Architect Barbie is hot at AIA 2011
Tory Patrick | May 13, 2011
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As I was sitting at lunch today, I heard to ladies walk by, discussing Architect Barbie. One said to the other, “I bought Architect Barbie.” To which the other smiled and said, “I want to buy one, too.”
This blip of a conversation wasn’t the only buzz about the flaxen haired beauty at #AIA2011. The American Institute of Architects is playing along, too. They announced a competition today at AIA – any AIA member can enter.
Interested in designing a “dream house” for Ms. Roberts? (I feel like she’d be a tough client…)
Here are a few of the the official guidelines, courtesy of Barbie herself.
* My Dream House™ should reflect the best sustainable design principles and also be a stylish space that I can live in comfortably.
* A sleek, smart home office is important for any doll. With more than 125 careers, I need a spacious office that can accommodate my hi-tech gadgets for meetings, client visits and presentations.
* The kitchen should be functional and fabulous with top-of-the-line appliances—large countertops and lots of space to cook. I also love natural light in my kitchen so windows are critical. I am quite the chef you know!
* As the ultimate “California girl” from Malibu, I am all about location, location, location! My house must have fantastic views of my fabulous backyard and overlook the ocean.
The winning design will be voted on by the public and announced in August.
From a PR perspective (c’mon, it’s what I do!), I can see this going viral. What a fantastic idea! I really love the idea of using the buzz surrounding Architect Barbie and turning it into a competition for its members.
So architects, are you going to submit a bid?
