Today we welcome Davide (aka daevead on LEGO Ideas), this week's 10K Club member whose Historically Accurate Rome submission makes for one impressive display and educational piece about ancient rome!
We hope you enjoy the interview where Davide tells us all about his creation. Please be sure to congratulate him in the comments below too!
About Yourself
- Who are you?
Davide Chiariotti.
- Where are you from?
I live near Venice, Italy.
- How old are you?
24 years old.
- What do you do for a living?
I study medicine at the university of Padova.
- What hobbies do you have?
I love painting and having long walks with my two dogs.
- Have you created any LEGO MOCs (my own creations) that you’re particularly proud of? What is it, why are you proud it and do you have a photo of it?
Some MOCs that I am proud of are my Pokémon starters, as well as the whale I built inside our living room’s table.
- How and when did your interest for LEGO come about?
I was actually born into LEGO. My parents and older brother were already building MOCs before I was born. I left the hobby during high school, but seeing the Star Wars movies (the original trilogy) two years ago reignited my interested, and so I started creating MOCs!
- What is LEGO for you? What does it mean for you? How does it fit in your life? E.g. build, display, meetups, play the games.. or 'just' watch the cartoons.
For me LEGO represents a unique way to recreate ideas and concepts I am really interested in, as well as a way to relive my childhood: one can never outgrow the joy of finding that one perfect brick after hours of searching.
- What is your favourite LEGO theme (current or past)? Why? And has any theme inspired your building style or preference in any particular way?
I love the Life on Mars theme, it presented a unique design for aliens as well as an awesome lot of mech suits.
- Is there one or more particular LEGO related websites (not official LEGO websites) that you visit often and/or are inspired by?
I daily take part in various discussions in a newly created group of AFOLs, called BrixLab. I have always received a lot of tips and support from them, especially from its founders, Mirko and Claudio. The constructive environment they created allowed me to keep building during some hard passages!
About Your Project
- Where did your interest in this particular model come from?
I have always admired the Roman civilization, its role in the creation of our culture as well as its introduction of a common language and a unique law system across the Ancient world.
When I went to Rome for the very first time I was speechless. Even after thousands of years each building, statue and monuments still shows the expertise and the passion of its creator. It is truly incredible what was achieved by the Romans, and I hope that one day people will feel the same thrill while building this project!
- How long was the process of making the project did, and what did you have to research as well. What kind of prep, research and design phases did you go through to produce your creation?
It took me nearly five months to create this project. It all started with a model of the Pantheon I created after a trip around Rome, and then I just kept creating monument after monument.
The hardest part was maintaining the model as accurate as possible, and I spent entire days drawing maps and going back to history textbooks. I think that those limitations just made the whole process much more fun.
- How did it feel when you reached the magic 10,000 votes and how long did it take?
It took me a few months to get to 10K. I honestly had very few expectations when I uploaded this project, I thought it would go well for a few days and then just run out of time, so you can imagine my excitement when I made it through!
- Approximately how many LEGO bricks did you use to create your model?
I used about 2800 bricks, but when I finished my model I just kept expanding it more and more (the model I have at home has now more than 6000 bricks).
About LEGO Ideas
- What is your favourite LEGO Ideas Product Idea (besides your own of course)? Are there any Product Ideas you think have been overlooked?
My favourite LEGO Ideas product is the Saturn V, I think it may be my favourite set ever. The set I wish had passed its revision is the Iron Giant, it is such an important part of my childhood, and every time I re-watch that movie I enjoy it just like the first time.
- What is it about the platform that attracts you? What tips would you give to anyone who is thinking about uploading an idea?
Having a set with one’s name on it would be a dream come true for any AFOL, and even more so if that project holds a special and personal meaning.
By
hasanjensen