The City That Inspires

Written & Photographed by Candice Temple

Matthew Perlman remembers when Palm Beach Gardens was comprised of one-lane streets, and the tallest building in town was the Holiday Inn. In 1972, he moved from New Jersey with his mother and two sisters to become a resident of the Gardens. He loved the small town feel and he has never left.

For a few decades, Perlman made his living working in construction. Finding his true purpose later in life, he has gone from raising steel beams and perfecting the artistry of forklift operation to a different kind of construction medium. Since 2015, he has been working passionately with Legos to create what he has aptly named “Palm Brick Gardens".

A lifelong Lego enthusiast who once owned over 200 Star Wars Lego sets, he was inspired by a fellow builder he found online to bring his focus down to earth. He sold his Star Wars collections and used the money to reinvest in Lego City Kits. Since then, he has used thousands of Legos to create detailed cityscapes. Some come from his imagination and some are inspired by the things he sees in the community around him.

“I try and build a lot of the buildings that are here in the City. Sometimes I want to build things like they were in the old days.”

Bright Lights, Little City: No detail is spared when constructing Palm Brick Gardens.

Photo by Candice Temple

Often blending the present with the past, Perlman constructs buildings and scenes with meticulous detail on the inside, as well as outside. The design for the Palm Brick Gardens hospital is patterned after the design of the Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center of yesteryear. Through the transparent blue windowpanes, you see a busy hospital in full swing. A nurse walks across the lobby with a cup of coffee in tow. One Lego man, a grimace on his face, doesn’t look very happy to be in his hospital bed. An x-ray area of Perlman’s own imagining features a small machine that slides back and forth across the room on rails. Peer into the infant nursery and you will see itty bitty Lego babies lying in bassinettes.

Hospitals are a place that Perlman has unfortunately become well-acquainted with in recent years. He is currently battling cancer for the second time and has had countless operations and procedures, most recently radiation treatment. A few years ago, as he prepared for what was his biggest exhibit at the time, he began experiencing severe pain.

“It was two days before my expo at St. Mary’s children’s hospital and I had to keep my arm in a certain position or I’d be in so much pain,” he recalls. “When I got to the hospital, one of the doctors saw me holding my shoulder high and asked me what was going on.”

At the prompting of that inquisitive physician, Perlman sought medical care and was delivered a grim cancer diagnosis. He was told he would not live long. Through his faith, he found new purpose to stay alive. He made a decision to devote his remaining days to helping children and giving back to the community.

“It really warmed my heart to bring children joy,” Perlman says of what motivates him.

Though his health battles continue, he has persisted with his dream. Through it all, Perlman maintained his enthusiasm and drive for the future of Palm Brick Gardens. As you speak to him about where he sees all of this going, he responds without hesitation. He’d like a 2,000 – 3,000 square foot space in the community that he can open to the public and continue to give back to children and families.

The entire operation keeps Perlman very busy and motivated, which takes his mind off his personal medical challenges. With the support of many in the community, he has been able to set up a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit to keep his mission, and his will to live, thriving. His vision for giving back to the community is crystal clear. A Lego City that includes the amusement park scene that the hospital kids so enjoy, a corner dedicated to the entire collection he possesses of the “Mars Mission Experience” complete with black light effects, a play area for children to build, a racetrack, and even a Lego Club. Adults would pay admission to cover facility expenses, but children would get in free.

“This is the most satisfying thing I’ve ever done in my life”, he says. “I want to inspire them. Teach them to use their imagination.”

Currently, an entire bedroom of his home is devoted to storing Lego bricks and completed replicas. From floor to ceiling and wall to wall, he has organized his materials and can grab the smallest item at a moment’s notice. There are even battery packs to add touches of motorization and lighting to provide even more realism to what he creates.

Perlman’s largest expo to date for Palm Brick Gardens lies on the horizon as he has been invited to exhibit at the South Florida Fair this May. He’ll have 360 square feet- about 20 tables- to construct his Lego City for all to enjoy. As you might expect, there will be a Ferris wheel and a rollercoaster, both of which move. He will exhibit many other components to wow visitors, such as his bumper cars, swing ride, various Lego City kits, and some special collector sets. Most of the individual buildings have already been constructed and he has a “blueprint” for his layout. Perlman plans to pull out all the tricks for his big showcase.

“I’m taking everything,” he says with a sparkle in his eye.

To see Palm Brick Gardens, the city that inspires, in person visit the exhibit at the South Florida Fair on May 7-23, 2021 at 9067 Southern Boulevard in West Palm Beach.

If you’d like more information about Palm Brick Gardens and Matthew Perlman’s mission, visit www.palmbrickgardens.org where you can also find videos of his work.

Drawing Inspiration: A Lego version of the MacArthur Banyan constructed by Perlman.

Photo by Candice Temple