LEGO professional designs Singapore icons for "We Are One" project
By Hoe Yeen Nie, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 04 November 2009 2120 hrs

	Photos  of

SINGAPORE : "We Are One" - a corporate social responsibility project by LEGO, CapitaLand and MediaCorp - includes six Singapore icons specially created by a LEGO certified professional - Nicholas Foo.

There are only nine such LEGO designers in the world and just one in Asia.

Foo's works - which are usually commissioned by private and corporate clients - include replica models of motorcycles and whimsical toys based on the theme of love.

Lately, Foo has been working on a series of designs such as a cable car and Merlion for the fundraising project "We Are One".

Each design is carefully researched using photographs and site visits. It is time-consuming work that requires a meticulous eye for detail, which was all the more important when reproducing Singapore's City Hall.

"If you look at the back (of the model), there are no pillars on City Hall. The pillars are only on the two side walls... There are actually little ledges on the windows, so I tried to recreate all the little ledges as well," said Foo, certified LEGO professional, Blackbulb Creations.

Foo took over 700 hours in all to build the models. Over 9,700 individual pieces were used to create the six models, with the City Hall taking up about 4,224 bricks.

Foo also created designs for three other Singapore icons, representing the port, public housing and Changi Airport.

When completed, they will be snapped into place on a 5 by 8 metre giant Singapore map, which is also entirely made up of LEGO pieces.

The LEGO bricks are sold at S$2 each to raise S$1 million for the needy. Proceeds will go towards the Community Chest and the President's Challenge 2009.

And on Wednesday, a donation drive was held at MediaCorp.

Members of the public may also buy them at ION Orchard or online at We Are One's website.

Companies can purchase a plot of LEGO real estate on the map, which they can decorate with their own designs. - CNA /ls