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Modernism in Miniature
By Kate Fogarty

Modernism has reported on the proliferation of modernist furniture for children, but the trend has taken a new twist — towards an even tinier market. What better accessory to complement Junior’s pint-sized Eames- and Knoll-outfitted room than a streamlined dollhouse? A few forward-thinking furniture companies have introduced small-scaled designs, and even some traditional dollhouse companies now feature hipster homes in which Modernist Barbie would be thrilled to dwell. And with their often high price tags and irresistible architectural sophistication, it should come as no surprise that many adults are buying these “toys” for themselves, to either admire on a shelf or decorate impeccably, freed from real-life constraints.

Perhaps the most recent fervor for mini-modern began with the Kaleidoscope House in 2000. Introduced by Bozart Toys, which commissioned artists to design “museum quality” toys for children, the multilevel house had transparent sliding and interchangeable colored walls. Designed by artist Laurie Simmons and architect Peter Wheelwright, it featured a line of furniture by hot designers like Ron Arad and Karim Rashid, and paintings, photographs and sculpture by Peter Halley, Cindy Sherman and other artists. The house caused an instant sensation and was even the subject of an exhibition at Deitch Projects gallery in New York. Unfortunately Bozart went bankrupt in 2001, before a pool pavilion extension, as well as a new crop of superstar-designed art and furniture, could be released. The Kaleidoscope House crops up on eBay occasionally; one still in the box sold last year for nearly $1,600.

The Kaleidoscope House may have been slightly ahead of its time; a handful of new modernist dollhouses with impressive pedigrees are now flying off the shelves. If they’re lucky, some well behaved children might be allowed to play with the Villa Sibi, a furnished birch and beech open-plan house with a pool house, deck and sliding Plexiglas and wood-slat walls. Designed by architect Wolfgang Sirch and sculptor Christoph Bitzer, the Villa Sibi is handcrafted in Bavaria by Sirch, a 300-year-old wood products company. It “sells out every Christmas,” notes Clark Miller of Ameico, which retails the house for $750 in the U.S.; he reports that only half of Villa Sibi purchases are for children.

Le Corbusier’s 1926 Guiette House, in Antwerp, Belgium, is considered one of his greatest works. For the chance to own your own miniature (albeit loosely interpreted) version, $295 seems like a bargain. Crafted of basswood by Roost, the Guiette Model can be painted, stained or displayed as is. Says Elizabeth Cashour, co-founder of the boutique Zipper Gifts in Los Angeles, “We have sold it to one or two people who are giving it to children, but also to collectors, and to people who just appreciate it as a 3-D model.” A popular companion purchase, also by Roost, is Corb’s Villa Savoye.

The world’s leading supplier of dollhouses and miniatures, The Dolls House Emporium, of England, is best known for its Victorian townhouses, Tudor stone cottages and Neoclassical estates. But its Malibu Beach House is a modern delight. Depending on one’s taste, the three-story, curvilinear manse can go groovy ‘70s (with the optional rooftop jacuzzi) or urban Art Deco (rooftop solarium). Fully built, painted, decorated and lit, it’s not cheap at £1,700 (about $3,360) — but it costs less than the real thing, attests Modern MC, the author of the blog Mini Modern (minimodern.blogspot.com) and a tireless collector and chronicler of the miniature modern world. Of her constant, expert refurbishment of her Kaleidoscope House, she reasons, “Having the house is like living out the things you would like to do in your own house. My family gets tired of me redecorating.”

Last year, Modern MC won a heated bidding war on eBay for the 360 Dollhouse, a stunning one-off, rotating architect-designed model; the hammer price of $950 generated some online carping; hence, her pseudonym. She hopes her blog will challenge the stereotype of miniature collectors as “old women with cats.” The dollhouse business should start catering to a hipper crowd, she says. “When people find out I like this stuff, they’re like, wow!” With the number of modernist dollhouses on the rise (and the real estate market in the tank), the miniature design market grows ever more attractive — to children and adults alike.  Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117
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