99% Completed Dollhouse

Here is a test model of the dollhouse cut and assembled by Classic Exhibits. We will be making a few tweaks to this design before constructing the final product. Don't forget to purchase your tickets to the May 12th auction at the Friends of the Children website.

Classic Exhibits Cutting the Dollhouse

Check out these videos sent over from Classic Exhibits showing their CNC machine cutting the design of the dollhouse into a sheet of Appleply.

It's almost done!

The dollhouse is looking great! The clear coat finish is drying as this is being written. We are taking photos of it today for the Friends of the Children fundraiser brochure and will be posting those soon. The videos mentioned before of the CNC machine cutting the plywood are being complied so everyone can see what that process is like.

Here's the copy that will be included in the brouchure:

Modern Dollhouse: Move-in Ready for Imagination and Fun

Custom designed by a collaboration of architects and designers at SUM Design Studio, this elegant dollhouse waits to be furnished by a child’s creativity. The wholly accessible structure, whose design was directed by input from children ranging in age from 4 to 11 years old, will accommodate any and all from Luke Skywalker and Barbie, to army men and dinosaurs. Made from a single sheet of sturdy, high-grade Appleply cut and assembled by Classic Exhibits, this one-of-a-kind house has no rough edges and is finished with a clear coat finish worthy of LEED certification. The structure uses no hardware; each piece slips together smoothly with easy-to-follow assembly instructions. When disassembled, the pieces lie flat in a custom case for ready storage. Want to learn more about the design process? Go to http://sumdollhouse.blogspot.com/

Sneak Peak

Here's a sneak peak of the dollhouse building process! Click on the photo above to see an enlarged image. The great folks at Classic Exhibits Inc have sent over some photos of the CNC machine being set up with our AutoCad drawing and the piece of 4'x8' plywood that the house will be cut from. Check back for more photos (and possibly some video!) of the fabrication process.

With one month until the auction, we are feeling pretty good about the progress of the design. From the first design charrette with the kids to now, a lot has been accomplished and everyone involved has had a great time.

Be sure to get your tickets to the fundraiser, which are available on the Friends of the Children website.

Sketch Model of Updated Design

We are really happy with the overall design of the dollhouse and now are focusing on the detailing. Some of the important detail elements include the stair treads and the openings. As always, we are striving to keep our original design intentions evident in the dollhouse. Those intentions include keeping true to the ideas that the kids from our design charette came up with (see post from February 2nd), as well as some rules that we set for ourselves, like only using one 4'x8' sheet of plywood for the dollhouse building material.

Everyone involved is getting excited to see the final built design. After building about a dozen sketch models, it will be fun to see the wooden version.