Wei Wei Gluckman did not get to play with Lego during her childhood years in China. However, following a chance encounter with the brand more than a decade ago, Gluckman is now not just an enthusiast-she's one of the only two Lego Certified Professionals (LCP) on the Chinese mainland. There are only 19 LCPs in the world.

Trained as an architect in a US university and currently working as a curator of architecture-related cultural events, Gluckman said she first learned about Lego when she was curating exhibitions in New York City in 2006.

She recalled that a US magazine had approached her with the idea of organizing exhibitions that would feature Lego installations made by 13 architects that depict issues like Asian financial fluctuations, urbanization and cultural preservation.

"I was fascinated. Once you start playing, you begin to understand the power of the blocks. They require concentration, craftwork and logical thinking," said Gluckman. "Playing with Lego also helps people to understand how and why they think the way they do," she added.

Becoming a mother to two children also helped.

"It was only then that I realized why children are so fixated with Lego-it allows them to discover the infinite possibilities hidden in the blocks," she said.

Her fascination with Lego led her to start the "Brick by Brick" series in 2006. The event encourages both children and adults to use Lego bricks to express what they think of their home city.

Throughout the past decade, Gluckman has toured many Chinese cities including Beijing, Shenzhen, Shanghai and Hong Kong to hold "Brick by Brick" events, which are always free and open to the public. Each event features a unique theme that aims to get children to think critically about societal matters.

Gluckman's favorite event was the "Brick by Brick-Landscape Society", which concluded with the creation of a mandala that measured 225 square meters and was comprised of two million Lego blocks. Nearly 1,600 people, half of whom were children, participated in the month-long building process.

"I prefer collective pieces of work as they are more powerful," said the 40-year-old, who was born in Beijing but was educated in the United States after moving there in her teens.

"I'm more like an activist. I promote learning through play by organizing such public events, and the play experience that I design is eventually aimed at empowering the participants."

In 2012, Gluckman founded Playable Design, a cultural communication platform that aims to help children become more creative and better problem solvers through open play with Lego and other tools.

Besides organizing the "Brick by Brick" series, Playable Design also trains teachers and designs part of the curriculum for Lego Education, a chain of educational institutes.

Playable Design recently announced that it will be holding a "Brick by Brick" event in Shanghai this summer, gathering 1,000 children to build a vertical city using Lego blocks over two days.

Scheduled to be held at the 632-meter-high Shanghai Tower, China's tallest building, the event will feature a theme that revolves around the use of vertical space for more sustainable living. Gluckman pointed out that the final piece of work at the event is expected to set a new record for being the largest Lego installation in the world.

"We promote play socially and productively, rather than playing mindlessly, which is just a waste of time," said Gluckman, about the philosophy of her company.

"Open play is key. There is no right or wrong, no rules, and no winning or losing. The key point here is that children can decide for themselves. Creativity happens when they are allowed to develop their own rules and approach to building."