Legoland Dubai plans brought to life brick-by-brick

The model was designed and built by Lego ‘brick artist’ Kevin Hall, who travelled from the UK to the UAE to oversee its construction. Satish Kumar / The National

The layout of Legoland Dubai was unveiled to thousands of visitors attending Arabian Travel Market with a unique four metre squared, Lego-built model map. Courtesy Legoland

Siegfried Boerst, general manager of Legoland Dubai and a keen builder, was involved in putting together the model. Courtesy Legoland

In hiring people for the role of a Lego artist, Mr Boerst said the company was not looking for particular skills, although being able to work well with your hands is a plus. Satish Kumar / The National

For the Dubai park’s Miniland — made up of miniature versions of popular global destinations such Trafalagar Square and the Kennedy Space Centre — Mr Boerst said Legoland was looking at recreating iconic buildings of the region and beyond. Satish Kumar / The National

Along with some help from the Legoland Dubai sales and marketing team, it took ‘brick artist’ Kevin Hall 1,600 hours to design and build the Legoland Dubai model. Satish Kumar / The National

Built on a scale of 1:120,000, it showcases Legoland Dubai’s planned six themed areas: Lego City, Adventure, Lego Kingdom, Imagination, Factory and Miniland. Satish Kumar / The National

The LegoCity model was one of the LegoLand projects exhibited at the Arabian Travel Market. Satish Kumar / The National

The Kingdoms model was one of the LegoLand projects exhibited at the Arabian Travel Market. Satish Kumar / The National

DUBAI // It is the kind of task that would drive most people to distraction. But, after five months and 150,000 Lego bricks, a four sq metre model of the under-construction Legoland Dubai theme park has been unveiled.

The model was designed and built by Lego ‘brick artist’ Kevin Hall, who travelled from the UK to the UAE to oversee its construction.

Along with some help from the Legoland Dubai sales and marketing team, it took Mr Hall 1,600 hours to design and build the model.

Built on a scale of 1:120,000, it showcases Legoland Dubai’s planned six themed areas: Lego City, Adventure, Lego Kingdom, Imagination, Factory and Miniland.

The model layout of Legoland Dubai was unveiled to visitors attending last week’s Arabian Travel Market 2015.

Siegfried Boerst, general manager of Legoland Dubai and a keen builder, was involved in putting together the model.

In hiring people for the role of a Lego artist, he said the company was not looking for particular skills, although being able to work well with your hands is a plus.

“We test them on their creativity and their imagination,” he said. “They are from all over the world.”

“Mostly, these people are locals, but they come from all areas of life. They are looking to do something different.”

A few years ago, Mr Boerst said the company hired an investment banker from New York City as a model builder.

“He took the job because it was so much fun for him,” he said.

For the Dubai park’s Miniland — made up of miniature versions of popular global destinations such Trafalagar Square and the Kennedy Space Centre — he said Legoland was looking at recreating iconic buildings of the region and beyond.

“The Miniland we are building here is completely dedicated to the Middle East and Asia,” he said. “It’s not only about the buildings but what is happening around it.”

He said it will take two years to build all of the models, using more than 60 million Lego bricks.

“They are all standards bricks,” he said. “They are the same ones that children can play with.”

“That’s where the creativity of the model builder comes to play.”