At Tobu World Square, a theme park featuring 1/25 scale replicas of famous buildings around the world, the White House stands as a representation of American architecture.
The buildings within this theme park are meticulously reproduced based on data collected by staff who visited the actual locations, conducting measurements and sketches to ensure accuracy.
While visiting the inside of the White House in Washington, D.C., our site administrator will verify the accuracy of the replica’s residence section.
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Comparison of the White House Residence: Similarities and Differences with the Actual Building
The iconic semicircular balcony often seen on TV is located in the residence section, which is where the President’s family lives, hence its name “Residence.”
Comprising four floors above ground and two basement levels, the building includes a Ground Floor facing the ground, a State Floor for official events on the first floor, and the second and third floors reserved for the President and their family.
The White House’s Residence draws from traditional Western architecture, with the lowest ceilings in the Ground Floor and the highest in the State Floor. This results in varying window heights, a detail that has been faithfully recreated.
Moreover, decorative elements that adorn the exterior of the building, from window frames to entrances on the north and south sides, and Ionic-modern style columns, are all accurately reproduced.
Differences between the Original White House and its Replica
While the White House is often associated with pure white, the actual building is painted in a shade called “Whisper White,” which is a slightly creamy white. This choice aims to make the building appear the whitest when reflecting sunlight.
Furthermore, there is another part of the White House that isn’t pure white. Originally constructed from sandstone, the building’s exterior was not white. However, following the 1814 British invasion that left the exterior walls intact but the interior burned, the building was repainted white in 1817 under President James Madison’s direction. This event led to the name “White House.” To commemorate the fire’s memory, a section of the building’s exterior remains unpainted and charred. This distinct feature is located just west of the North Portico beneath the window frames. However, the White House replica at Tobu World Square is uniformly painted in the same color throughout.
Additionally, the curtains inside the windows differ between the actual White House and its replica at Tobu World Square. In the real White House, curtains hang vertically in many rooms such as the East Room and State Dining Room on public occasions or various rooms on the second floor. In contrast, at Tobu World Square, all the curtains are bundled.
The White House and the Symbolism of the American Flag
For Americans, their national flag, the Stars and Stripes, symbolizes not only the country but also the people who come together under it. With its motto “E Pluribus Unum” (Out of Many, One), the American flag showcases diverse colors in a patchwork pattern, representing the nation’s diversity. Its proportions are 10:19 (height to width ratio), and the flag hoisted on the White House measures 5 feet (approximately 150 cm) in height and 9 feet 6 inches (about 290 cm) in width. Atop the flagpole is a golden sphere, and on top of that, a spread-winged bald eagle faces north.
In contrast, the replica of the White House at Tobu World Square features a flag with proportions adhering to the UN standard of 2:3, and the flag itself is printed. The flagpole’s top lacks any adornments.
Stirring New Discoveries and Wanderlust at Tobu World Square
Tobu World Square, where one can explore the world from a Gulliver’s perspective through 1/25 scale replicas, offers a unique theme park experience for those who have traveled and those yet to embark on their journeys. It allows visitors to enjoy various perspectives and angles of renowned landmarks.
