This life-size dollhouse sits in a field in Manitoba. Abandoned in the late 60s, the house was transformed into a giant dollhouse by Saskatchewan artist Heather Benning in 2007. Walls were replaced with plexiglass on the north side — opening up the colorful interior and showing off the 60s period furniture Benning used to recreate a look from the same time period that the home was abandoned...










rad!
view kdkaboom's profile
that is so cool.
view abigailbelle's profile
I don't really understand why the ohdeedoh post puts this dollhouse in Saskatchewan, but here it's in Manitoba...
view verano's profile
I never thought I'd see the name 'Saskatchewan' on AT (I live there). Neat.
view Cashew's profile
great ! love it
view brocktontriangle's profile
So it's supposed to be art? I don't really see the point.
view jooly's profile
"I don't really see the point."
I don't either - I can't help but think that all that wood would be so much better reclaimed for "new" furniture, and what a waste of all that plexiglass, furniture and electricity.
view bepsf's profile
I love it. I want to go there and run around.
view Elizcrtv's profile
I think it is terrific. Don't throw stones.
For those who don't see the point, wouldn't the paint, canvas, wood, etc. from a painting have a more "useful" purpose? Most materials for artwork could serve some other purpose, but that's not the point. The point is to make you see things differently, and maybe be inspired. None of the beautiful interiors on this website would be possible without artwork, wallpaper inspired by artwork, furniture designed by artists, etc.
view brittanykate's profile
I can't claim to fully understand it, but I do think this work is important. There are so many abandoned homes and farms in rural Canada, and it's as though a whole way of life is vanishing. I think the US is experiencing something similar with a general move toward big agri-businesses and factory farming, etc. I don't know if it's still true, but a few years back one could buy a house like this for only a few thousand dollars--or even less (although that could be an urban myth!).
And imagine that it was once someone's home, and all the meaning and significance that holds...I find abandoned homes so intriguing.
So to me, the artist has kind of created a glimpse what the life that used to be there might have been like, and now it's frozen in time.
view Mavesse's profile
A great idea and more to the point why do people when they shoot old crumbling homes abandoned, shoot them from afar? I want CLOSE UPS of the exteriors and if possible a glimpse into the interiors that have been left to rot.
In this case, noting how a place looked at a time when first abandoned is interesting as to see how one had furnished such a place some 40 years ago.
view ciddyguy's profile
amazing!
view Haunted_Studio's profile
I think the coolest thing she could have done is refinish the house, keep the wall intact, and then live in the house. Awesome art, practical, and better for the environment!
view caitlinmarie's profile
creepy.
view jessbink's profile
I think it has some appeal. But, any vacant house might be better served giving it a family. If that is even remotely possible, ya could have shades, curtains to pull down for privacy.
view OriginalNancy's profile
I want more interior shots.
view chicagirl's profile
To me, it's a giant assemblage piece made from found objects. The biggest found object of course being the actual abandoned house. The entire point of dollhouses is that nobody lives in them...they fuel the imaginations of the young children that play with them. That is what art does, too.
Katy
http://fengshuibyfishgirl.com
view fishgirl's profile
Agreed- chicagirl- I want more interior too. And I want to live in it- with curtains of course.
view jocasta02's profile
This. Is. Awesome.
view medusa12120's profile