Now that the iconic Playboy Mansion is in the market, there have been a lot of different talks about it. It was previously reported that the mansion is the most expensive house for sale at a staggering price of $200 million.
The Playboy magazine is the last remaining bachelor lifestyle that has been made popular since its first issue back in 1953. And apparently, its January/February 2016 issue will be the last magazine to feature nude women. But according to Elle Decor, there is so much more beyond Playboy's popular features. Playboy is not only about Hugh Hefner, its bunnies, blondes and mansions parties. There is a deep legacy that lies beyond its great architecture and design.
Curbed pointed out that Hef's brilliant Playboy magazine played a significant influence throughout the years. He was even called as "the Chairman Mao of the sexual revolution." But then his magazine as well as the whole Playboy Empire also supported the modern architecture and design.
This includes the great layouts and graphic designs made by the Legendary Art Paul. Paul was the one who designed the Playboy Rabbit. Paul's design became a huge success because it is seen as a symbol and it even invokes a universal recognition.
It was mentioned in the first issue their "plan on spending most of our time inside. We like our apartment. At a time when most men's magazines focused on the outdoors and interior design was considered a female pursuit, Playboy suggested the single man get involved in shaping his own environment."
It has been reported that well-known architects that include Frank Lloyd Wright, Mies van der Rohe, Buckminster Fuller, Moshie Safdie and John Lautner, were all featured in the magazine. The best examples were the modern furniture chairs that were showcased. The second issue involves 25 steps to seduction which features most aspects of the house.
During the 1960s, there was a portion in the "Architects' Journal" entitled "I'd Crawl a Mile for Playboy," by Reyner Banham wherein he revealed that he reads the magazine for its furniture. As Banham said, "Playboy has over the years discussed and illustrated quite a lot of furniture."
Generally speaking, the magazine was a good instrument that showed men how to design their own homes. It even became more instrumental when bachelor pad started to become a hot item in the market.
