This is one of those rare moments where a LEGO product idea gets the attention of fans and is immediately caught up in a storm of likes and 10K thumbs up to become a potential LEGO Ideas set. I guess timing is one key factor for the success of a particular LEGO set proposal, such as the case of our first product idea for 2019 that managed to garner those coveted 10K approvals from the LEGO community in just a short amount of time. To open the 2019 LEGO Ideas Review Stage, we have our first qualifier in the form of the Museu Nacional – Rio de Janeiro by MaxakalisaurusTopai.
This particular LEGO product idea is inspired by the actual Museu Nacional – Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, which sadly caught fire last September 2, 2018, where a large portion of the country’s historical artifacts was also consumed in the blaze. It was a sad day for the people of Brazil and for the rest of the world where over 90% of its collection throughout its 200 years of existence were unfortunately consumed by the flames. The museum’s collection of more than 20 million artifacts is hailed as one of the largest collections of natural history in the world and it’s just staggering to think that almost all of these are now gone forever.
In honor of the Museu Nacional – Rio de Janeiro, LEGO fan MaxakalisaurusTopai decided to render it in LEGO bricks following the typical design of LEGO Architecture sets, and have it submitted as a LEGO product idea. In just less than a month from its submission, the vast majority of the LEGO community responded with eagerness highlighting the important role the Museu Nacional – Rio de Janeiro has played in the preservation of our history. It is simply heart-warming to see the outpouring of support coming from the LEGO community. Here’s what MaxakalisaurusTopai has to say about this product idea.
Museu Nacional – Rio de Janeiro
The National Museum is the largest Brazilian Museum. Actually it was… On September 2nd, 2018, it caught on fire. The greatest historical, artistic, cultural and scientific patrimony in Brazil, was destroyed by an enormous fire. And with the fire, we lost more than objects and collector’s items. We lost a huge part of our history.
We lost the skeleton of the largest dinosaur ever found in South America, and part of the fossil of Luzia, the oldest habitant of all Americas. We lost the mysterious Egyptian mummy Sha Amun En Su, the imposing African throne of the Kingdom of Dahomey and even the indescribable frescoes of Pompeii. Over 90% of the collection was destroyed. Its 200 years of history and 20 million invaluable items. And also, the museum’s building is a symbol of Brazil’s architectural history, and now is turned into ashes. On top of all that, the reconstruction of the National Museum will take 20 long years.
How to continue inspiring the audience of the National Museum (the majority of families and children) during this time? We’ll leave the National Museum alive in our imagination. We’ll rebuild it brick by brick with LEGO, highlighting its historical importance. And the children who help build the National Museum will actually be helping to rebuild the National Museum in real life.
The Museu Nacional – Rio de Janeiro is our first LEGO product idea for the First 2019 Review Stage. The Third 2018 LEGO Ideas Review Stage has come to a close with five candidates vying to become the next official LEGO Ideas set. We also hope to have a reveal of the Second 2018 LEGO Review Results which is slated to be announced anytime this month until early February.
