The Amazing Project Domus

Werner Marestra got the idea to create a replica of a noble Genoese house of the late 18th century, and the Domus Project was born. It is built in 1:50 scale (approx. 1/4” scale), but is not really a dollhouse. It is an architectural model, built of real materials or their surrogates. More unusual for a model, Werner's construction methods are those used by medieval craftsmen.

After Werner spent months of research and study, the work began in early July of 2009, at is home in Granada, Spain. “It's a little 'far from the city of origin,” he says. “But in the end, even Columbus came here to ask for the ships to sail to India.”

Like Topsy, the domus is constantly growing and changing. What began as a single house with a 1 X 1.3' footprint, now includes a tower over the main house and smaller out-buildings. 

Werner has no construction training. The art school l he attend required basic classes in architecture and design, but he did not attend college, working professionally as an illustrator and cartoonist. With a superficial knowledge in medieval building, his “expertise” comes the
Internet and books. 

“I am not an industry expert ,” Werner says, “and it is more than likely that some aspects of my work are not 100% reliable. But I always try to document properly, and then learn along the way.”

As Werner uses authentic materials as much as possible, where does he find them in modern-day Granada? “All Over. On the street, in the countryside, in the rivers, on the beach,” he says. “A good part comes from waste or found objects I can reuse. The rest -- adhesives, accessories, tools – I purchase in DIY or hardware stores.

When asked why he chose to devote some much of his life to creating a replica on a Genoese mansion? “Because there is not a single building throughout Genoa that has retained its original appearance, and those that remain are in poor condition. I always had the curiosity about what they looked like at the time of their construction. Besides,it's a way to vent my creativity and to keep my brain busy, The work prevents me from wasting time with trivial arguments about politics, television, sports and religion.”

Here are 2 useful links. The Project Domus Facebook page has a wonderful gallery of photographs: 

https://www.facebook.com/domus.project?fref=ts

Werner Marestra's blog is a goldmine of information. Click on any image.

Enjoy.

Susan

Amazing Miniatures – The Bostyk Dolls House

The Bostyk's estimated that they spent 15,000 hours and many thousands of dollars of materials on the work. Frans made most of the furniture, which he researched in 'Antique Furniture in Australia' by Anthony Hill, and developed special lathes to turn the tiny wooden parts. He also fashioned his own tiny hand tools from 75-100mm concrete nails to make it easier for him to handle the small pieces. He used silky oak, cedar, myrtle and black wood which formed the 3mm floorboards throughout. Frans researched styles and how to make lights, lamps and electric sockets, which all operate, from websites and publications from Europe and the US. 

Christina Bostyk was closely involved with all construction decisions, sourced miniature items, decided where everything went and chose interior decor, wallpaper and dolls. The process was documented in a collection of 800 photographs.

The dolls house constructed in two sections, attic level and main house level. It has  twenty rooms set up on five levels, much the same style as the early Dutch dolls' houses in 1/10 to 1/12 scale. It features aspects of Dutch and Australian life dating from the mid 19th century to the 1950s, and as such is a wonderful window into the past for young children. 

Enjoy.

Great Dollhouses - Rainham Hall

Geoffrey Walkley spent 35 years building this mammoth Queen Anne dollhouse. It has 13 rooms, working lights, smoking chimneys. The dollhouse is based on the 18th century Rainham Hall, which took 2 years to build. A remote controls the individually wired light switches, six of the 14 chimneys are linked to a smoke generator, both front and back doors have a doorbell, while in a modern twist, the home includes an iPad Nano which powers the speaker in the music room. The following is part of a feature in the London Daily Mail. 

"Sarah Walkley, now aged 40, was five years old when she asked her father for the doll's house on Christmas Eve 1978. 

'My mum was tucking me in and I said I wanted a doll's house from Father Christmas,' explains Sarah.'She said he had packed his sleigh and left the Arctic but she went downstairs and mentioned it to my dad and he said he was going to build one.'

Devoted father Geoffrey agreed but came up with a blueprint so ambitious, Sarah says she began to lose hope of ever seeing it finished."

No need for haste, right?

Susan Downing

Dollhouse Decorating – Mulvanie & Rogers

This is one of my favorite miniaturist images, an ecstatic customer of Mulvaney & Rogers taking possession of her commissioned doll house.

Mulvaney and Rogers are also favorite artisans. Here's a link to a video about their work that I watch when it's time to get off the treadmill and think about what is possible in Dollhouse miniatures:  https://tinyurl.com/k37lk8r

And here's a link to the Mulvanie & Rogers website. http://www.mulvanyandrogers.com/

Susan