London Design Festival 2024: The Wonders of Barbie Never Cease
If you haven’t yet had enough of Barbie then you’re in luck!
One of the more anticipated happenings at LDF 2024, “Pavilions of Wonder” is a life-sized installation featuring a trio of Mid-Century Modern-inspired structures that’s a bonafide homage to everyone’s favorite re-contextualized blonde.
The result feels like Mid-Century Mod sans insulation. Wait, did those houses ever have insulation?
Not that it’s really needed in the spiritual corollary of Barbie-land, which in actual fact must certainly be Palm Springs. Tolstrup makes no bones about the geographic antecedent. Echoes of actual elements that dot the desert include the “Infinity Garden’s” oasis landscape and implied surrounding mountain range; the corrugated MDF sheet walls of “Design Pavillion”; and the two-toned pink drainage cylinders that form the phantasmagoria of “Dream Pavillion.”
There’s also the overall curvalinear silhouette and the way straight lines interact with circles, which is one attribute that makes Mid-Century Modernism so fun. It’s also the slap-dash feel: with ostensibly thin walls made from unexpected and occasionally found materials—and the easy integration of clever and surprising niches.
“Pavillions of Wonder” is co-presented by Studiomama, Visit Greater Palm Springs, and Mattel Inc.’s Barbie. It’s on the Strand Aldwych at London Design Festival through September 22. No tickets required—the public is free to visit and explore.
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