Kids look forward to “Cities of the Future” in nationwide LEGOLAND Discovery Centre competition

The winning entry in a nationwide "Cities of the Future" competition has been brought to life in a giant LEGO model, built by a Master Model Builder, which is currently on show at LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Manchester. Art by Saira Ali, aged 7.

The winning entry in a nationwide “Cities of the Future” competition has been brought to life in a giant LEGO model, built by a Master Model Builder, which is currently on show at LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Manchester. Art by Saira Ali, aged 7.

Children from across the UK have been predicting how we will live in 200 years, and it’s safe to say the next generation has some imaginative – and refreshingly positive – ideas about how we will be living in the future.

Weird and wonderful predictions from British kids, envisioning how we could live in the year 2219, include flying cars, train tracks in the sky and people travelling on jetpacks.

Yes, we’re hoping they become 2000AD readers at some point, too, or some alternative and brighter title… a new incarnation of Starblazer, TV Century 21, or Eagle, anyone?

Other entries in the competition featured robo-waiters carrying drinks, a “go away cloud machine” that would enable the sun to always stay out, as well as lollipop trees and a chocolate river.

The nationwide competition, launched by LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, challenged children aged ten and under to draw how they think their city will look in 200 years’ time.

Saira Ali with her winning entry in a nationwide "Cities of the Future" competition, which been brought to life in a giant LEGO model, built by a Master Model Builder.

Saira Ali with her winning entry in a nationwide “Cities of the Future” competition, which been brought to life in a giant LEGO model, built by a Master Model Builder.

Saira Ali, aged 7, said of her "Cities of the Future" prediction: “The world right now isn’t very colourful, so in the future I want everything to be more colourful and eye catching - that’s why I put lots of rainbow colours in there. The flying cars just came off the top of my head, because it would be cool if you looked outside and all the cars were floating in the air with wings on them.”

Saira Ali, aged 7, said of her “Cities of the Future” prediction: “The world right now isn’t very colourful, so in the future I want everything to be more colourful and eye catching – that’s why I put lots of rainbow colours in there. The flying cars just came off the top of my head, because it would be cool if you looked outside and all the cars were floating in the air with wings on them.”

Seven-year-old Saira Ali, was crowned the competition winner – her illustration featured “sky orbs” to light up the night sky, flying cars, dragons and ice cream buildings. And as part of the winning prize, she got to see her prediction transformed into a giant LEGO model, currently on display at LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Manchester.

The LEGO creation took 31 hours to build thanks to the handiwork of the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Master Model Builder, James Windle, and spans 50cm in height and 60cm in width, including 4385 LEGO bricks.

The winning entry in a nationwide "Cities of the Future" competition, brought to life by LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Master Model Builder, James Windle.The LEGO creation took 31 hours to build  and spans 50cm in height and 60cm in width, including 4385 LEGO bricks.

The winning entry in a nationwide “Cities of the Future” competition, brought to life by LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Master Model Builder, James Windle.The LEGO creation took 31 hours to build and spans 50cm in height and 60cm in width, including 4385 LEGO bricks.

Richard Watson, who is the futurist in residence at the Technology Foresight Practice at Imperial College London and led the judging panel, reviewed hundreds of entries and based his selection on the most imaginative and original thought shown in the children’s predictions.

“I saw hundreds of interesting and creative visions of how we could be living in the future, highlighting what the next generation imagines our lives will be like,” says Richard. “What stood out to me about Saira’s picture was how imaginative it was – from ice cream buildings to sky orbs to flying cars, she certainly shows an interesting vision of the future!

“If we already have driverless cars now, who’s to say we won’t have flying cars by 2219? Ice cream buildings are probably a bit more of a stretch, but who knows?!”

James Windle, Richard Watson and Saira Ali beside her LEGO-realised winning entry in a nationwide "Cities of the Future" competition at LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Manchester

James Windle, Richard Watson and Saira Ali beside her LEGO-realised winning entry in a nationwide “Cities of the Future” competition at LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Manchester

Laura Duffy, Senior Global Marketing Manager of LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, said: “We’ve been inundated with wonderful futuristic entries since launching our ‘Cities of the Future’ competition. It’s amazing to see how kids think we’ll be living 200 years from now. Congratulations to both Saira for her visionary artwork, and to our Master Model Builder for bringing it to life in stunning LEGO form!”

Winner Saira Ali, aged 7, said of her prediction: “The world right now isn’t very colourful, so in the future I want everything to be more colourful and eye catching – that’s why I put lots of rainbow colours in there. The flying cars just came off the top of my head, because it would be cool if you looked outside and all the cars were floating in the air with wings on them.”

The winner was also presented with a year’s membership to LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Manchester, the ultimate indoor LEGO playground. At LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, families can spend a few hours playing together with 11 fun, interactive LEGO-themed build and play zones, more than three million bricks, a 4D cinema and much more.

Find out more about LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Manchester here



Categories: downthetubes News, Events, Other Worlds

Tags: , , , , , ,

Discover more from downthetubes.net

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading