De Stijl

Architecture

In Holland, Gerrit Rietveld (1888-1964) was one of the people who was able to translate the De Stijl movement into architecture. The Rietveld Schröder House in Utrecht might just be Rietveld’s most famous design. This house was made in 1923-1924 according De Stijl’s ideas and it can be recognised by its primary colours, geometrical shape (horizontal and vertical elements), functionality and the transparent character which blurs the line between indoors and outdoors. The remarkable construction is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This house is also home to the world famous Gerrit Rietveld Hanging lamp. The book ‘Art Deco in the Dutch ‘Waarden’’ shows the Zessen House. This cubistic building in Alblasserdam was designed by the famous urban designer Cornelis van Eesteren (1897-1988). Theo van Doesburg (1883-1931) determined the colour scheme for both the inside and outside of the house, after which the house was built in 1923. The front of the house shows typical features of De Stijl, such as the use of the primary colours red, blue and yellow in combination with neutral grey, black and white. Its cubistic character, flat roof and lack of decorations show the principles of De Stijl. This architectonical pearl is open to visitors, have a look at their website, which is also available in English. Want to read more about great architecture in the Netherlands? Have a look at the book Dutch Architecture in 250 masterpieces.

Foto: Wikipedia                                                                          Foto: www.huisvanzessen.nl 

Applied arts

How can you translate the ideas and principles of De Stijl to the interior of your home? Art Deco Web Store’s collection has art-related pieces of furniture, lighting and home furnishings that go with multiple art styles. Lovers of De Stijl will mostly fall in love with items that are functional and simple with a strong composition and easily recognisable primary colours. In the category Furniture, the Fifty sofa will be appealing. The rectangular sofa has a foldable back support which means it can be turned into a double bed as well. This sofa (bed) is available in a fabric of your liking. The remarkable A-chair and A-table are perfect for children. The tube chair stands out due to its combination of functionality and simplicity while still providing you with a comfortable seat. It makes for a perfect dining room chair or office chair. Hanging lamp Cube can also be incorporated in a De Stijl interior. The rug Patch Style resembles an abstract piece of art by Mondrian or Van Doesburg and can be executed in primary colours. When it comes to home furnishings, the functionality of the item is key but this does not mean that its aesthetic has to suffer. Have a look at Clock Cube. Another decorative item with a clear composition that matches the colours of De stijl is the sculpture Yellow Cat. Stylish is the Design Nathalie Handbag. The bag’s geometrical shapes are not just decorative, but also functional: the pyramid-shaped plane is also the bag’s opening. To introduce children to De Stijl and Mondrian, the book Mondrian’s Cat has been published. Other art books can be found in the category Books. In short: Art Deco Web Store also caters to those desiring an interior in the style of De Stijl.