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Gerrit Rietveld

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{

"text": "Gerrit Rietveld was a famous Dutch designer and architect.

Gerrit Rietveld (1888-1964)
Gerrit Rietveld (1888-1964)

He was born in Utrecht in August 1888. His father worked as a joiner, which is a person who makes things from wood. Rietveld left school when he was only 11 years old. He became an apprentice to his father to learn the craft. Later, he worked as a draughtsman for a jeweler named C. J. Begeer. By 1917, he had taught himself how to draw and paint. He then opened his own furniture workshop to make cabinets.

Armchair Roodblauwe Stoel, designed by Gerrit T. Rietveld, G. A. van de Groenekan, Utrecht NL, 1918, lacquered wood - Museum für Angewandte Kunst Köln - Cologne, Germany - DSC09583
Armchair Roodblauwe Stoel, designed by Gerrit T. Rietveld, G. A. van de Groenekan, Utrecht NL, 1918, lacquered wood - Museum für Angewandte Kunst Köln - Cologne, Germany - DSC09583

\n\nHe is well known for making very simple and clean furniture. In 1917, he designed the Red and Blue Chair.

Armchair Roodblauwe Stoel, designed by Gerrit T. Rietveld, G. A. van de Groenekan, Utrecht NL, 1918, lacquered wood - Museum für Angewandte Kunst Köln - Cologne, Germany - DSC09583
Armchair Roodblauwe Stoel, designed by Gerrit T. Rietveld, G. A. van de Groenekan, Utrecht NL, 1918, lacquered wood - Museum für Angewandte Kunst Köln - Cologne, Germany - DSC09583

He wanted his designs to be easy for factories to make. In 1918, he even started his own furniture factory. He joined an art group called De Stijl in 1919. This group changed the colors of his famous chair. In 1923, a man named Walter Gropius invited him to show his work at the Bauhaus. He also made the Zig-Zag Chair in 1934.

Gerrit rietveld, sedia zig-zag, 1938 ca
Gerrit rietveld, sedia zig-zag, 1938 ca

\n\nIn 1924, Rietveld worked with Truus Schröder-Schräder to build a house.

Rietveld Schröder House - Foto 1
Rietveld Schröder House - Foto 1

This is called the Rietveld Schröder House in Utrecht. The ground floor is normal, but the top floor is very different. It does not have fixed walls. Instead, it uses sliding walls to change the living spaces. This house is so special that it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. His work even inspired Truus' daughter, Han Schröder. She became one of the first female architects in the Netherlands.\n\nLater in his life, Rietveld changed his style of building. In 1928, he joined a group called the Congrès Internationaux d'Architecture Moderne. He began to focus on functionalist architecture. This means he wanted buildings to be useful for people. He cared about social housing and making homes more affordable. He used new materials like prefabricated concrete slabs in 1927. He finally put these ideas into practice in the 1950s. He worked on projects in Utrecht and Reeuwijk during this time.

[IMAGE:File:Le pavlon national des Pays-Bas (Biennale de Ven

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File:Armchair Roodblauwe Stoel, designed by Gerrit T. Rietveld, G. A. van de Groenekan, Utrecht NL, 1918, lacquered wood - Museum für Angewandte Kunst Köln - Cologne, Germany - DSC09583.jpg
Armchair Roodblauwe Stoel, designed by...
File:Rietveld Schröder House - Foto 1.jpg
Rietveld Schröder House - Foto 1.jpg
File:WLANL - jankie - Trappenhuis Van Gogh Museum vanaf de 1e verdieping.jpg
WLANL - jankie - Trappenhuis Van Gogh...
File:Gerrit rietveld, sedia zig-zag, 1938 ca.jpg
Gerrit rietveld, sedia zig-zag, 1938 ca.jpg
File:Le pavillon national des Pays-Bas (Biennale de Venise 2019) (48105010111).jpg
Le pavillon national des Pays-Bas...
File:Gerrit Rietveld (1888-1964).jpg
Gerrit Rietveld (1888-1964).jpg
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