American Dream
By Bianca Gidwani
)
A totemic collaboration between Mattel, Visit Greater Palm Springs and designer Nina Tolstrup gives an American icon a midcentury twist
‘Pavilions of Wonder’, a striking fusion of design and playful imagination, blends Greater Palm Springs’ midcentury modern architecture with the iconic Barbie DreamHouse in a triumvirate of toyetic structures at Strand Aldwych. The collaboration is born from a shared legacy of architectural inspiration and cultural influence.
Designed by multidisciplinary designer Nina Tolstrup of Studiomama, known for her distinctive, playful approach, the project merges desert modernism with playful elements in an installation both nostalgic and refreshingly contemporary.
Due to its vast and open desert landscape, Greater Palm Springs became a canvas for visionary architects, earning it the title of the ‘US Capital of Modernism’. The region boasts an unrivalled concentration of midcentury modern structures, shaped by luminaries including E Stewart Williams, Albert Frey and Richard Neutra. This architectural heritage has long inspired designers, including those behind Barbie’s evolving home.
“Greater Palm Springs was a fantastic playground for young architects post-World War II to explore cost-effective and quick ways to construct housing,” Tolstrup notes.
“The Barbie DreamHouse symbolises imaginative play and vibrant aesthetics, resonating with Greater Palm Springs’ spirit of exploration and fun.”
)
)
)
)
)
)
The city is more than an architectural haven: it's a hub for sustainability and wellness; a low-rise retro-urbane oasis in the southern California desert. Its sun-soaked landscape, characterised by geometric lines and vibrant colours, reflects a lifestyle that is sophisticated and playful – aligning perfectly with Barbie’s world. Colleen Pace, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer for Visit Greater Palm Springs, says: “The Barbie brand and Greater Palm Springs share a commitment to creativity, inclusivity and iconic design.” She adds: “The Barbie DreamHouse symbolises imaginative play and vibrant aesthetics, resonating with our destination's spirit of exploration and fun.”
“Barbie’s DreamHouse is one of the most recognisable homes in the world,” says Kim Culmone, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Barbie, American Girl and Dolls Design at Mattel. “Based in southern California, where indoor and outdoor living fuse, it naturally takes nods from iconic Greater Palm Springs styles.”
Since 1962, the DreamHouse has evolved with societal shifts and design trends – from the early modernist cardboard house and 1970s A-frame to the 1990s mansions and today's tech-savvy playsets. Evolving from a time when women could not get mortgages independently, the DreamHouse has become a symbol of empowerment, possibility and aspiration.
Tolstrup’s design process began with a trip to Greater Palm Springs and a deep dive into the DreamHouse’s history. “We looked at the evolution of the DreamHouse, informed by Greater Palm Springs architecture. We examined the visual language and iconic elements common to both,” she explains.
)
)
)
The resulting installation features three distinct pavilions. ‘Dream: Infinity Garden’ recreates a California oasis with an airy, open structure. Featuring cacti and palms alongside playful features, the pavilion draws on the colonnade of E Stewart Williams’ Coachella Valley Savings and Loan bank and blends the expansive feel of desert modernism with Barbie’s interactive, imaginative play.
With its curvilinear form and roof inspired by Barbie’s slide and swimming pool, ‘Discover: Design Stories’ features peepholes that reveal vignettes charting the design connections between the DreamHouse and Greater Palm Springs' architecture. Inspired by Albert Frey's geometric grid design and the 2023 Barbie DreamHouse, ‘Reflect: Playful Pauses’ features a butterfly roof and creates a kaleidoscopic effect with patterned breeze blocks and a mirrored underside. At night, it illuminates, adding whimsy to the London cityscape.
Tolstrup views this project as a natural extension of her studio’s practice. “We strive to bring elements of playfulness and joy, whether it be objects, spaces or experiences. This installation is a continuity of our work and links our thinking about spaces and joyful experiences.”
The installation creates a dialogue about the power of play in shaping our built environment and invites visitors to explore the pavilions with imagination, curiosity and a sense of limitless potential.
)
)
)
){kind=logo}
){kind=logo}
)
)
)
){kind=logo}
){kind=logo}
)
)
){kind=logo}
){kind=logo}
)
){kind=logo}
){kind=logo}
){kind=logo}
){kind=logo}
)
){kind=logo}
)
){kind=logo}
)
){kind=logo}
){kind=logo}
)
)
){kind=logo}
){kind=logo}