Rietveld originals

Abstract

The work of architect Gerrit Th. Rietveld (1888 – 1964) is appreciated throughout the world. Many of the well-known buildings he designed have survived to the present. Some have been restored or refurbished, depending on the condition of the building, current needs of the building users, etc. Rietveld himself had a very clear vision about lifestyle, simplicity, restraint and use of space and building materials. His architecture reflects his vision beautifully. Some of Rietveld's buildings are likely to be affected by developments in the near future. Here, I will discuss his Amsterdam College of Art, which has been restored, and his Arnhem College of Art, which has been refurbished. The restoration and refurbishment approaches with Rietveld's philosophy of a sustainable way of life, sustainability considerations at the time of the restoration or refurbishment, and the current view will be compared in this paper. The approaches used to deal with these two are colleges were quite different and illustrate changing attitudes and may act as a pointer for future projects. These aspects fit in the conference theme’s of Building for Transformation. The De Ploeg factory in Bergeijk will be transformed in the near future and presents us with an opportunity to consider what options there are, bearing in mind Rietveld's philosophy. To what extent can we change a building like this and still consider it as a Rietveld design?