB
layer 4
ZBZL
layer 5
VVZL
layer 6
VLL
layer 7

About this figure

Open in 3D, piece by piece