Mountain View Observatory

About the designer

Hi all, My name is Thomas and I am from Germany. I’m a technician for network and computer systems and working in an industrial company. I remember my first Lego Set Theme was Classic Space. My parents bought me some small sets when I was young. I was so happy and it was so exciting to create worlds from outer space. The only limit was my imagination. In school I didn't use bricks much and all was boxed in the cellar. So other hobbies took over and I 

started with photography, sports and playing guitar. I always had an artistic streak and its helps me to clear my mind and relax.

Inspiration

About 6 years ago I created the "Mountain View Observatory." It was the second huge MOC I created for the LEGO Ideas Platform. Some time before, I found LEGO Digital Designer and thought, "WOW, so many opportunities to build my ideas with LEGO bricks." The idea to build an observatory came to me one night. In fact, it came just a few weeks after I had watched a report about stars and planets. Add to that, my niece had visited a planetarium, and I told her “One day I want to go to the Big Island of Hawaii to visit the observatory on the top of the mountain."

I think around this time I also watched some The Big Bang Theory episodes. During one of these nights I "designed" an observatory made from LEGO bricks in my mind. I really love science and space, and I have never seen an observatory as an official LEGO set. That’s when I thought about building an observatory in real bricks. But I didn't want to use an IP because that would only be interesting for people who has a connection to the place. I wanted to create a playable observatory that has a unique design. I imagined a building on the top of a mountain and what it would look like. And that’s why I called it "Mountain View."

The first original version had only one inner level and a dome outside. I thought it was too simple. So I created a second level with a visitors platform and a little housing with a dome on top, some stairs, and some nature around it... I also sketched some ideas of a new design and then The Mountain View Observatory was born.

Current version

While the design was online, I received so many good suggestions that I updated it every day. Now, about 6 years later, I received an email about my observatory from BrickLink. I got a chance to be a part of the BrickLink Designer Program. Now it would be on me, as a designer, to recreate the idea and design.

The huge challenge: Only use parts from 2021 but keep the original idea. The dome was originally mounted on 4x 6162 bricks, which aren't produced anymore.

The second challenge was to change the "How to open" character. The original design was: Fold it open to the side. Now it should be: Modular design and each level for its own.

And the third challenge: what can I put inside the building to make it more modern.

4 weeks later I completed the redesigned version. I used some new ideas and combined them with suggestions I read on the BrickLink channel (Thanks for all your suggestions. You are also a part of this observatory now).

The new "Mountain View" Observatory has 3 levels and the shape of the original version. 

• The basement contains: a computer room, an engine room and a sleeping/relaxing area. 
• The visitors level contains: a small exhibition about space, drinks & snacks, some books and a relaxing area and a desk with a happy member of the observatory.
• The visitors platform contains: a small housing with details, a telescope, a great view, the dome contains a huge telescope a computer area and lots of details.
• The dome has 2 sliding doors that can hide or release the telescope.
• The complete Observatory can be opened. I also put some light bricks inside to illuminate the levels.
• The nature surroundings received more details and 2 trees.

I hope that this observatory will inspire some kids in science and space. And maybe it will also find a place in a real observatory.

The future is you!