Barbie's Dream House: Part II -- The Winning Design

Last week, in Part I of Barbie’s Dream House, I shared my thoughts on where the style icon could live while her new Malibu manse was being designed and built. This week, I’ll profile the winning design of the Mattel/American Institute of Architects competition.




First of all, the location on three acres of beach with ocean and mountain views on all sides can’t be beat.



The winning architects, Ting Li, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP and Maja Paklar, Assoc. AIA, planned a tall home with lots of glass, terrace and roof garden to maximize those views. Though both work in New York and neither grew up anywhere near Southern California, (Li is from China; Paklar from Croatia), they both totally got the feel of the place. They both also loved Barbie as young girls.

I like the sustainability emphasis of the project: solar panels, landscaped rooftop and irrigation system, operable shading devices, bamboo flooring, low flow toilet and sink fixtures, and locally sourced and manufactured materials and furnishings.




Here's a link to the plans for the home.

I dislike the lack of aging-in-place features, including an elevator to transport the now AARP-eligible Barbie between floors in her new home. I’m also curious about the powder room on Level 1 with no apparent entrance. Hmmmm. It also would have been nice to have a bathroom, (maybe with steam or sauna?) on the exercise level and a half bath on the office/meeting room level… But that’s just my own AARP-eligible bladder talking. Guess I’ll have to sneak into Barbie’s master suite or sledgehammer myself into the Level 1 powder room!




Feel free to share your comments below. I'm eager to hear from Barbie fans, fellow designers and architects alike.

Barbie's Dream House: Part I -- Before It's Built

Earlier this summer, I learned that Mattel and the American Institute of Architects teamed up to host a Barbie’s Dream House competition for architects. I loved the concept and thought I’d have some fun with it myself…

Barbie I Can Be architect doll by Mattel

While her dream home is being designed and built, which, as we all know, takes much longer in real life than it does on TV, Barbie will need a comfortable place to live. She wants to rent in the Malibu area, so that she’s close to the construction site and her pre-Ken gal pals, (you know, the ones who stuck by her through that awful break-up).

Malibu Barbie by Mattel - circa 1971

I did some looking around for my childhood pal and found a complex online that I thought she’d enjoy for a while. I’ve been too busy working on my book this summer to drive up to LA in person. I didn't even get to Dwell on Design this year. Barbie can have her manager, agent or personal assistant check it out for her. Sometimes these places look much nicer on the Internet than they do in real life.

It does look pretty sweet online, I must say! Villa Malibu has a pool with cabanas, 24-hour fitness center, tennis courts, barbecue and even a Zen Meditation Garden for when the house project gets stressful. It’s also pretty close to the beach, and there’s nothing more calming than a walk along the water’s edge.






There’s a beach porter who will take Barbie and her buds to Zuma, a personal assistant for errands, a chauffeur for airport, restaurant and shopping trips, and a concierge to schedule massages, dining reservations, spa visits, even yoga classes.

There are two and three bedroom models with fireplaces, balconies, separate soaking tubs and – you know this is important to our girl – huge walk-in closets. She’s been collecting clothes for decades now!







So, for however many months it takes to finish the design, get it through Coastal permitting and get it built, Barbie will have a lovely place to live and enjoy with her BFFs... Waiting for my invite, girlfriend!




Photo Notes: All photos except Barbie images are from the Villa Malibu website