from eileen gray to ray eames, marialaura irvine's dollhouse honors 20th century female pioneers

Colorful modular Dollhouse by Marialaura Irvine

The modular dollhouse by Studio Irvine (run by the architect Marialaura Irvine) explores the beauty of natural colors while honoring a group of influential female pioneers from the 20th century in architecture, design, and art. The project takes the form of a colorful miniature dwelling featuring 14 rooms, each inspired by the innovative work and influence of women such as Giorgia O’Keefe, Eileen Gray, Cini Boeri, Charlotte Perriand, Ray Eames, Nanda Vigo, Gae Aulenti, Clara Porset, Lina Bo Bardi, Franca Helg, Sophie Taeuber-Arp, Annie Albers, Ruth Asawa, and Lilly Reich. These women have made significant contributions to modern design and architecture, leaving a lasting impact that continues to inspire contemporary practices.

In the dollhouse, named Paints According to Irvine, each room tells a unique story through vibrant colors and transformative settings. Viewers can discover a serene sand-pink living room dedicated to Giorgia O’Keeffe, offering a space for relaxation, living, and reading. Additionally, there’s a medium-intensity red kitchen paying tribute to Eileen Gray’s architectural designs. These rooms and their colors evoke distinct emotions and experiences, highlighting the profound interplay between color and design.

all images by Delfino Sisto Legnani

Transforming Spaces with 14 New Powder Paints

The colorful dwelling by the Milan-based architecture studio serves as a canvas to introduce 14 new powder paint colors created by surface expert Matteo Brioni (see more here). This project follows a previous one called Earth According to Matteo, which emphasized the brand’s natural clay finishes and the role of color in defining spaces. The project aligns with the studio’s philosophy of embracing imperfections, reflecting the designer’s talent for blending design and art as she takes charge of artistic direction.

Marialaura Irvine and Matteo Brioni initiated their collaboration in 2013, exploring how natural colors impact spatial perception. Her childhood fascination with dollhouses led her to admire and emulate architectural pioneers such as Behrens, Le Corbusier, and Gropius. However, her perspective changed when she questioned the absence of female influences. This led to an exploration of female pioneers, resulting in the creation of individual rooms dedicated to women who continue to push boundaries in architecture, design, and art.

each room is inspired by the innovative work of a 20th-century woman pioneer

Paints According to Irvine emphasizes the appreciation of imperfections, the versatility of powdered paint, and the transformative quality of natural pigments. This exploration of color’s role in architecture gives each space its own texture and ambiance, reflecting Marialaura’s belief in the profound impact of color on our experiences, emotions, and interactions.

an exploration of color as a means to breathe life into architecture