(All images © Elsbeth Struijk van Bergen)

Above: Elsbeth Struijk van Bergen: “Robijnhof 13: Kitchen”

In the late 1950’s Gerrit Rietveld was commissioned to design a modernist, suburban paradise on the outskirts of Utrecht, The Netherlands. The management companies originally wanted architect J. J. P. Oud to do the job, but thankfully Oud convinced them that the “young” Mr. Rietveld was quite capable of designing the 194 rental dwellings by himself, with Oud as an unofficial, uncredited “supervisor”.

The resulting new neighborhood was a success. When the blue-collar tenants moved in to their new apartments they enjoyed a plethora of modern conveniences (hot water! showers! laundry spaces! ventilated kitchens!)
which had mostly been out of their reach so far.
In addition, their daily activities now took place in a typical Rietveldian space, filled with air and light, clean lines, and some of the clever traits of the Rietveld Schröder House in that same city, such as sliding walls and multi-functionional built-ins—albeit on a more modest scale.

Above: Elsbeth Struijk van Bergen: “Robijnhof 13: Coal Shed”

The entire complex was recently extensively renovated, from each interior to all the public spaces, under the supervision of Bertus Mulder, who was Rietveld’s right hand man for many years. To celebrate the occasion, the current management company, Bo-Ex (who previously restored other Rietveld projects), commissioned one of my best friends, Dutch photographer Elsbeth Struijk van Bergen, to document Robijnhof 13, the dwelling which has, post-renovation, become the project’s museum apartment.
Thanks to Robijnhof 13, which has been completely restored to its original state and was furnished with Pastoe and Rietveld furniture from around 1960, we can see what Rietveld envisioned, even though we look at it 50 years after the first inhabitants moved in. I love the drab pistachio color, combined with frosted glass and plywood, and the terrazzo bathroom sink with the white canvas skirt. Timeless and Dutch, no gimmicks necessary.

Elsbeth applied her usual sense of hyper-deliberate composition to the photographs.
She was asked to photograph modern people in the museum apartment, and to emphasize its timeless lines and functionality, rather then focus on its “retro” qualities.
To quote from the accompanying publication, “Rietvelds Robijnhof” , about Elsbeth’s series: “The space and the human characters engage in an interaction that frees the apartment from the (art)historical context, to reveal its intrinsical values.”
I couldn’t have said it better myself. Please enjoy a further selection from Elsbeth’s series:

Above: Elsbeth Struijk van Bergen: “Robijnhof 13: Living Room to Kitchen”

 

Above: Elsbeth Struijk van Bergen: “Robijnhof 13: Desk”

 

Above: Elsbeth Struijk van Bergen: “Robijnhof 13: Hallway”

 

Above: Elsbeth Struijk van Bergen: “Robijnhof 13: Living Room”

 

Above: Elsbeth Struijk van Bergen: “Robijnhof 13: Bathroom”

 

Above: Elsbeth Struijk van Bergen: “Robijnhof 13: Front Door”

Links:
>Elsbeth Struijk van Bergen’s site
>Centraal Museum Utrecht, who operate the museum apartment, will have an extensive Rietveld show called Rietveld’s Universe.
The Centraal Museum Utrecht is also where you can get more info on visiting Robijnhof 13.
>Elsbeth’s Robijnhof series was published in its entirety in a small book, entirely in Dutch, called “Rietvelds Robijnhof – De geschiedenis van een moderne Utrechtse buurt”, published by Thoth Publishers. ISBN 978 906868 4810.