Sybold Ravesteyn's modernist house in Utrecht opens to the public

A little known modernist gem in Utrech has just opened to public; and about time, as the house of architect Sybold van Ravesteyn (1889-1983) represents a fascinating architectural exercise in the space between functionalist utility and neo-baroque fantasy.
Compared to the famous Schroder House, built by Gerrit Rietveld in 1924 and located just a few metres away, Dutch modernist Sybold van Ravesteyn's home is still a relatively unknown example of European interwar architecture. Small, refined and surprising, the house has now launched as a museum, following extensive restoration this summer.
This simple brick structure with its curved walls and large circular window overlooking the street was built between 1932 and 1934. It demonstrates an arguably different approach to the modern architecture of its time and shows how modernist principles were used and occasionally regionally transformed during the 1930s, infusing strict rationalism with something more exuberant and fun.
This approach can also be seen as representative of Sybold van Ravesteyn‘s bold career. This prominent architect worked extensively for the Dutch railway system, designing train stations in Utrech (1936-1940), Rotterdam (1950-1957), Nijmegen (1954) as well as elsewhere across the country. During the 1930s, his austere formal language slowly changed in favour of organic curved forms, popular during that period.
But Ravesteyn went even further, using the decorative vocabulary of historical styles and integrating it into his modernist structures. Some of the most interesting examples of this symbiosis are his work for the Theater Kunstmin in Dordrecht (1938-1940) and Rotteram Zoo (1941). His own house in Utrecht, where he lived to the age of 92, is one of his first projects of this kind. It is an intimate example of an unorthodox stylistic fusion, closer perhaps to the work of Italian designer Carlo Mollino, than the more austere Dutch modern movement representatives of the time.
The house is equipped with several custom-designed elements and furnishing systems. The living room and study are located on the ground floor. This large, multifunctional space is organised around bespoke, built-in furniture, such as a cantilevered bar with curved glass shelves and expressive storage pieces. The ceiling is lined with glass to create a single, large illuminated panel. A colourful stairwell leads to the first floor, where three small bedrooms and a terrace are located.
The house is open to visitors by appointment, while also offers the option of overnight stay in one of the first floor bedrooms.
INFORMATION
monumentenbed.nl
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Adam Štěch is an architectural historian, curator, writer and photographer, based in Prague. He is the author of books including Modern Architecture and Interiors (2006), editor of design magazine Dolce Vita and a contributor to titles including Wallpaper* and Frame, while also teaching at Scholastika in Prague.
-
Venerable British car-maker AC goes OTT with the high-output, low-slung AC GT SuperSport
Pitched at all-American fans of the original AC Cobra, the GT SuperSport is a fearsome two-seat roadster with more muscle than ever before
-
The dynamic young gallerists reinvigorating America's art scene
'Hugging has replaced air kissing' in this new wave of galleries with craft and community at their core
-
Out of office: the Wallpaper* editors’ picks of the week
While a few of our editors were in Europe for various showcases and launches, others stayed local, uncovering new cuisines, eccentric exhibitions and glorious gardens this side of the Channel
-
A guide to modernism’s most influential architects
From Bauhaus and brutalism to California and midcentury, these are the architects who shaped modernist architecture in the 20th century
-
Mayumi Miyawaki’s Fukumura Cottage puts this lesser-known Japanese modernist in the spotlight
Discover the little-known modernist architect through this private home in Japan’s Tochigi prefecture countryside
-
Eileen Gray: A guide to the pioneering modernist’s life and work
Gray forever shaped the course of design and architecture. Here's everything to know about her inspiring career
-
Discover Canadian modernist Daniel Evan White’s pitch-perfect homes
Canadian architect Daniel Evan White (1933-2012) had a gift for using the landscape to create extraordinary homes; revisit his story in an article from the Wallpaper* archives (first published in 2011)
-
A night at Pierre Jeanneret’s house, Chandigarh’s best-kept secret
Pierre Jeanneret’s house in Chandigarh is a modernist monument, an important museum of architectural history, and a gem hidden in plain sight; architect, photographer and writer Nipun Prabhakar spent the night and reported back
-
Lina Bo Bardi, the misunderstood modernist, and her influential architecture
A sense of mystery clings to Lina Bo Bardi, a modernist who defined 20th-century Brazilian architecture, making waves still felt in her field; here, we explore her work and lasting influence
-
Oscar Niemeyer: a guide to the Brazilian modernist, from big hits to lesser-known gems
Architecture master Oscar Niemeyer defined 20th-century architecture and is synonymous with Brazilian modernism; our ultimate guide explores his work, from lesser-known schemes to his big hits; and we revisit a check-in with the man himself
-
Ma Yansong's latest project is anchored by a gleaming stainless steel 'tornado'
The new Fenix museum in Rotterdam, devoted to migration, marks MAD's first European cultural project.