day trips

search article

The Rietveld Schröderhuis

Important and unique icon of western archtitectural history

From our editor Annette Schimmel

20-04-2006 The well-known Rietveld Schröder House is situated in the city of Utrecht. The house is seen as a uniquely important icon in the history of western architecture. The architect Gerrit Rietveld, who was born in Utrecht, used the colours red blue and yellow which were typical of the architectural style known as 'De Stijl'. He also designed the furniture in the house, using the same colour scheme. In the year 2000 the Rietveld Schröder House was placed on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.

Revolutionary

The Rietveld Schröder House is a brilliant-white cube-shaped residence, with the living and sleeping quarters on the first floor. Below this on the ground floor and situated around a central hall, are the kitchen, study, a studio and a room which was once used by the servants. The house is characterized by the many windows and use of open space, which don't seem particularly unusual these days, but in the 1920s were a revolutionary breakthrough in the world of architecture and interior design.

The furnishing of the house was also designed by Rietveld for Mrs Schröder. The colour and shape of the furnishing was in the same style as the building itself: cube-shaped furniture in primary colours red, yellow and blue. The choice of colours was influenced by the school of painting known as De Stijl (the style), although Rietveld's use of these colours was not strictly in line with De Stijl. For example, unlike the famous 'Stijl' painter Mondriaan, Rietveld did not use overlapping planes of colour.

Utrecht Central Museum

The Rietveld House, Prins Hendriklaan 50, Utrecht, is owned by the Utrecht Central Museum. It is possible to visit the house, but only as part of a guided tour. In addition to the house, the museum owns a large collection of furniture designed by Gerrit Rietveld. In 2002 the Utrecht Central Museum opened a second house designed by Rietveld to the public. This house is situated on the Erasmuslaan (no. 9), just a stone's throw from the Rietveld Schröder House.

Commission

In 1924 the wealthy widow Truus Schröder-Schräder commissioned Gerrit Rietveld (1888 - 1964) to design a house for her in the Schildersbuurt in Utrecht. It was this design which was primarily responsible for Rietveld's fame. Rietveld was ordered by Schröder to build a house with the living accommodation on the first floor, with lots of windows, and a wide view over the city. Her particular requirements were to have a far-reaching effect on the final design. Rietveld had his own studio in Mrs Schröder's house, where he was to live for the six years preceding his death. Mrs Schröder herself lived in the house from 1924 until her death in 1985.