“Architect of Lego”, he builds scale models of real estate projects

And this hobby is serious: its scale models allow you to see future houses from the outside as well as from the inside, furniture included.

No wonder the 40-year-old Réginois is known in social networks as the Lego architect.

He earned this title when he began building scale models for North Ridge Development and homeowners in southern Saskatchewan.

These days, Sharif Alshurafa is preparing for the 10th annual Brickpro event organized by a group of enthusiasts, the Saskatchewan Lego Users Group (SLUG), of which he has been a member for several years.

It was at one of these events that someone suggested that he ask local developers if they would like to have scale models of their projects.

His first reaction? I laughed, he says. Seriously?!

And then he explained to me why it might work. And then I said, “OK, sure. You know what? I’ll try.”

After several email exchanges, North Ridge Development showed interest. Asked by the company how accurate the model would be, Sharif Alshurafa replied that he guaranteed a 90% accurate scale.

I built the first model and the company said, “OK, we’ll give you another project.”

” And that’s how I was discovered. »

Sharif Alshurafa’s father is an architect who grew up in Jordan. He introduced his son to the world of Lego. Sharif thus learned to understand architectural plans and to make miniature objects while maintaining their proportions.

His interest in Lego waned when he became a teenager, but the flame was rekindled in his thirties when he discovered the Facebook page of the SLUGSaskatchewan Lego Users Group.

In the evening, he plays techno music, grabs a cup of coffee from the McDonald’s and locks himself in his basement to concentrate on his Lego constructions. And before he knows it, it’s almost midnight.

These four or five hours can pass so quickly, because I’m having fun and keeping myself busy.he said.

Creating these miniature buildings gives her a sense of accomplishment and allows her to exercise her creativity.

In 2016, his submission was crowned best of the lot by the SLUGSaskatchewan Lego Users Group in the category recognizing urban architecture. Sharif Alshurafa had built a beautiful house completely landscaped, with furnished interior.

I imagined myself inside this Lego house, I saw myself living there, he says. Honestly, I can give brilliant ideas for using space in a house, to be extremely efficient without wasting space.

Building a model takes him two to three months of work, depending on its complexity. Between 1500 and 2000 pieces of Lego will go into its manufacture.

Sharif Alshurafa has stopped counting the number of models he has made over the years.

He had to demolish several houses for lack of space to keep them all. He would need a warehouse if he wanted to keep them all, he says, since most are 3 feet in size.² (3 feet²).

The president of SLUGSaskatchewan Lego Users Group, Melissa Meyer, says the group has 45 members, including engineers, architects, accountants, single mothers, pastors and teachers. They have in common their love of Lego.

It’s really great that what is basically a game for children can bring adults together and create such a bond between them. Some have become my best friendsshe says.

With information from Florence Hwang