A Set of Blocks For Adults – Houston, We Have a Puzzle

When I was younger, every kid had to have a set of blocks.  My set was made from 2x4 lumber and my younger brother’s set was smaller and made with smoothly finished hardwood.  Together, these sets were used to make many amazing 2D and 3D structures.  And at the end of the day, they needed to be packed back into a box and stored under the bed.  So even at a tender age, I was being trained to pack blocks into boxes.

Houston, We Have a Puzzle was designed by Oleg Smolyakov and used by Daniel Bain as his exchange puzzle at last year’s International Puzzle Party (IPP).  The puzzle was manufactured by Vinco and consists of 7 rectangular parallelepipeds that need to be packed in a wooden box.  Of immediate note, the box is unrestricted so every configuration would also be a solution.  However, after spending a couple of minutes attempting to figure out how to pack the pieces within the box, you’re quickly left with the feeling that there is a single configuration.

Each of the 7 pieces are a different size and made from a different type of hardwood.  When you spill them out of the box from their non-solution packing configuration, it doesn’t really look that difficult.  And in fact, it’s not really that difficult.  You just need to think about it.  Of course if you are like me, you’ll dicker around with it for a while before resorting to that dreaded thought process.

When you stop to really examine it closely, there is a logical progression.  And the progression is what you would naturally gravitate towards.  Each piece can be added one by one with confidence that it is in the correct position.

The puzzle comes with an instruction sheet with the solution on the inside.  Not that anyone would ever look at a solution sheet.  Extra points for providing the non-solution packing configuration on the back of the sheet.  Although pieces can slide around in this position, they won’t spill out of the box when in the packaging.

Houston, We Have a Puzzle is currently available on Vinco's website.