The magic house made is a concept that has captivated the imaginations of people for centuries. It is the idea of a house that is not just a shelter, but a magical place that can provide comfort, joy, and even mystical experiences. In folklore and mythology, we often hear tales of enchanted houses that can change their form, accommodate the needs of their inhabitants, and even grant wishes. These houses are usually inhabited by whimsical and powerful creatures such as fairies, wizards, or genies. In literature and entertainment, the concept of the magic house has been explored in various ways. In books like "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" by C.
Address: 5127 Delmar Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63108
I expect most people will come in here and have fun, he said, but there are also those people who will start businesses, and the point is, we have all the tools here to do that. Title 1 schools as well as schools with 50 percent or more students that qualify for free and reduced lunch are eligible to participate in this program free of charge.
In books like "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" by C.S. Lewis, the magical land of Narnia is accessed through a wardrobe inside an ordinary house.
The Magic House Teams Up On Makerspace For Kids In St. Louis
Alexandra Wessels (right) builds a rainbow Lego hotel with twins Sophie (middle) and Cecie (left) Goeller on the first day of a summer camp at The Magic House at MADE. Roughly 30,000 people are expected to visit the space by the end of the year.
Through the doors of the Magic House at MADE, kids are testing rocket launchers, designing video game characters and learning how to use 3D printers.
This new satellite location on Delmar Boulevard in St. Louis is a recent expansion from the children’s museum’s flagship in Kirkwood. What’s different is the focus on entrepreneurship.
“MADE stands for makers, artists, designers and entrepreneurs, so we’ve divided our space into those four areas,” says Beth Fitzgerald, president of The Magic House.
It’s a partnership between the children’s museum and some well-known innovators in St. Louis like entrepreneur Jim McKelvey and the Cortex Innovation Community. Their goal with this new space is to inspire the next wave of entrepreneurs and creatives, most especially in underserved neighborhoods in north St. Louis.
“We’re trying to reach young makers, and everybody is a maker in their heart. I believe every human, especially little humans, like building things,” McKelvey said.
The Making Of MADE
McKelvey always wanted to create a makerspace in St. Louis. The co-founder of Square and Third Degree Glass, among other ventures, was inspired by glassblowing and woodworking early on in life.
“When I was a kid we didn’t have makerspaces like this, but I was always jealous of the guy with a table saw in his garage or somebody’s father who had a welding machine or whose mother had some really cool equipment,” he said. “So as soon as I had the chance, opening a place like this was absolutely something I was going to do.”
McKelvey funded the MADE building, which his Third Degree Class co-founder Doug Auer renovated. The adult makerspace opened up in November, just a year after TechShop filed for bankruptcy. The national makerspace had operated in St. Louis in the Cortex Innovation Community, and CEO Dennis Lower was holding on to over $1 million in equipment — like a water jet, laser cutter and woodworking shop.
“The business model is that I paid for everything, and Dennis, the guys at Cortex got us equipment for basically a buck a year,” McKelvey said. “So we have this super sweetheart deal on the equipment, we have this super sweetheart deal on the space and we’re just trying to cover our costs. I’m hoping it breaks even.”
The Magic House came to MADE with a similar mission to offer a makerspace that’s affordable for all families. While its Kirkwood location charges $12 a day, a day admission to the St. Louis location is just $5. A yearlong family pass is $50, and scholarships are available for summer camps.
That’s thanks in part to a $500,000 donation from Cortex, specifically to cover entrance fees for kids from underserved neighborhoods.
Credit Corinne Ruff | St. Louis Public RadioNoah Speed (left) and Forrest Hart (right) crank a wheel to launch bottle rockets. This is one of many STEAM-focused activities at The Magic House's first permanent location in St. Louis.
Kids are allowed to play with whatever sparks their curiosity. Digital easels, pottery wheels and laser cutters are all designed to develop skills in science, technology, engineering, art and math. Lower says these kinds of experiences are essential, and making them available for kids of all backgrounds is one step toward making future tech jobs accessible, too.
“Our horizons are determined by what we are exposed to. And so if we’re looking to bring the next gen into the STEM and STEAM professions, we have to start now, we have to captivate their imaginations,” Lower said. “We have to show them what they can do with their hands and their mind.”
A Makers Village
For McKelvey, Lower and others involved in the makers movement, it’s not just about creating one makerspace — but an entire village along Delmar Boulevard between Kingshighway Boulevard and Union Boulevard.
That would include more work shops and retail locations where entrepreneurs could sell their wares. At the end of June, MADE, The Magic House and Third Degree Glass will host the first Delmar Makers Fair for artists and designers to showcase their work.
“What we’re trying to do is make a makers genius cluster,” McKelvey said. “So if you look at the history of other parts of the world that have exceptional talent that’s really deep in an area, what you find is people with similar but not identical backgrounds clustering together. So, we’re hoping to do that with makers here,” he said.
Currently, about a half-dozen businesses operate out of the MADE space, and McKelvey hopes that number rises to 20 or 30 within a year.
He’s also hoping these makers serve as role models to the kids up on the second floor, as they develop their own entrepreneurial skills to market and sell their designs.
“We don’t expect everyone to come in here and build a business. I expect most people will come in here and have fun,” he said, “but there are also those people who will start businesses, and the point is, we have all the tools here to do that.”
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“Our horizons are determined by what we are exposed to. And so if we’re looking to bring the next gen into the STEM and STEAM professions, we have to start now, we have to captivate their imaginations,” Lower said. “We have to show them what they can do with their hands and their mind.”
In the film "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets," the Weasley family's house, the Burrow, is depicted as a quirky and magical home with flying dishes and self-knitting jumpers. In modern times, the concept of the magic house is often associated with smart homes and advanced technology. Houses equipped with AI assistants like Amazon's Alexa or Google's Assistant can provide a sense of magic by responding to voice commands, adjusting lighting and temperature, and even playing music or movies. However, the magic house is not just about technology. It is also about creating a space that reflects the individuality and dreams of its inhabitants. A magic house can be a place where creativity thrives, where every room tells a story, and where ordinary objects hold special meaning. It is a house that feels like home, but also like a sanctuary from the outside world. Ultimately, the concept of the magic house is about infusing the ordinary with the extraordinary. It is about finding joy, inspiration, and a sense of wonder in the place we call home. Whether through technology, imagination, or simply a touch of whimsy, the magic house reminds us that there is magic in the everyday, if only we open our hearts and minds to it..
Reviews for "The Rise of Majic Houses: Understanding the Trend"
1. Sarah - 1 out of 5 stars - The Magic House Made was an absolute waste of my time. The characters were one-dimensional, and the plot was predictable and uninspiring. I found myself constantly rolling my eyes at the cheesy dialogue and poorly executed special effects. Save your money and skip this movie.
2. Mark - 2 out of 5 stars - I had high hopes for The Magic House Made, but it fell short of my expectations. The acting was mediocre at best, and the storyline was confusing and disjointed. The movie tried to incorporate too many genres, resulting in a mishmash of ideas that never fully developed. I struggled to stay engaged throughout the film, and ultimately, I was left disappointed.
3. Emily - 1 out of 5 stars - The Magic House Made was a complete disaster. The plot was convoluted and hard to follow, with random plot twists that made no sense. The character development was non-existent, and I couldn't bring myself to care about any of the individuals on screen. The movie seemed more focused on showcasing flashy special effects rather than delivering a compelling story. Overall, I found The Magic House Made to be a forgettable and frustrating experience.
4. John - 2 out of 5 stars - I wanted to enjoy The Magic House Made, but it fell flat for me. The pacing was slow, and the dialogue felt forced and unnatural. The movie lacked depth and failed to explore the interesting concepts it introduced. The plot had potential, but the execution was disappointing. I wouldn't recommend wasting your time on this mediocre film.