Worlds Tallest Structure of Playing Cards
33 year old Bryan Berg has been crowned the Guinness World Record Cardstacker holder at the Texas State Fair for a record-setting skyscraper standing 25 feet 9 7/16 inches tall — which took about a month to build — topping his previous world record of 25 feet 3 inches. The Iowa native, who lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, has been breaking world records for 15 years.
A self-taught artist, Berg uses no tape, glue, or other tricks in his work.
With 1,800 decks of ordinary freestanding playing cards, some scaffolding, and a hole in the ceiling, he worked for 5 weeks to complete the more than 25 foot tower — limited only by the height of the building he was working in and time.
This is the 3rd time Berg has been commissioned to break his own world record, the first of which he set in 1992 at the age of 17 before he even graduated school, with a tower 14 feet, 6 inches tall. In 2004, Guinness created a new record category for the World’s Largest House of Cards to recognize a project Berg built for Walt Disney World — a replica of Cinderella’s Castle.
“I like what I do.” Berg said. “This is no kind of torture or boredom for me.”
Trained as an architect, Berg says he’s the only person he knows of who is building card structures on a large scale publicly and making a living doing it.
In 2004, Berg earned his Master of Design Studies from the Harvard Graduate School of Design. He previously served as design faculty for 3 years in the Department of Architecture at Iowa State University, where he received his Professional Degree in Architecture in 1997.
While building card houses might not seem like a stable profession, Berg says he’d definitely take a pay cut as an architect. “I do well.” he says as he points out his job’s biggest perk — all the time off.
The ‘Cardstacker’ has devoted his career to building houses of playing cards including awe-inspiring card models of a Japanese shrine, the Iowa State Capitol building, and Ebbets Field. Touring regularly, Berg has stacked cards in virtually every major U.S. city and in Japan, Denmark, and Germany.
Berg’s clientele have included Walt Disney World, Star Wars, San Francisco Opera, Neopets / Wizards of the Coast, Fuji Television Japan, Post Cereal, Pinnacle Brands, Topps, Baseball Hall of Fame, DMG World Media, and Procter and Gamble.
Projects have also been produced with organizations such as Coca-Cola, Pepsi, American Airlines, Major League Baseball, and the National Hockey League.
Berg’s science museum projects for children have included San Francisco’s Exploratorium and Zeum, Science Museum of Minnesota, and Science Center of Iowa.
Berg says doesn’t randomly place cards to build his structures — he practices a very methodical system. He visualizes the structure and builds it using a type of repetitive geometry that resembles a honeycomb.
But geometry isn’t the only thing that keeps the card houses standing. Bryan says every 7 decks is a pound, and he uses 10 to 25 pounds a day. All that weight adds up. “You take all that mass, all that weight, and combine it with all that repetitive geometry, and you’re looking at something that’s incredibly strong.”
Despite his achievements, Berg may be the last person impressed with his card-stacking abilities.
“I’m actually a very clumsy person.” he says.
Champion cardstacker
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Using 22,000 cards over 3 days, record-holding card stacker Bryan Berg builds the Rhode Island State House, home of Brotherhood.
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Professional Cardstacker Bryan Berg uses precision of Loctite Super Glue as an exception to his rule of no glue to create “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign out of 26,000 playing cards, 1,200 bottles of Super Glue, 1,800 poker chips and 800 dice.
World’s Best Card Stacker Explains How He Does It
Q & A with Bryan Berg
How did you get started stacking cards?
I was introduced to what I now call ‘Cardstacking’ by my grandfather at about age 8. He really did not teach me any of the techniques I now use; he simply taught me that building could be fun.
Do you ever tape, glue, fold, bend, or manipulate the cards?
NO. None of my structures involve trickery. They are the “real deal.”
What makes them stand up?
The cards stand up — and stay up — for 2 reasons. First, there are so many cards in large constructions, the combined weight of all the cards actually adds to the stability of the structure. Second, the weight is supported by the strategic arrangement of cards, called grids. Cards, arranged in grid patterns, resemble waffles or ice cube trays. The cards actually prohibit each other from bending and also prohibit each other from falling over.
Did your training as an architect help you in any way?
Yes and no. Most of what I know about Cardstacking came from years of experimentation. I would even say that the majority of what I know about the structural behavior of real buildings and building materials came from my experiences building with cards. It is possible to learn a lot through casual observation.
Do you ever get bored?
I would not want to build with cards all day every day. However, Cardstacking, like other artistic skills such as playing a musical instrument can be really addictive once you figure out the hardest part. In my lifetime, Cardstacking has gone from a hobby to an obsession to a job and livelihood.
Do people actually PAY you?
Yes. People actually pay me to do something I love. I don’t go around calling myself an artist, but I’m no freak show either. Artists make a living creating their art, whatever that might be, all over the world. Some say that what I do is actually called “performance art.”
I have worked for companies ranging from Post Cereal to Fuji Television Japan. I also do projects at science museums.
Some of the funniest questions you have been asked?
Do you start at the top or the bottom?
How did you get it on the plane?
How do you transport it?
Bryan Berg doesn’t keep his card stacking methods a secret. He’s revealed his techniques in a book titled “Stacking the Deck: Secrets of the World’s Master Card Architect.”
Berg reveals the secret to successful Cardstacking with his simple 4-card-cell structure and expanded grid techniques. Using illustrations and step-by-step instructions, he guides readers on to more elaborate and incredibly strong creations. He covers a wide range of architectural styles, from classic to whimsical, and various types of structures, including pyramids, shrines, stadiums, churches, an oil derrick, and even the Empire State Building.
Visit Bryan Berg’s website at Cardstacker to learn more or contact him by email. All photos property of Bryan Berg.
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This is:
a) amazing
b) incredible
c) time consuming
d) all of the above!
Amazing post.
Definately can’t do this activity with a head cold.
Aachoooo! “Aw crap!”
No tape no glue? Simply Unbelievable!
Thanks for bringing us another wonderfully interesting post!
Great comment Mig, and I agree
Thanks Spinchange
Oooh, I’d hate to think of anything related to a sneeze Nirtopuppy
Thanks Betshopboy, glad you enjoyed it
Awesome!… Boy that takes some talent and patience…
Thanks for sharing…
Wow – this is amazing. He said he was clumsy too, well. I am as well, but I know that I could not build anything like this! Wow …
A lot more patience that I think I could ever muster, Keith. Thanks for visiting
It could simply be a matter of experience to learn structure as you go along Lazy Boy. As mentioned, I think one of the major factors here is patience.
though i would like to see thyis in person … i wudnt dare walk into a room with these structures …
i fear i might do something to cake it collapse …
nice work here …
Amazing stuff! Simply amazing
You have 2 much time on ur hands
I want 2 hook up wit dat guy. Like omfg he is so cute
Ahhh, the old ‘bull in a china shop syndrome’ Subcorpus. I know it well, and used to oftem hear those words describing me from my mother’s lips
Most definitely, Lawrence
I guess when you do it for a living, it allows complete dedication Jeremy
Hehe, he is a little cutie isn’t he Linda
Linda, that guy is probably cute, but what do you want to do with him? He has no time for you, girl! Do you have any idea how long he will spend with his cards? He he! Take one with a life!
Sorry for the late reply Mig, I’ve been having technical difficulties doing so for days, but I believe it’s been fixed.
It wouldn’t surpruise me that Bryan has very little free time on his hands outside of working his talent. It’s the case with many that have devoted careers to something so time consuming that they also enjoy.
This guy is truly amzing.Wow.Its hard to look at this page without saying that.Amazing.
bryan berg you can do really truly amazing stuff. id never reck that unless i had a ton of pictures.
I agree with you Andy, and I would find extremely difficult to level a work of art like that! But it’s an unfortunate necessity when they’ve been created as temporary artworks for centers.
Thats just amazing, I wonder how he feels when is time to take them down.
http://www.webyaa.com/category/entertainment
I don’t know about Bryan, but it would certainly hurt me to do it Stefano
the card towers are amazing. i have been looking for a website to tell me how u stack, but i had no luck so could you make a wweb site telling me how?
I have no idea of any websites that teach card stacking, but perhaps the last video posted here could give you some ideas, Matt.
I saw some video about the card stacking video on metacafe, really amazing!
He certainly has a very unique gift, Web
Amazing! For me a 10 cards building is the limit
Brian Berg definitely has the patience of a saint with noives of steel, no bout a doubt it, eh? He’ll be a great parent someday if he’s not one already. Then again, he lives in Sante Fe in the land of manana [tomorrow]. The overall culture in New Mexico is laid back with an unspoken knowing of, we’ll do it tomorrow, type of knowing unlike living here in the “Land of Fruits, Nutz, and Granola Bars” hustling along in an overdrive “pedal to the metal” type of living.
[Now I'm singing NM's state song, "O Fair New Mexico "] Can you hear me?
Wow that really confirms the saying “patience is a virtue”! What Bryan has created is art if you ask me.
Wow, simply amazing. I think my cards would collapse at about ten — I just don’t have the steadiness (or patience) to build something that is so delicate, glue or no glue.
Okay, this guy has an amazing skill. I would suck at this. Totally.
That question of do you start at the top or the bottom has me ROFL! This is one patient genius!
I doubt that I could even make it to a count of 3, Rob, so you’re doing better than I would
I think Brian deserves a Guinness award for patience, Mary Anne. Yes, I’m very familiar with the term ‘manana,’ been to Mexico numerous times. I think I can hear your sweet chiming off in the distance
Definitely works of art, Freelance
You’re not alone, Greg, I’m right there with you
Truly, Kuanyin
Can’t look on how they smash those things.
I cannot believe how that stays in place! I have to see it in person. The slightest wind can knock that down! ~Steve
That is crazy haha. I love it. I thought I was good when I could make a 6 story, basic and flat, structure with cards…and that took me at least an hour to do (after calculating the trial and error). I couldn’t imagine how he would feel if he just finished making a giant structure and slipped and the whole structure collapsed lol. I respect that a lot.
Well I would say that you’re pretty talented if you can do 6 stories, Travis
I wouldn’t get as high as 6 cards, haha!
But sadly, Bryan’s structures are rarely created for permanence.
dude that is awesome. you build your buildings a little different than me. I found a how to do it when i was like 10 or somewhere around that age, anyway at first i could only build one-story buildings, and eventually i learned how to build multi stories. The tallest building i have ever build was 20 stories tall. keep doing ya thing dude
man that would take a lot of patients and time. im a rookie but i love to stack cards. im still collecting decks
totally awasome
Capitol – nice video, 22 000 cards ooOOO
That’s my husband! Glad you saw… and liked… the work!
Just found Bryan’s latest creation…London! (via Youtube)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvuWDIWBqPE
How much does he get payed?