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14 Architectural Gingerbread Houses That Are Definitely Not Cookie CutterView 15 Photos

14 Architectural Gingerbread Houses That Are Definitely Not Cookie Cutter

These tasty and tasteful gingerbread houses and campers take cues from the best in iconic architecture and design.
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Although most gingerbread houses are of the ornate, A-frame cottage variety found in fairy tales like "Hansel and Gretel," they don’t have to be confined to convention. As we’ve discovered, there are many architecturally inspired gingerbread house designs to be found—and quite a few classic Airstreams and campers, too. From iconic homes like Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater to midcentury modern creations, these gingerbread houses are delectable interpretations of architectural history.

A Midcentury Modern Gingerbread House With Breeze Blocks and a Lap Pool

In Phoenix, Arizona, Ted Scutti and Adam Starkey of Sugar Sugar Cake Studio invested 500 hours to build a 1:12 scale midcentury home composed of 210 gingerbread breeze blocks. The home measures in at 23 square inches and just over a foot tall—and everything is edible except for the baseboard. The house was flown from Phoenix to Asheville, North Carolina, where it was a top-10 choice in a national competition.

In Phoenix, Arizona, Ted Scutti and Adam Starkey of Sugar Sugar Cake Studio invested 500 hours to build a 1:12 scale midcentury home composed of 210 gingerbread breeze blocks. The home measures in at 23 square inches and just over a foot tall—and everything is edible except for the baseboard. The house was flown from Phoenix to Asheville, North Carolina, where it was a top-10 choice in a national competition.

Inside are midcentury trimmings made of gingerbread, like a Noguchi coffee table and a George Nelson–inspired sun clock. The silver-plated Christmas tree is made of die-cut textured gelatin sheets stacked with ditalini pasta. The palm tree trunks are cinnamon sticks, while the leaves are die-cut wafer paper.

Inside are midcentury trimmings made of gingerbread, like a Noguchi coffee table and a George Nelson–inspired sun clock. The silver-plated Christmas tree is made of die-cut textured gelatin sheets stacked with ditalini pasta. The palm tree trunks are cinnamon sticks, while the leaves are die-cut wafer paper.

San Francisco–based chef Anthony Strong offers workshops on building a picturesque Tahoe lodge out of candy and gingerbread.

San Francisco–based chef Anthony Strong offers workshops on building a picturesque Tahoe lodge out of candy and gingerbread.

Food artists Caitlin Levin and Henry Hargreaves took gingerbread art to the next level with their rendition of Frank Lloyd Wright's Guggenheim Museum. 

Food artists Caitlin Levin and Henry Hargreaves took gingerbread art to the next level with their rendition of Frank Lloyd Wright's Guggenheim Museum. 

Last year in London, the Museum of Architecture hosted a "Gingerbread City" with more thand 50 architecture firms participating, including Zaha Hadid Architects, who built this monumental creation. 

Last year in London, the Museum of Architecture hosted a "Gingerbread City" with more thand 50 architecture firms participating, including Zaha Hadid Architects, who built this monumental creation. 

This impressive reproduction of Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater in gingerbread was a total labor of love, taking over 12 hours to design and 40 hours to build and decorate. The river and waterfall are made up of three batches of hard candy. 

This impressive reproduction of Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater in gingerbread was a total labor of love, taking over 12 hours to design and 40 hours to build and decorate. The river and waterfall are made up of three batches of hard candy. 

We love this Palm Springs-style gingerbread creation, complete with native drought-resistant plants, a carport, and even a kidney-shaped pool in the rear. Unfortunately, the vintage pink Bug is not edible.

We love this Palm Springs-style gingerbread creation, complete with native drought-resistant plants, a carport, and even a kidney-shaped pool in the rear. Unfortunately, the vintage pink Bug is not edible.

A Gingerbread Dream House by Design Within Reach

This midcentury modern abode features a snowman at the entrance.

This midcentury modern abode features a snowman at the entrance.

A Butterfly Roof Gingerbread House

Based in Australia, McKean Studio chose sunny Palm Springs was an obvious source of gingerbread house inspiration. They IKEA-hacked a few prepared kits, modifying the designs to craft three midcentury houses. 

Based in Australia, McKean Studio chose sunny Palm Springs was an obvious source of gingerbread house inspiration. They IKEA-hacked a few prepared kits, modifying the designs to craft three midcentury houses. 

This retro camper comes complete with a recipe and a tutorial. We love the addition of Christmas decor which includes the vintage-looking lights, a tree on top, and even a little wreath in the back. 

This retro camper comes complete with a recipe and a tutorial. We love the addition of Christmas decor which includes the vintage-looking lights, a tree on top, and even a little wreath in the back. 


Cliff May–Inspired Midcentury Modern Gingerbread Home

Taking inspiration from a Cliff May Home Tour during Modernism Week, this gingerbread house was inspired by a classic example of his clean, modular architecture. There is even a template you can download to recreate this one at home. 

Taking inspiration from a Cliff May Home Tour during Modernism Week, this gingerbread house was inspired by a classic example of his clean, modular architecture. There is even a template you can download to recreate this one at home. 

Philip Johnson’s Gingerbread Glass House

Sweet Lisa’s Exquisite Cakes is a bakery in Connecticut that did this amazing gingerbread version of Philip Johnson's iconic Glass House. 

Sweet Lisa’s Exquisite Cakes is a bakery in Connecticut that did this amazing gingerbread version of Philip Johnson's iconic Glass House. 

This 1950s-inspired gingerbread house originally found on Flickr is complete with period-appropriate decor that includes a black Eames lounge chair, a Noguchi table, a coconut shag rug, a wafer cookie brick inlay chimney, and a Nelson wall clock to complete the retro look.

This 1950s-inspired gingerbread house originally found on Flickr is complete with period-appropriate decor that includes a black Eames lounge chair, a Noguchi table, a coconut shag rug, a wafer cookie brick inlay chimney, and a Nelson wall clock to complete the retro look.

An All-American Gingerbread Airstream

The gorgeousness of this edible Airstream by Black Market Bakery (which has locations in Costa Mesa, Santa Ana, and San Diego) may just inspire you to head out on your own holiday road trip. It even boasts a pretzel-lined campfire in the back.

The gorgeousness of this edible Airstream by Black Market Bakery (which has locations in Costa Mesa, Santa Ana, and San Diego) may just inspire you to head out on your own holiday road trip. It even boasts a pretzel-lined campfire in the back.

We love this gingerbread version of a camper van. Hipcamp even published the recipe and a DIY tutorial—the best thing is that this is an easy holiday project can be tackled by even the most novice gingerbread builders. 

We love this gingerbread version of a camper van. Hipcamp even published the recipe and a DIY tutorial—the best thing is that this is an easy holiday project can be tackled by even the most novice gingerbread builders. 

Jennifer Baum Lagdameo
Dwell Contributor
Jennifer Baum Lagdameo is a freelance design writer who has lived in Washington DC, Brooklyn, Tokyo, Manila, and is currently exploring the Pacific Northwest from her home base in Portland, Oregon.
Duncan Nielsen
News Editor
Duncan Nielsen is the News Editor at Dwell. Share tips or just say “hi” at duncan at dwell dot com.

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