Jonathan Lopes created a LEGO replica of Brooklyn, complete with the Fairway in Red Hook, the historic Williamsburg Savings Bank, and the A train.
Jessica Dailey reported that Lopes, a native Brooklynite, began creating the urban scene four years ago by building an extensive train system.
Now the landscape, spotted with various places throughout the borough, takes up his entire 400 square foot living room.
Lopes told the Daily News that he wants it to look like the scene he sees every day when he walks to the subway in his neighborhood, Boerum Hill. He’s recreated a flower shop on Hoyt Street, Firehouse Engine 226, city buses, street sweepers, and much, much more.
Lopes uses nothing but LEGOs for every detail — no matter how small. He makes no alterations to the blocks and adds no stickers or paint, even for tiny little shop signs. “It’s challenging to achieve certain aesthetics with the limitations of the brick,” Lopes told the News. “I try to get it as real looking as possible.”
When I was growing up, LEGOs were known as “Avney Peleh” — literally “wonder stones.” I could never get into them. I did other obsessive kids’ things, like re-shaping my plastic G.I. Joes into more exciting poses using matches. But stacking up the LEGOs just did not do anything for me.
Did a lot for this Lopes fellow. I hope he made sure to get married BEFORE he filled up his living room with a replica of Brooklyn.
