To kick off the holiday season, we'd like to share a little architecture we recently inspected. We haven't been traveling; this is local. And it's different. We encourage the departments of architecture at the local universities to check out these houses and consider the possibilities.
Lydia's House, a St. Louis group that provides transitional housing for abused women and their children, is sponsoring its annual gingerbread house competition at Plaza Frontenac. For the past three years, we've been honored to serve as judges, a job that's both easy and difficult.
Entrants range from high school students to professional pastry chefs. There's always a great sense of whimsy about the entries, which must be entirely edible – no plastic reindeer. Some of the work is so delicate, it's hard to imagine it's not porcelain.
They're on display on the upper level around the atrium in front of Nieman-Marcus. Visitors can view the houses, buy raffle tickets to win one, or even purchase one to take home when the contest ends Dec. 5.
We think university architects--faculty and/or students--should consider entering; the next Norman Foster or Frank Gehry could have some great ideas for constructing in carbohydrates.
Enjoy the pictures.
They go from a whirl around the world
to a wintry day in Paris
and a stop to check the time in London
and then a visit to a village in South Africa.
How cool!
Posted by: Jo Diaz | November 22, 2010 at 03:55 PM