JAREDCHAN'S LEGO CREATION

More pictures: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jaredchan/sets/72157648239908219/

 

Background

 

For those of you who aren't raised in Hong Kong, you may not be familiar with many of the details included in this MOC. This is built for Hong Kong people, with a global message.

 

 

Looking back at my LEGO creations in the past years, I have done some glamorous European architecture as well as sparkling landmarks of Hong Kong. I chased for splendidness and perfection in those MOC and I stop to think, why can’t life be simpler?

 

 

This MOC is set in a public housing estate in Fall 1970s, the time when Hong Kong started to take flight. It was the time before PC, mobile phones and elevators, and children didn’t get to have much (if any) toys. Playing in the park downstairs provided the greatest joy to children, and using one’s imagination with existing resources to have fun was natural and the norm.

 

 

Everything was simple and everyone led a humble life at the time. Families work till late night,  putting plastic toys and flowers together, to earn some extras. Relationship with neighbours (especially during Mahjong time) was never better.

 

 

Things didn’t come easy and everyone cherished all people and whatever they have, and they could feel happiness from the bottom of their heart. However, happiness ends with nothing more a Facebook Like these days. The many good stuff of the 70s, such as ice-cream scooter, local stores are no more these days. I acknowledge that change is forever, but I wish everyone can appreciate and value all the ordinary things and people in life, and I am sure you can discover a lot of joy in that.

 

 

The design

 

This MOC consists of 2 major bodies: the playground and the public housing block. While the building follows the design of Mei Ho House, one of the first public housing and the only of its kind that is still in existence, I meant to tell the stories of everyone living in public housing in the 1970s. While only part of the building is shown in the MOC due to size restriction, the MOC is not conformed to a square shape. The base is an irregular polygon with a rounded corner for the big tree, the building and the playground facilities are showcased on different angles.

 

 

The scale adopted by official 1970s LEGO sets is used in this MOC: Each floor is approximately 6 bricks tall. This result in serious lighting problem and is resolved by displaying key interior of residential flats at where venue spotlights would shine. Most of the minifigures bear the classic smile and simple, if not vintage clothing.

 

 

To fully relive the humble yet spectacular lives of the 70s, I have divided the entire MOC into 3 dozen scenes and conducted extensive research for each of them.

 

 

The building alone is separated into 10 flat units, 3 traditional shops, 6 stairwell spaces, 10 major hallways. I have included key memories / scenes of the time, as well as themes such as family and neighbors, culture and heritage in most of these spaces.

 

 

Some separated spaces are connected by incidents, e.g. the 4th floor burglar is a person wanted by the police and can be seen on the wanted poster at the playground, the poster happens to appear next to a child that is playing hide and seek ;-)

 

 

Some scenes are meant to contrast with its neighbour, e.g. Bruce Lee, symbol of the east; and The Chopsticks, a famous Hong Kong duo that is heavily influenced by western culture. This also reflects how Hong Kong thrived in both Oriental and Western culture. 

 

 

This MOC is one of the finalists for the ACGHK 2014 LEGO Building Competition. Dozens participated and 14 made it to the finals. This is the first time I built something based on old Hong Kong and it’s been a real joy and learning experience for me, who always claim to be young!

 

 

Video with 1970s Canton pop:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Designed and assembled in 2014.