Sunday, April 28, 2024

How the Barbie Dream House got dreamier over time Los Angeles Times

barbie house 90's

Reflecting the rise of plastic furnishings, the kitchen is outfitted with canary yellow chairs that fuse the shape of Marcel Breuer's cantilevered Cesca with the sensibility of the monobloc Panton Chair. "There have been so many books and entire PhDs on Barbie, but never really on her many houses and her furniture," Burrichter told Dezeen. But it’s not an architectural showpiece sitting high in the Hollywood Hills, either. It’s a modestly sized place with state school pennants on the walls.

I visited a real Barbie Dreamhouse — and saw why Barbie has stood the test of time

barbie house 90's

In a time when it was rare for an American woman to own her own home and were denied mortgage applications, the Dreamhouse was designed according to the respective architectural trends. The house’s signature flat roofline is reminiscent of the architectural style at the time, resembling some of the infamous Case Study Homes. Barbie has amassed a stunning real estate portfolio over the years—townhouses, mansions, beach houses, country cottages—but the original was the surprisingly humble Dream House. Introduced 60 years ago, in 1962, it looked nothing like today’s elevator-sporting models. Perhaps the most striking thing to a child of the early ’90s era is the degree to which Barbie’s original home isn’t aggressively pink. Designed to fold up into a carrying case, it’s got the clean lines and the color palette of the era, with eye-searingly yellow walls and wood veneer throughout.

THE EXPERIENCE

The home was still very much influenced by the mid-century modern style that came before it. For example, the home features slouchy seating resembling Michel Ducaroy’s Togo Sofa for Ligne Roset. Additionally, the sleek mirrored coffee tables and a duplicate of the Eames chair for Herman Miller. The entire home is a testament to “modularity” and prefabricated interchangeable components.

Before-and-After Photos of HGTV's Barbie Dreamhouse - Business Insider

Before-and-After Photos of HGTV's Barbie Dreamhouse.

Posted: Mon, 07 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

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This Toys 'R Us exclusive Dreamhouse uses the same molds as the 2006 house, but with an updated color scheme and new furniture. Barbie's ultimate dream house will offer lots of Barbie swag for purchase, including t-shirts, jackets, blankets, key chains, and even pet bowls. Guests are encouraged but not required to wear masks during their visit. Guests are strictly prohibited from running, jumping, or climbing of any kind on the premises and/or within the experience. Do not enter World of Barbie if you do not wish to be subject to the foregoing. So the pink house is the only one of the three that still boasts its original style — and according to Spica, that won’t change anytime soon.

Have your hair styled like a true Barbie!

Between the wheelchair-accessible elevator and integrated light and sounds, this Dreamhouse is equal parts inclusive and innovative. There's also a spare room on the top floor, which can be reimagined into a home office, gym, slumber party room for Barbie's friends, or even an in-law apartment for Ken's parents. (Plus, a pet slide and elevator makes this place suitable for those furry friends.) And, on the design front, the open-air structure and slanted pink roofs look a lot like Airbnb's real-life Dreamhouse... Toward the end of the 20th century—more specifically, the '80s and '90s—Mattel began to produce dream houses that resemble the plastic pads we know and love today. (And, in true Barbie fashion, her digs boasted a range of pink hues.) While Shure says these decades were not known for their design, she finds herself drawn to this Dreamhouse era.

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This Dreamhouse is identical to the 2019 house, except with a modified elevator. While also boasting three stories, this house is not as spacious as the 2013 house. It has a more subtle styling while still capturing the “glam” feel of the previous house. Since square footage is at a premium, the Motorhouse isn't as dreamy as some of its predecessors—but might we argue it offers something better?

Years of Barbie Architecture: When Popular Culture Meets Design

This cute Dreamhouse for Barbie and Skipper had a simple, fold-out design compared to Barbie’s New Dreamhouse, but is much more sturdy as it was made of plastic. In addition to the sentimental, slightly grandmillennial styling—as seen in the 1990 Barbie Dreamhouse—this period also featured more luxurious touches such as a fireplace, multi-mirrored vanity, and "tiled" shower. "The Magical Mansion was one of the most elaborate Dreamhouses of the 1990s," Greening says of the structure, which boasted electronic features like working lights and sounds. If you’re a Barbie enthusiast and want to relive the magic of the 90s Barbie Dream House, there are a few tips to keep in mind.

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I took my Barbie obsessed 4-year-old daughter, and even though she'll be too young to enjoy the upcoming fantastical comedy Barbie, it turns out no one is too young (or old) to have some fun in Barbie's world. During our one-hour stroll through the 20,000 square-foot attraction, I was reminded why Barbie hasn't gone out of style for 64 years. Agents say that although the pink and black paint jobs helped the homes gain notoriety, they haven’t affected the property values. The pink house sold for $5.4 million in 2015, and the black house traded hands for $6.45 million in 2021.

How was the 90s Barbie Dream House different from previous versions?

barbie house 90's

Over the past 60 years, Barbie Dreamhouses have changed and evolved, each iteration adopting the architectural and design fads of the eras in which they were produced. In fact, each dollhouse is an artifact of the unique blend of history, politics, popular culture, trends, and design styles that define architecture as we know it. The 1962 Barbie Doll House was the first to ever be created, blending both these styles seamlessly.

Your dream house will be rolling into Salt Lake City on Saturday to celebrate Barbie's 60th anniversary of her very first house. Discover, explore, and revel in the iconic lifestyle and many careers of Barbie through a wide selection of interactive activities. After a huge success in Toronto, World of Barbie makes its US debut in Santa Monica. Mallett sees 1979 as an important cultural dividing line — a period of oil shocks and stagflation. It also marks the dawn of Reaganism and Thatcherism and its attendant surge of individualism.

The house came equipped with furniture and accessories for every room, allowing kids to stage scenes and act out different scenarios. Whether it was a romantic dinner in the dining room or a slumber party in the bedroom, the Barbie Dream House provided endless opportunities for play. The 1990s saw the rise of suburban McMansions, the desirable living accommodation for a significant number of Americans in the 80s and the 90s. This Victorian dream house that Barbie lived in featured ornate details, turrets, and decorative trims. Moreover, it had Doric columns reminiscent of neoclassical styles and glitter on the exterior, representing the priority of “showiness” in that time period.

"Barbie You Can Be Anything" has been one of Mattel's big collections in recent years so many of the interactive experiences played into that. My daughter left wanting to be an astronaut, musician and scientist. While I certainly had some flashbacks from childhood, it was pretty special to watch my daughter live out her current dream. Next, we moved into a room with a big Barbie camper and watching the joy on my little girl's face certainly brought out all the feels. She made herself right at home — as she should since we play Barbie hours upon hours every week.

They acquired elevators, sun decks, modern European furniture, recycling bins and multiple bedrooms — though Barbie remained perennially single and holding the lease (or mortgage). It should be noted that while this house also has an elevator, its elevator is not battery-operated. A beautiful two-story Victorian-style house with a balcony, elevator and stained glass windows. So, let’s cherish the memories of the 90s Barbie Dream House and the countless adventures we embarked upon within its walls. As we move forward, may we continue to embrace the spirit of curiosity and wonder that this iconic dollhouse instilled in us.

Having the freedom to choose which Barbie dolls to bring into the Dream House allowed children to express their creativity and personalize their playtime. It also meant that the Dream House could be enjoyed by collectors who already had a collection of Barbie dolls to populate the playset. Carolina A. Miranda is a former Los Angeles Times columnist who focused on art and design, with regular forays into other areas of culture, including performance, books and digital life. What’s intriguing to me are the ways in which the Barbie Dreamhouse has evolved — growing increasingly fantastical over the decades. On this particular Wednesday, the crowd was diverse — much like Barbie nowadays.

The 90s may be long gone, but the magic of the Barbie Dream House lives on in the hearts of those who were lucky enough to experience it. Here’s to reliving the joy and capturing the essence of a truly unforgettable era. No, the 90s Barbie Dream House did not typically come with Barbie dolls. It was sold as a standalone playset that allowed children to bring their own Barbie dolls into the world of the Dream House.

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