Love in Legoland

Bengaluru-based John Seemon, does not just dabble with computers and coding like all IT professionals. He has a whooping collection of 2.5 lakh Lego blocks and does not just collect them but is a master builder in Lego and has more than 1000 hours experience in LEGO. He is an AFOL(adult fan of LEGO) and owns 15 out of the 20 largest ever created sets in LEGO. That’s not just it, he has been mentioned in the Limca book of records for creating one of the biggest models through LEGO. 

A love affair which started at the age of seven, John was introduced into the world of LEGO in a cousin’s birthday party. He recalls, “The first time I started constructing basic structures like ladders and houses but, as a child that’s how much you can visualise.” Driven by curiosity, he began to think of more designs like furniture’s, bikes and cranes. It became an obsession and a hobby that he seriously pursued. He says, “From quite a young age I was enticed about any new projects, I would invest weeks into researching designs and understanding them. That grew in my LEGO collection as I always could do something or the other with the pieces and dismantle them if I did not like it.” Formally, he says he began collecting from ‘90s over the past 15 years. He now owns a staggering collection which has a price tag from Rs 1000 to Rs 30,000 which he picks up during his travels in Europe, America and Sapphhire toys in Bengaluru. He also conducts LEGO events across the country and led the construction of the largest fire truck set in Mumbai. “With 1500 kids we conducted an event for the public and gained a place in the Limca Book of Records. Apart from that, I have also created a 24ft long Christmas tree at Phoenix and conducted many similar events in Mumbai,” he proudly effuses. From child like construction sets and miniature models, this techie also own LEGO Mindstorms. “I also have special sets which have an inbuilt sensor which can be motorised to perform simple actions just like toy robots,” says John. 

About whether the blocks actually stimulate creativity in children he explains, “It is the best learning material there is, by its innate nature of it helps in the cognitive ability development of a child.”

This collector, creator and curator also loves going on adventure trips, blogging, designing and all things quirky. He says, “Almost any D.I.Y project gives me a high.”