People have long been fascinated by miniature replicas of buildings – both building them and looking at them. You can find miniature buildings made out of almost every material from pewter to cardboard to Legos, of course. This time of year, the material of choice is gingerbread. Gingerbread houses seem to have originated in Germany in the 1880s, although shaped gingerbread and gingerbread houses have been around for centuries. Many families have a tradition of building houses together at the holidays, and elaborate displays abound in almost every city and town, ranging in size from the traditional miniature to life-size structures that might be found in Hansel and Gretel. Here are some favorites in the “commercial real estate” category, in no particular order (or size).
1. The first one, home of the First Family, looks more like a chocolate house, but it is indeed built from chocolate and gingerbread.
The White House in Gingerbread
2. This perfect replica of Bouchon Bakery in Napa was actually a job application.
Bouchon Bakery in Gingerbread, Napa, California
3. The historic Yellow Sulphur Springs Inn in Virginia
Yellow Sulphur Springs Inn, Virginia
4. The Old Red Courthouse in Dallas:
The Old Red Courthouse Gingerbread Version, Dallas
5. Buddhist temple Toji Tower in Kyoto, Japan – not your traditional “gingerbread house.”
The Toji Tower Buddhist Temple, Kyoto, in Gingerbread
6. Fairmont San Francisco’s two-story creation:
Fairmont Hotel in Gingerbread, San Francisco
7. Henri Bendel in New York, complete with edible shopping bags:
Henri Bendel Building made of Gingerbread
8. And the certified Guiness World Record-holding, 2500 sq ft World’s Largest Gingerbread House creation by some Texas Aggies:
World’s Largest Gingerbread House
This is by no means a complete list. There are many, many beautiful, amazing creations all over the world, and more are added every year. Enjoy viewing more of them here and especially here. If you decide to add your own to the collection, Happy Building, and Happy Holidays!
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