The Great Barrier Reef

Of of our larger installations came from a very strange request… can we build a big centrepiece model that can be lifted up a spiral staircase? Well, we do like a challenge…..!

Built in 2018, the Great Barrier reef model was built to replace the airport model as the centrepiece to our Brick Wonders exhibition. For the whole of the next year, the model toured around castles in Scotland with perhaps not the easiest access!

Rather than build a model completely out of LEGO (which would have been too heavy and large), we decided to create an experience of the Great Barrier reef that would transport visitors there. Using our experience of integrating LEGO with scenic elements - we decided what would be LEGO and what would not. We ended up with a LEGO shopping list of fish, coral, plant life and a rather larger Turtle!

The build was split between all of the team so that we could construct it in record time. As well as the LEGO models, we needed to design the backdrops, interpretation panels, sound, lighting - and of course something to hold it all together! Everything had to match together, so good planning was key. We created CAD models of all the major components to check that they’d work together in harmony.

Finally, it was time to bring it all together in what was probably our coldest ever install! Working in January in Aberdour castle, there was snow on the ground and windows - but no glass! One of the advantages in building in plastic bricks is that our museum venues don’t need to worry about keeping the environment constant. Unlike lots of other museum artefacts that need careful monitoring - ours are very sturdy! This was the ultimate test but it sailed straight through!

You can see the Great Barrier Reef installation as part of our Brick Wonders tour. See if you can spot all of the different kinds of fish on show!