BK Treasury

The Rietveld Chairs

Exhibition (2023)

Authors

C.A. van Wijk History, Form & Aesthetics - Architecture and the Built Environment

Contributors

J. Arpa Fernández The Why Factory - Architecture and the Built Environment (designer)
Research Group
History, Form & Aesthetics (Architecture and the Built Environment) (TU Delft)
More Info
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Published Date

2023

Language

English

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Faculty

Architecture and the Built Environment

Department

Architecture

Research Group

History, Form & Aesthetics

Abstract

Welcome to the opening exhibition of the BK Treasury. In a Faculty building whose corridors are habitually flooded with exhibitions showcasing current research and student work, this space will serve as a showcase for the treasures hidden in collection depots, both from TU Delft and other Institutions. The heritage of 160 years of our University’s existence, contributions from outside institutions, and partnerships will surprise and delight visitors. Moreover, it will form a point of departure for new developments at our faculty.

The Rietveld Chairs
This first exhibition at the BK Treasury shows some of the most extraordinary items in the collections: three of the six chairs that Gerrit Rietveld donated in 1964, on the occasion of receiving an honorary doctorate. Rietveld carefully selected these six chairs, that would support the Chair Collection’s mission in educating young designers.

All seven chairs are constructed from different materials or using different techniques, making them exceptionally well-suited to the Chair Collection’s purpose. Together, the chairs illustrate Rietveld’s experimental approach to furniture design. In more recent years, others have generously donated more Rietveld chairs, increasing our collection to a total of eleven original chairs and four replicas.