LEGO Disney Snow White’s Cottage designer explains hinge versus no hinge debate
To hinge or not to hinge, that is the question – and now we have answers from the LEGO Disney designer who worked on 43242 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ Cottage.
Since the reveal of LEGO Disney 43242 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ Cottage, fans of the theme have had plenty to say about every aspect of the set, including the seemingly divisive choice to add hinges and leave the back of the build open. Some are in favour, some are against – and now we’ve heard from the designer behind the set, Ryan Van Woerkom, on what went into the decision behind the scenes.
“It’s something we talked about so much,” explained Ryan. “We know so many fans prefer the closed back, who want to put it in their cities or medieval towns. I spoke with [LEGO Icons Creative Lead] Jamie Berard about their strategy for choosing open or closed backs in adult-targeted models. The thinking that went into this is what is the primary purpose?”
Depending on whether the focus for sets is on the interior or exterior, for play or display, the LEGO designers will choose which parts of the set to give prominence to. In the case of 43242 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ Cottage, the focus was on the interior details. For example, Ryan touched on how LEGO Winter Village sets are designed to be interacted with, as well as displayed, resulting in the open-back facades that make up the sub-theme.
“That’s where so much of the movie is spent: on the inside of the cottage,” explained Ryan. “We didn’t want to cover that up. If you’ve got it on your desk or on a shelf, we wanted you to be able to easily turn it around and check out all the iconic scenery.
“Of course, I’ve seen it speculated, and I think fans are very aware of this, that a closed back would drive up the cost of the model. We wanted to make sure that it was at a price point that would allow as many fans as possible to get it.”
The hinged, ‘half-house’ effect of 43242 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ Cottage wasn’t for lack of trying out other alternatives. Indeed, some of Ryan’s earlier sketches of the build, inspired by rewatches of the classic movie scenes, did include a closed back.
“There were so many interior details that I was struggling to fit in and have access to, even with removable panels, that it quickly became the open-back variant that it is today,” noted Ryan.
Wherever you fall on the hinge versus no hinge debate, check out every detail of the set in our full review here. You can make up your own by picking up LEGO Disney 43242 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ Cottage from March 1 for LEGO Insiders and March 4 for everyone else, retailing at £189.99 / $219.99 / €219.99.
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