PICS: Help local designer Christoff van Wyk make 'Fynbos Flowers' an official Lego set
He's aiming to raise awareness about South African flora on the global stage.
CapeTalk's John Maytham speaks to Cape Town-based designer, Christoff van Wyk.
Listen below:
Local designer Christoff van Wyk has recreated iconic fynbos species such as the protea, Erica blenna and gousblom with Lego.
Through these innovative recreations, Van Wyk is not only celebrating the unique biodiversity of the Cape Floral Kingdom, but is also aiming to put South African flora on the global stage as a potential official Lego set.
Van Wyk created his set – `Fynbos Flowers' – using surfboards, bananas and even sailor’s hat Lego pieces.
The project is gathering supporters on the Lego Ideas website. If it reaches 10,000 supporters the Lego Group will review his design and consider turning it into an official set that will be manufactured and sold commercially.
Van Wyk says his love of both nature and Lego resulted in him creating this prototype set.
"It all came from this idea I had to try and make our national flower, the Protea, out of Lego pieces and once I started, I couldn't stop myself and I developed a couple of other Fynbos flowers and other plants from the Cape Floral Kingdom and here I am..."
- Christoff van Wyk, Designer
Van Wyk explains that he first fleshed out the idea conceptually using digital platforms and then used actual Lego pieces from websites where you can buy Lego second-hand.
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the full conversation.