At the height of Barbie mania last year, Airbnb upped the ante with the announcement of a real-life Malibu Dreamhouse listed on its site, sending fans and followers into a frenzy at the idea of holidaying in a one-of-a-kind place. Not too longer after, it presented a reincarnation of Shrek’s iconic swamp in the Scottish Highlands, complete with the ogre’s famous outhouse.
The success of these ideas has led to the official launch of Airbnb’s newest accommodation category, aptly called Icons, which co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky says “take you inside worlds that only existed in your imagination—until now.”
He explained how these experiences “captured people’s imagination and they allowed people to step into someone else’s world. And at its best, this is what Airbnb does. And what it’s always been about.”
During the Icons launch event, the painstaking detail the team went into to build an exact replica of the house from scratch was revealed. Global Head of Marketing for Airbnb, Hiroki Asai, said “we built the house down to its specific Pantone colours and weathering of the shingles to make sure it looks exactly like what was in that film.”
“The whole house, down to the pill bottles inside and the photos in the hallway and the little chair that Carl rides up the stairs, it’s all reproduced exactly the same.”
Equally impressive is the transformation of the clock tower of the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, which was turned into a luxurious bedroom by Mathieu Lehanneur, designer of the Paris 2024 Games torch and cauldron. Eligible guests will be able to witness the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games with a privileged view along the river Seine.
Prince fans may regale at the chance for a stay in the house featured in the film Purple Rain, which opens a window into the musician’s world, while the Ferrari Museum in Maranello, Italy will host guests in a bed “crafted from the same leather as Ferrari seats”.
“As life becomes increasingly digital, we’re focused on bringing more magic into the real world. With Icons, we’ve created the most extraordinary experiences on Earth,” the CEO said.
The Icons category is visible on the site’s homepage, where each location is either free or priced under €100 per guest. A request will need to be placed through the Airbnb app, and the lucky winners will be picked via a lottery.
If you enjoyed this article, you might also be interested in: Pink, gold and even more pink characterise a new line of cookware by Paris Hilton
