STANDARDS

NGSS: Core Idea:  ETS1.B

CCSS: Writing: 3

TEKS: Science: 3.2A, 4.2A, 5.2A, 6.2A; ELA: 3.18, 4.16, 5.16, 6.15

Article Options

Presentation View
Teaching Resources

Lexile® measure

LEGO Artist

How Stuart Harris builds towering masterpieces out of tiny LEGO bricks

March 2018
By Jeanette Ferrara
Courtesy of Mattonito

This Tyrannosaurus rex sculpture stands 3 meters (10 feet) tall. It’s made of more than 50,000 DUPLO® bricks.

The Tree of Creativity stands more than 15 meters (49 feet) tall. Its branches hold a train station, an airport, and scenes from outer space. This tree doesn’t grow in the ground. It’s a sculpture made entirely from LEGO® bricks!

Stuart Harris designed the enormous tree. He works at LEGO House, a LEGO play space and museum that opened in Billund, Denmark this past fall. Visitors to LEGO House can marvel at dozens of LEGO sculptures, from giant dinosaurs to colorful waterfalls. It’s up to Harris to make these creations a reality.

The Tree of Creativity stands more than 15 meters (49 feet) tall. Its branches hold a train station and an airport. There are also scenes from outer space. This tree doesn’t grow in the ground. It’s a sculpture. It’s made entirely from LEGO® bricks!

Stuart Harris designed the huge tree. He works at LEGO House. It’s a LEGO play space and museum. It opened in Billund, Denmark, this past fall. Visitors to LEGO House can see dozens of LEGO sculptures. They include giant dinosaurs and colorful waterfalls. It’s up to Harris to bring these creations to life.

LEGO Life

Growing up, Harris loved LEGO bricks. “They were definitely my favorite toy,” he says. “I had no idea you could play with them in a real job.”

In college, Harris studied how to design products that people buy in stores. But when he learned a LEGOLAND amusement park was opening near his home in the United Kingdom, he knew he wanted to work there. He spent six years there building large LEGO sculptures and designing rides. 

Harris started working on the sculptures for LEGO House in 2013, long before the museum opened. Even as an adult, Harris enjoys building with LEGO bricks. He can become so absorbed in his work that he  misses meetings. “I completely lose track of time,” he says.

Harris loved LEGO bricks growing up. “They were definitely my favorite toy,” he says. “I had no idea you could play with them in a real job.”

Harris studied how to design products in college. He learned to make items people could buy in stores. Then he heard that a new LEGOLAND amusement park was opening. It was near his home in the United Kingdom. He knew he wanted to work there. He spent six years working for LEGOLAND. He built large LEGO sculptures and designed rides.

Harris started working on the sculptures for LEGO House in 2013. That was long before the museum opened. Harris enjoys building with LEGO bricks even as an adult. He can become so involved in his work that he misses meetings. “I completely lose track of time,” he says.

JONAS AHLSTROM/LEGO® House

This giant tree, called the Tree of Creativity, is built from more than 6 million LEGO bricks!

Brick by Brick

Harris works with a team of designers and builders to create each sculpture. They start by writing out a plan for what they want to build. This is called a brief. It includes the criteria, or standards, for the design, such as how large the sculpture should be. The brief also contains drawings of what the finished piece might look like. Designers and builders make changes until they all agree on the plan.

Next, Harris uses computer software to create a model of the sculpture. The team uses this digital design to test out colors and shapes before trying them in real life. 

Harris works with a team of designers and builders. Together, they create each sculpture. They start by writing out a plan for what they want to build. This is called a brief. It includes the criteria for the design. These standards include things like how large the sculpture should be. The brief also contains drawings. They show what the finished piece might look like. Designers and builders make changes until they all agree on the plan.

Next, Harris uses a computer. He creates a digital model of the sculpture. The team uses this design to test out colors and shapes. It’s easier than trying them in real life. 

Jens Honore/LEGO® House

Designer Stuart Harris adds LEGO bricks to the tree’s trunk.

Finally, it’s time to build! It takes just one or two people to build small LEGO sculptures. But dozens of people needed to work together to construct the Tree of Creativity. It took three years and 6.3 million LEGO bricks to finish! 

Harris loves seeing the sculptures on display. “I can mix in with a crowd and see how people respond,” he says.

Finally, it’s time to build! It takes just one or two people to build small LEGO sculptures. But dozens of people needed to work together to build the Tree of Creativity. It took three years and 6.3 million LEGO bricks to finish!

Harris loves seeing the sculptures on display. “I can mix in with a crowd and see how people respond,” he says.    

Engineering
Design Process
Cool STEAM Jobs
videos (1)
Skills Sheets (2)
Skills Sheets (2)
Games (1)
Lesson Plan (2)
Lesson Plan (2)
Text-to-Speech