Peter Di Gaetano

How old are you? 23

Which country are you from? Canada

What is your role at the LEGO® Group? Creative Play Lab Intern

How did you get into building with LEGO bricks, especially building your own creations? I got into LEGO building later in life. I like to sculpt, and to me, building with LEGO bricks is kind of like inverse sculpting.

What kind of creations do you love building the most, and why? I love building little creatures or animals that have cute or wacky characteristics and personalities. It’s fun to create weird little characters out of LEGO bricks and see where the process takes me.

If you could give one piece of advice to aspiring LEGO builders, what would it be? If you are unsure where to start or if building feels intimidating, start small. I find that building smaller models, or building at a smaller scale, is easier and more enjoyable because the process feels more relaxing.

How does it feel to have your work exhibited here at LEGO House - Home of the Brick? It feels very special because I always wondered what it'd be like to have a build of mine be exhibited in LEGO House. Now I get to have my work shown alongside my colleagues.

Title Creating Fishy Fond Holiday Moments

Can you describe your model and what it represents? The model tells the story of how these penguins celebrate Christmas after returning home from LEGO House. You have penguins sharing fish around the dinner table. They’re sharing stories, playing in the snow, decorating a Christmas tree, and taking part in many other fun activities. This build represents not only the holiday season, but also the fond moments shared with family and friends. Try to spot a penguin you relate to most.

How long did it take you to build? It took approximately 14 hours to build.

Approximately how many LEGO elements did you use? From a rough estimate, I'd say somewhere between 1,000 and 3,000 elements.

Are there any hidden details, Easter eggs, or techniques used that fans should look out for? To give the penguins squishy-looking bellies, I used round shield elements. If you also look around the model, try and count how many fish-related things you can find.