The dollhouse and the architectural model are objectively similar: both are miniature buildings. However, they are at opposite of culture and gender. The architectural model occupies a strong position in the white, cis-gendered male-dominated profession of real estate development. The scale is often vast: a tower or a civic campus. In contrast, the dollhouse represents a smaller building and is traditionally feminine. It is almost always domestic: a space for decoration and imagining household rituals, conversations, and roles.
Most cities maintain strict codes around what can be built and how it’s presented. These zoning rules have helped imbue the structure of suburban environments with traditional gender roles. This project explores the construction of queer identities and how their integration into the suburban environment might create new types of spaces.
The Paul Michael Davis Architects Team:
Paul Davis, Veronica Leanos, Amanda Kindregan, Cory Ackerman and Bao Vo.
Primary role: Model Construction
Paul Davis, Veronica Leanos, Amanda Kindregan, Cory Ackerman and Bao Vo.
Primary role: Model Construction
Photography: Emilie Smith (Bellevue Arts Museum)
