A Chat with Sergio del Álamo – Sergilogrono
Hello! We’re chatting with Sergio del Álamo, known in the LEGO community as Sergilogrono, an AFOL based in the Basque Country who has a particular interest in Basque culture, architecture, traditions, and art. His passion for these subjects and for LEGO has led him to design various MOCs, which he shares at exhibitions and on social media—and today he’s sharing them directly with us. Here we go!
HBM: How many years have you been collecting and building with LEGO?
SdA: I started with LEGO in 2008. One day, I was given a free newspaper as I was leaving the Bilbao Metro, and on the back cover there was a news story: LEGO was going to release a new architecture line, and one of its first sets was a small tribute to the great Frank Lloyd Wright, although at that time it was only available in the U.S. Since then, I haven’t stopped building.
The Tigre Building in Bilbao
HBM: Do you usually use software to design your projects? Or how do you build them?
SdA: I never use any software. My process starts with an idea, and from there I gather information and photographs. Then I begin building with parts I already have, trying things out and making mistakes until I come up with something I really like that stays true to the original.
From left to right: alboka (traditional instrument), Tolosa beans with piparras, argizaiola (candle for the dead)
HBM: We see many representations of art and culture in your creations. What inspires you when you’re building?
SdA: Above all, I want it to be something I like that’s related to the Basque Country and its culture. To set myself apart from other builders, I try to depict things that aren’t, let’s say, so international—it’s my way of showcasing our culture in a different light.
Stone Lifting and Kaxarranka in Lekeitio: Two Cultural Traditions of the Basque Country
HBM: How much time do you usually spend on your creations? Thinking them through, designing them, building them, and putting the finishing touches on them.
SdA: It depends. If it’s a small build and I have a clear idea of what I want and the right pieces on hand, I can usually finish it in a few days. If it’s something larger, like the Arantzazu Shrine, for example, it takes a bit more time—figuring out how to do it, getting the pieces, and building it is quite a bit more labor-intensive; I spent a whole month on that one.
HBM: Do you usually use pieces you have in stock? Or do you typically order pieces for each new creation?
SdA: To start building, I usually use pieces from my stock, even if they’re in different colors. I’ve realized that when you set out to design and create, and try to use only the pieces you have available, you end up making things you wouldn’t otherwise be able to create—especially if there’s a deadline, like an exhibition. Once I’ve finished the model, I usually order pieces from LEGO or BrickLink if I need them in the right colors or specific part numbers.
From left to right: an ovoid variation on the sculpture “The Emptying of the Sphere” and “Oma’s Forest.”
HBM: You’re very creative and have worked really hard. If you had to choose just 3 of your MOCs, which ones would they be and why?
SdA: First of all, the Arantzazu Shrine, because I really enjoyed building it, and also because of the building’s significance and history.
SdA: Second, one of my latest MOCs—the atrium of the renovated Bilbao Museum of Fine Arts—is the first model I’ve built related to art and sculpture.
SdA: And finally, the scene from Antxar Eguna (Goose Day). I like it because it’s a traditional festival in the town of Lekeitio, in Bizkaia, and I love the way the water complements the image of the participant grabbing the goose by the neck.
HBM: Which build do you remember causing you the most headaches?
SdA: One I’m still working on: the stained-glass window at the Abando train station in Bilbao. Since it’s a stained-glass window, I have to play with depth and with buildings at quite different angles, all within a small space. I hope to finish it before the next Hispalug Expo.
HBM: Are you a member of any LUG or LEGO fan group? Have you shared your builds at any exhibitions?
SdA: I’ve been a member of Hispalug since 2010, although it had a different name back then. Whenever I can, I try to share my builds at the annual Hispalug exhibition or at events in my area.
HBM: Any funny stories from while you were designing or building one of your MOCs?
SdA: When I was building the fountain in the museum’s atrium I mentioned earlier, I didn’t know how to make the face that the sculpture has on its front. I was mulling it over and thinking about how to make it when I looked up and saw that right on top of the living room cabinet was Messi’s face from set 43015—and that’s how I finished the build. As they say… It was right under my nose.
HBM: Do you have a message for the magazine's readers?
SdA: Don’t stop building, because with LEGO, you can recreate almost anything. It might take more or less effort to pull it off, but in the end, if you’re able to make it happen, it’s a very satisfying feeling—one that’s hard to explain. And don’t stop reading the magazine. Thank you very much for the interview!
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