The architect with the beautiful bamboo toothpick model

Mr. Hoang Tuan Long, 46 years old, has just set a world record for being the first person to create models of famous architectural works, combining toothpicks and mica.

Mr. Long is an architect with a hobby of collecting miniature models of his favorite characters and architectural works. In 2012, this man started making his models on several materials such as strings, and incense sticks combined with forex pieces (usually modeled by architecture students) but not much. success.

In 2016, he found two types of materials that he liked the most, toothpicks (harvested from the sycamore tree) and mica.

With more than 10 models of famous architectural works such as One Pillar Pagoda, US Capitol, White House, Big Ben Clock Tower... Earlier this year, Mr. Long was certified by the World Records Union as a craftsman. most models with toothpicks and mica. This is also the 43rd world record from Vietnam.

At first, Mr. Long only did it to satisfy his passion but did not intend to do business. This year, many friends and colleagues, because of their passion for his works, asked him to "commercialize".

“However, I do not mass produce, and do not do it for money, so there are a few criteria such as the model requires me to make it beautiful, I feel like conquering it, not rushing about time and not paying the price. In return, if you are not satisfied with the goods received, you can return them," Long said.

When starting to make a certain model, Mr. Long will learn the specifications, refer to the images and then redraw it on the computer.

For the frame, Mr. Long uses 2 mm thick mica material, laser cut, connected by 0.9 mm diameter toothpicks through evenly 1 mm holes and then fixed with glue.

When starting to make a certain model, Mr. Long will learn the specifications, refer to the images and then redraw it on the computer.

For the frame, Mr. Long uses 2 mm thick mica material, laser cut, connected by 0.9 mm diameter toothpicks through evenly 1 mm holes and then fixed with glue.

“When I finished the piercing, I had to use small pliers to cut each tree. The job requires a lot of care and attention to detail,” Long said.

In 2016, his product One Pillar Pagoda, using more than 100,000 toothpicks, made within 6 months, set a Vietnamese record as the largest model of One Pillar Pagoda with toothpicks.

In the picture, Mr. Long is finishing the production of the All Saint Church in Minsk, Belarus, where he attended university and graduate school. This product is made with 200,000 toothpicks with a time of more than 4 months.

While passing by Tan Dinh Church, Hai Ba Trung Street, District 3, Mr. Long saw many foreign guests standing to visit. Not knowing what is special about this place but attracting so many visitors, he went online to find out that this is one of the 10 most beautiful pink attractions in the world.

“I started making a model of the cross on the roof of the church. To make it easy to recognize that this is a cross at Tan Dinh church, I recreated the patterns on the church's windows and put them into the model," said Mr. Long.

This 7-storey lotus tower model was made by him in about 10 days with more than 30,000 toothpicks, priced at 300 USD.

The owl head model was made by the architect in about a week. If he makes a product he is satisfied with, Mr. Long often modifies a few other similar models. "This increases the skill level and satisfies the creativity," said Mr. Long.

Khue Van Cac model, he made in a month with 10,000 toothpicks. Most of Mr. Long's products can be used for interior lighting. “With the evenly spaced crevices of the toothpicks, the light that can come out looks really nice. This is also the difference of the product I make with other modelers – when they just use toothpicks to stick together”, Mr. Long shared.

This is a model of the US Capitol building displayed in an exhibition in the US. Later, the model was handed over to Ripley's Believe it or Not museum in Dubai (UAE).

After viewing the model, the vice president in charge of the museum's display and archives commented: "The toothpick model of the US Capitol is unbelievable, a new favorite in the collection. Our world famous collection. This is without a doubt our most successful new artifact purchase of 2016 – it deserves to be part of the “Belive it or not” collection.

For more than 4 years, Mr. Long only made models from afternoon to evening after finishing his main job.

“In the future, I want to popularize this art form to many students by working together to model architectural heritage works. You will make models for visual learning instead of just looking at pictures. Then, organize an exhibition to introduce to international friends about traditional toothpick materials and the skills of Vietnamese artisans. At the same time, it provides jobs for orphans and disabled children,” said Mr. Long.