At home in Moderndam

Rotterdam is at the forefront of modern architecture today. This started just over a century ago in 1898, with the construction of Europe’s first skyscraper, known to locals as the White House.

Words by LAURA MITCHELL Pictures courtesy of HUIS SONNEVELD / JOHANNES SCHWARTZ

Huis Sonneveld (Sonneveld House) was built in the 1930s as a fine example of Nieuwe Bouwen (New Buildings), a Dutch version of functionalist housing. At the time of its building, Huis Sonneveld was a modern home complete with the latest gadgets of the era, including an audio system in every room, an electrical device to summon the servants, an in-house elevator to carry wood from the basement to the living room, even a shower with 10 shower heads!

A conscious choice to live modern Huis Sonneveld is a modern house in which Le Corbusier’s five main principles were enriched by unusual warmth in the interiors. Dutch architects Brinkman and Van der Vlugt, also known for the Van Nelle Factory and Feyenoord Stadium, designed the house just following the Great Depression. The architects took over every detail in the interior layout, even deciding how the furniture was to be arranged. But the duo also worked closely with the Sonneveld family, choosing colors for rooms to reflect each family member’s personal preferences. When the family moved in in 1933, they made the conscious decision to “live modern” and therefore discarded all of their old furniture. They replaced everything with brand new furniture, including tubular steel chairs and tables from the Dutch company Gispen—a dream come true for me and my fellow Gispen adorers! The entire home was designed for a

“Colors like cornflower blue, egg yolk yellow, and vermillion suit their chosen areas perfectly.”

functional way of living, in keeping with the Bauhaus principle known as Gesamtkunstwerk (a total work of art), which Mr. Sonneveld admired and successfully celebrated in his harmoniously designed home.

Revisiting the past Entering this 1930s dream home in 2016, the bold but harmonious color combinations are instant eye candy for my mental mood board. My favorite space is the bright teal bathroom, which had me mesmerized from the moment I laid eyes on the beautiful bold wall of tiles. The curved edges of the main staircase and tubular custom-made Gispen furniture contrast beautifully with the warm, clear hues of the walls and floors, making for an almost dream-like experience as you wander from room to room.

Colors like cornflower blue, egg yolk yellow, and vermillion suit their chosen areas perfectly. These bright colors are used bravely in spaces like the bedrooms and dining room as red cabinets, blue curtains and yellow floors. The calculated use of color and functional furniture placement bring a welcome calm in contrast to my own home, making Huis Sonneveld my second favorite house in Rotterdam.

A new experience Huis Sonneveld opened to the public in 2001 after undergoing renovation. Assisted by the original architectural drawings archived at the New Architecture Institute across the road, it was not

only possible to preserve the house but also to

reconstruct it meticulously, including its original color schemes and furniture. This little treasure is tucked away on the edge of the museum park and continues to inspire 21st century designers, architects and color lovers today. Sonneveld House shows how a prominent Rotterdam family embraced modernism, and how a choice to live modern colored their everyday surroundings. ¢ sonneveldhouse.com