Gerrit Rietveld's 1924 house for Mrs Schröder-Schräder of Utrecht, described as "a monument to Modernism and the purest expression of the principles of
de Stijl." If you're thinking "Mondrian in 3d," then you've got some of it. As you can see here,
the floor plans are far less interesting than the striking appearance.
The philosophy [of de Stijl]was based on functionalism, with a severe and doctrinaire insistence on the rectilinearity of the planes, which seem to slide across one another like sliding panels. All surface decoration except color was to be eliminated, and only pure primary hues, plus black and white were to be allowed. The most important thing about this group was their ideas, since they managed to build very few of their designs. One important exception is Gerrit Rietveld's Schroeder House, which is the most complete realization of the de Stijl aesthetic. Not only the house, but also the furnishings and decoration were planned by Rietveld. In spite of the apparently small output of this group, they would be very influential on subsequent design styles.
The initial source of their ideas came [unfortunately] from DaDa notions about dispensing with the pretentious elitist design aesthetics of the pre war era. Some of the early work of Frank Lloyd Wright, which had been published in Europe in 1910, [however] influenced their notions about form. Japanese sources were also of significance, though these ideas may have been derived through the work of Wright...
You can see by its neighbour just how radical this was for 1924 Holland -- and you can see by this lower photograph why the house is most often published without the neighbouring house shown. A thirty minute film clip exists of the house's restoration:
Click here.
2 comments:
I really like this building as well, however I reckon the planning is far more exciting than you give credit for!
Of course, this is my own predilection for malleable space within buildings, but this house epitomises a well-structured, simple framework allowing multiple uses for the rooms created - it is reconfigureable in a number of different ways.
Having the circulation reduced to a central stair and having all spaces radiate out to the perimeter from this central point is very efficient - think office-building and lift core.
In a way this house challenges the Minimalism which has been used to (in many cases, lifelessly) illustrate our growing need to provide flexible space. Minimalist design has tended to solve that problem by providing cavernous, white empty space. This house, by contrast, is an exciting, living, changing environment.
As the spatial needs which spring from changing lifestyles continue to evolve, expect to see more houses and apartments planned with this degree of inherent flexibility.
DenMT
"Minimalist design has tended to solve that problem by providing cavernous, white empty space. This house, by contrast, is an exciting, living, changing environment."
I think for once we agree. :-)
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