Wes Kennedy

Dollhouse Envy

No one would be surprised if I confessed to liking dollhouses. I mean way back in the 70s my sister, Robyn, had a cool Barbie dollhouse and I watched with envy as she totally redecorated it for the better. (All I had was a Big Jim Motorcoach, home to my full-sized GIJoe -- Big Jim hadn’t yet made it in from the Coast.) But really my fascination is much more recent. It began with the house above: the Villa Sibi.

Villa Sibi is my idea of fun. In fact, it’s my idea of the perfect house. Maybe I’ll own it one day, but at $1,000, Villa Sibi is just about as out of reach for me as a full-scale version would be.

There are a lot of really neato dollhouses on the market today. Toy manufacturers seem to have embraced modern residential design in a way the adult housing builders are loathe to do. Check these out:

PLAN TOY CONTEMPORARY This futuristic dollhouse has 2 open levels allowing for trouble-free access to the interior which comes with transparent panelling that can slide from side-to-side. Its own staircase which can be moved to any part of the house

OSBORN DOLLHOUSE Graphic artist and illustrator Kathy Osborn, a self-confessed dollhouse nut, has created a modernist construction for a 21st century lifestyle -- in miniature. Originally, she aimed to create a replica of Philip Johnson's glass house, but was persuaded by friends to give her creativity a free run.

MODULAREAN ECO HOUSE Both playful artpiece and artful playpiece, the Modularean Eco House is a sturdy, sustainable custom dollhouse designed by architect David Baker and built by woodworker Julianna Sassaman.

KALEIDOSCOPE HOUSE The Kaleidoscope House was designed by NY architect Peter Wheelwright and Laurie Simmons, an internationally-renowned artist and photographer who uses dolls' house imagery in her work.

RECYCLED CARDBOARD DOLLHOUSE This lightweight and easy-to-carry playhouse is ideal for both travel and home use. Designed by Peter Henkes and Romy Boesveldt, it’s made of 100% recycled cardboard, the house features eight secret rooms, spy holes, and an attic for storage.

VILLA SIBI  Designed by Wolfgang Sirch, this modernist dollhouse comes with plexiglass sliding doors, beech furnishings, a kitchen island, indoor swimming pool and shower. Although the NY Times said it's for budding Neutras, it is actually reminiscent of Mies van der Rohe's residential architecture.

Posted by Wes Kennedy on December 9, 2008 | Comments (2)