Lego builder earns global recognition

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This article was published 20/10/2021 (588 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Royalwood teen earned global recognition in August for his ingenuity with Lego.

Javon Havelka, 15, placed ninth in a field of more than 1,000 entrants in a competition hosted and run by well-known Lego builder and YouTube star, TD Bricks.

The contest was open to anyone under the age of 18 and drew Havelka’s interest for its creative freedom.

“I’d never entered a contest before but his one appealed to me because I could build whatever I wanted, I wasn’t tied down,” Havelka explained.

“I chose a Japanese theme because of the Tokyo Olympics and I was inspired by the colourful culture.”

Havelka’s original creation was over two -feet long and almost a foot deep, featuring a garden, market, dojo and sushi restaurant, complete with outdoor and indoor details. He estimates more than 3,000 pieces were used for the build, which took him over 48 hours in July.  

When Havelka was four years old, his mother purchased a bag of second-hand bricks for him and ever since he has been fascinated by how Lego can be used to portray real life.

“I was into art but working with the bricks is a true creative challenge for me,” Havelka admitted.

For the competition, Havlka’s biggest obstacle was using the Lego pieces he had on-hand. Speciality bricks in good condition can be expensive and difficult to find, but with patience and money Havelka has saved on his own, his stock is an estimated 35,000 to 50,000 pieces.

“It may sound like a lot of Lego, but I’m constantly re-using pieces for different builds I have in mind,” said Havelka.

Havelka watches Instagram videos to test and learn various Lego techniques. He is about to unveil his largest build — a reconstruction of his own home.

Not only does Havelka enjoy building scenes with Lego, he has also become passionate about photographing his creations. He recently purchased a lightbox and has experimented with environmental images of Lego figures kayaking and hiking using the nearby Seine River as a backdrop.

There is no Lego age limit according to Havelka:

“Have fun, roll with it and if you really enjoy it, then pursue it. What helps is if you are determined and want to be creative with good research skills.

“Almost anything you see in real life, you can recreate with Lego.”

Readers can follow Javon’s Lego adventures on Instagram @jovo_lego.

Tanya Misseghers is a community correspondent for Royalwood.