COPENHAGEN Some children may not get their Christmas wishes fulfilled this year as LEGO's factories, although running at full speed, may not be able to make enough plastic bricks to keep up with demand from toy stores in Europe.The Danish company has become the world's largest toymaker by sales, overtaking U.S. Barbie-maker Mattel, thanks partly to toys linked to movies, including "The Lego Movie."But difficulties in forecasting demand accurately means some orders may not be filled on time."We will not be able to deliver all of the orders coming from customers in the remainder of the year," spokesman Roar Trangbaek told Reuters. He declined to specify which lines of toys or which European countries would be affected.Trangbaek said the company would be able to deliver the orders it had already received but may have trouble filling new orders later this year. "It is really extraordinary and it has exceeded both ours and our customers' forecasts," Trangbaek said when asked why the company had not foreseen the surge in demand.
The Danish company's sales grew by 18 percent in the first half of this year to 14 billion Danish crowns ($2.1 billion), putting it ahead of Mattel and Monopoly-board maker Hasbro, whose revenues came in at $1.9 bln and $1.5 bln respectively. "We are running our factories at maximum capacity and will do everything we can to meet demand," Trangbaek said. The unlisted company, owned by the family of founder Ole Kirk Kristiansen, invested more than 3 billion crowns in plants and equipment last year to make more toys. Before Christmas last year, there were some shortages in some countries last year including Denmark and Canada. The company is building a factory in Jiaxing in China, 100 kilometers from Shanghai, which is expected to be up and running in 2017 and should produce most of the Lego toys for Asia in the future. LEGO already has factories in Denmark, Hungary, Czech Republic and Mexico.($1 = 6.5693 Danish crowns) (Reporting by Teis Jensen. Editing by Jane Merriman)In an era where iPhones, iPad’s and speaking robots are fast replacing conversations with mum and dad, we may have cause for concern.
Don’t panic though, as we still have Lego which may just be the answer to avoiding a potentially otherwise very gloomy and antisocial existence. The No.1 children’s toy (also for big kids and adults) continues to remain as a staple part of the daily playtime routine for millions across the globe. Thanks to these miniature multi-colored building blocks, children and future generations still have the hope of hanging on to verbal communication skills, which otherwise would run the risk of morphing into an incoherent digital message that’s sent from one side of the dinner table to the other. But what is it that fascinates us so much about these simple plastic cubes? Lego is much more than a toy. It’s a cult and a form of creative expression that allows us to build something tangible without limitations, that has been scientifically proven to give us pleasure and help develop our brains. Regardless of whether we are grown-ups or little kids, gender, shape or size, Lego has a unique appeal that is timeless, and allows us to interact on a different level with each other.
Diego Lau Toyosato, 26 years old, is a young, talented and budding Peruvian industrial designer who just like most kids in their infancy, had a passion and love for Lego. What’s different about Diego is that he is one of the lucky few that succeeded in taking his past childhood passion and turned it into a career. Over the past several years, whilst he has been working scrupulously on other projects, he returned to his roots and began brainstorming how he could create something with Lego. The end results were original, eye-catching and ingenious. The process starts by hand drawing a prototype in a sketchpad, before improving the sketch in a digital format using different design tools on a computer. Diego then meticulously illustrates the character’s accessories, and the intricate pieces that will be glued onto the tiny yellow character. Once this arduous and labor-intensive process is complete, modern day technology plays it part, as Diego prints everything in 3D bringing to life his initial concept and drawing.
Lastly, the printed parts are assembled and the finishing licks of paint are carefully applied before the work of art is complete. Starwars, Harry Potter and The Avengers stand aside please, and make way for the Peruvian folklore Lego figures. The “Devil”, “Archangel” and “Scissor Dancer” (inspiration taken from the infamous dance performed by the inhabitants of the Quechua speaking communities and villages in south-central Andes in Peru) are now official members of the worldwide Lego family. The figures have proven to be extremely popular featuring on many blog sites, getting numerous orders and receiving many comments and likes across social media networks. When Diego was asked how he came up with the idea he explained, “For many generations people have played with Lego. In the last few years we have seen that the small figures are no longer the typical medic, policeman or fireman, but they have taken on different themes. It was this concept that gave me the idea of making Peruvian themed Lego figures”.
Now, we have a series of beautifully designed and emblematic Lego figures that encapsulate the colors, Andean culture and heritage of Peru. The creative scope for designing more Peruvian themed characters is seemingly limitless, as Peru’s rich heritage and culture lends itself to a rich and fertile past. It may come as no surprise to hear that Diego has received many requests and suggestions for future Lego characters, such as the “Tumi”, “Señor of Sipan”. With Christmas just a couple of months away, the dread sets in as we have to write the present list for friends and family. On the other hand, the little ones are crossing off the days and getting themselves worked up as they wonder what Santa will put in their stocking. Dad if you’re reading, we hope this has helped give you some hints and ease the Christmas present planning, or if all else fails we are sure this unique Lego character would be a great souvenir for your epic trip and adventure in Peru! Send to a friend
Plan Selva's life-size Lego concept MINEDU’s social project offers prefabricated structures to improve educational facilities in the Amazon. (Photo: Erick Andia/Living in Peru) In central Lima, in the grand back patio of Casa Paz Soldan, an A-framed skeleton of a structure quite literally stands out. The tip of its aluminum roof strains to be taller than the very house that hosts it; needless to say, the various types of wood left bare and exposed likely make the early 17th century casona only slightly envious. For the 21st edition of Casa Cor Peru, hosted in Casa Paz Soldan as well as Casa Mujica, the design and architecture expo has welcomed the jungle to central Lima. Plan Selva, a social project of Peru’s Ministry of Education (), has constructed a small model of their multi-phase initiative to build better educational facilities in remote communities throughout central and eastern Peru. “Sixty percent of Peru is made up by the Amazon, and within this territory we’re trying to improve the infrastructure,” Elizabeth Añaños, Plan Selva’s Coordinator of Infrastructure, told Living in Peru.
“To this date we’ve built 10 schools…there are various phases, and hopes to reach 3,000 by the time it’s complete.” With schools in areas like Masisea (Ucayali), Pangoa (Junin), Punchana and San Juan Bautista (Loreto), and Labyrinth Tambopata (Madre de Dios) and San Fernando and Atahualpa (San Martin, Plan Selva is off to a productive and successful start. Earlier this year the project was recognized with the 2nd place award at the Venice Biennale of Architecture 2016 for its creative efforts to improve educational infrastructure in an easy and conscious manner. Plan Selva displays the various types of native wood (Photo: Erick Andia/Living in Peru) “Nearly half [47%] of the schools in our jungle are in critical condition, many at risk of floods. What MINEDU and Plan Selva have done is provide prefabricated buildings made with legal, certified wood and metal,” explains Elizabeth, as we walk beneath the peaked structure. “There’s various models, six in total, but they’re all adequately built for the jungle.”
This means not only tall roofs and ventilation for the notoriously harsh weather, but a nod towards eco-consciousness. As the entire Amazon faces abuse from illegal logging, Plan Selva makes it loud and clear that their schools are built using wood certified by the internationally recognized Forest Stewardship Council (). How many shades of natural wood can you describe? If you can’t make it to the jungle anytime soon, visit Plan Selva’s space in Casa Cor and take a look at the wide array of native wood on display. There’s more than just brown. Like Lego come to life, Plan Selva’s prefabricated schools are closing the infrastructure gap and intelligently using native resources. It’s a social plan that will benefit many students and their communities, and one we can all learn from. Visit Plan Selva and all of Casa Cor from September 30 – November 1, 2016 in Central Lima (Jirón de la Unión 1039). You may also be interested in: Living Strong Abroad: Tap into your innate talents