The Iconic Houses Network

20th century architect's houses and modern house museums form a unique category of sites open to the public. Whereas the buildings are located all around the world the professional issues that concern running the sites are more or less the same. Research initiatives and co-operation with universities and expert teams, restoration issues at large, audience development, caring of the collections and display strategies as well as temporary exhibitions programs represent some of the issues of mutual interest.

In 2012 a group of modern house museums started the Iconic Houses network.
The aim of the network is to provide a platform for professional discussion: to share not only the best practices but also encourage each other to develop new activities. We have lots of potential together. The first step is this website with almost 200 Iconic Houses that are open to the public.

The Iconic Houses Network brings professionals and sites together from all the corners of the world. This professional forum encourages sharing information and best practices as well as creating new and fruitful partnerships between organisations small and large.

Non Profit/ANBI-STATUS

The Iconic Houses Foundation is registered as a Public Benefit Organization (ANBI) at the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration. You can support our activities in a tax-efficient way.

Dutch donors can download in this link below the form Periodieke Gift in order to claim the maximum tax benefits allowed by Dutch tax law for their contributions.

U.S.-based donors can also support our activities in a tax-efficient way through a contribution to the American Friends of Iconic Houses at Every.org. Because Every.org is a 501c3 public charity, donors may claim the maximum tax benefits allowed by US law.
Any support is greatly appreciated!

ANBI Standaardformulier publicatieplicht

Statuten 2016
Strategic Plan and Action Plan 2021-2025
Jaarrekening 2024
Verslag activiteiten Iconic Houses Foundation 2024
Organigram

Iconic Houses Foundation
Amsterdam Chamber of Commerce Registration number: 55671284
RSIN: 851811735
Pieterskerkhof 8, 3512 JR Utrechts, The Netherlands
+31 6 22 69 07 11, www.iconichouses.org
info [at] iconichouses [dot] org

Iconic Houses Foundation

Executive Director and Founder: Natascha Drabbe
Natascha Drabbe is the Founder and Executive Director of the Iconic Houses Network. She holds a degree in Architectural History from Utrecht University, the Netherlands, and has published, curated, lectured, and served on design and architecture juries both nationally and internationally. From 2002 to 2006, she worked as International Project Manager at the Dutch Design Foundation. In 2007, she established the Mart van Schijndel Foundation to preserve the legacy of architect Mart van Schijndel and open his private house in Utrecht for cultural activities such as tours, lectures, concerts, and film screenings. This initiative led to the creation of the Iconic Houses Foundation, launched in 2012 with the website iconichouses.org.

Foundation Board

Our board comprises five dedicated and passionate members who guide the Iconic Houses Foundation. Board positions are unpaid. Meet the team:

Chair: Paul Baltus
Paul Baltus (born 1960) has been the general director of Stichting Amersfoort in C since June 2014, a collaborative partnership of four cultural institutions in Amersfoort, Netherlands: Museum Flehite, Mondriaanhuis, Kunsthal KAdE, and the Centre for Architecture and Urban Design FASadE. Under his leadership, the Mondriaanhuis has gained international recognition, including the Bronze MUSE Award for its multimedia installations. Baltus was also a co-initiator of the DOMunder Visitor Center in Utrecht. His expertise in cultural management and fundraising is a strong asset in his current position. Baltus joins the board of Iconic Houses as Chair since 2025.

“Iconic Houses creates a unique bridge between architecture, heritage, and the public. As chair, I aim to strengthen that connection so these remarkable houses continue to inspire future generations around the world. Sharing knowledge and experience is invaluable in achieving this. With my background in culture and organizational development, I hope to help the network grow and further expand its international presence.”

Treasurer: Huub Wüst

Huub Wüst is a partner in the Assurance practice of PwC Netherlands. His experience covers a broad range of sectors and industries, with a specialization in listed companies and social housing corporations. After studying Business Economics in Groningen, he began his professional career at PwC in 1989 and was admitted to the partnership in 2001. His longstanding interest in architecture deepened during the design and construction of his family home in Amsterdam.

"I enjoy contributing to the Iconic Houses Foundation. It’s rewarding to see the instrumental role the foundation plays in connecting museum houses with each other and with architecture enthusiasts, helping to keep valuable heritage alive."

Secretary: Carmen Louwe
Carmen Louwe (born 1992) has been working in the monument sector since 2015. She began her career at the Hendrick de Keyser Association, where she discovered her passion for remarkable interiors, restoration projects, and modern architecture. From 2021 to 2025, she served as a communications advisor at Hylkema Erfgoed, contributing to projects including Soestdijk Palace and Buitenplaats Doornburgh. In 2025, she joined the National Heritage Agency, where she focuses on securing a sustainable future for Dutch heritage through knowledge sharing.

“As a board member of Iconic Houses, I am proud to support this unique international network of residential homes. Ensuring that these iconic houses remain open to the public is vital—but that can only happen if architecture enthusiasts know how to discover them. It is a privilege to help make these hidden gems more accessible through Iconic Houses.”

Board member: Natalie Dubois
Natalie Dubois (born 1973) is a curator of applied art and design at the Centraal Museum in Utrecht, the Netherlands. She has been with the museum since 2000 and has held her current position since 2015. In this role, she oversees the museum's collection of applied arts and design, including the two Rietveld houses. Dubois studied art history at the University of Amsterdam and New York University, and museology at the Reinwardt Academy in Amsterdam. She is also active in the international heritage community and has contributed to Iconic Houses, a network of architecturally significant house museums.
In her work, Dubois focuses on the influence of women in architecture and design. She has curated exhibitions and written about the roles of women such as Truus Schröder-Schräder, Hélène Kröller-Müller, and Lotte Stam-Beese in the creation of iconic houses. Her research highlights how these women shaped modern architecture through their vision and collaboration with architects.

“Iconic Houses is a wonderful organization. The global network of open iconic homes is incredibly valuable, and there is so much we can learn from each other! I’m happy to be able to contribute ideas about the direction and future of the foundation.”

Board member: Marcel van Soest
Marcel van Soest is an experienced notary and the founder of Civilence, a notary firm in Amsterdam specializing in corporate law. After studying Notarial Law at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, he began his career at Houthoff Buruma. Since 2007, he has been a partner at Civilence and was appointed notary in 2010. His expertise includes mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, restructurings, and corporate governance. Additionally, he serves as a board member of the Iconic Houses Foundation.

Previous Board Members
Nanne de Ru
Dr. Hetty Berens
Prof. Emeritus Hendrik-Jann De Ru
Mr. Nick van Buitenen
Drs. Mariet Willinge

Organigram
Organigram

International Advisory Board

The network is managed by the Iconic Houses Foundation.
The International Advisory Board of the Foundation includes:

Iveta Černá, Head of Villa Tugendhat, Brno City Museum, Brno, Czech Republic
Katya Degrieck, Head of Large Partnerships, Northern Europe at Google, Belgium
Justin W. Gunther, Director Fallingwater, Mill Run, PA, USA
Anne Rowe, Director of Heritage, Sunnylands Center & Gardens, Rancho Mirage, CA, USA

Ambassadors

We want to thank our ambassadors:
Hetty Berens, Conservator Emerita, Sonneveld House at Het Nieuwe Instituut, Rotterdam (Netherlands).
Kenneth Frampton, Architect, critic, historian and the Ware Professor of Architecture at the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation at Columbia University New York (USA).
Wessel de Jonge, Architect and Co-founder of DOCOMOMO International (Netherlands).
Mateo Kries, Director Vitra Design Museum (Germany).
Glen Murcutt, Architect and 2002 Pritzker Architecture Prize Winner (Australia).
Raymond Neutra, President of the Neutra Institute for Survival Through Design (USA).
Nanne de Ru, Architect, Founding Director of Powerhouse Company and Red Company, Rotterdam (Netherlands).

Past Ambassador:
Jean-Louis Cohen (1949-2023) Professor, Architecture Theoretician (France/USA).

Criteria to Join as House Museum

To be included as a modern house museum or artists' home and studio on the Iconic Houses world map and in its directory:

1. The house must be recognized for its significance in the development of modern architecture of the 20th century.

2. The house must be designed by an architect who played an influential role in the development of 20th century architecture as demonstrated through scholarly publications.

3. The house must be in its original condition or restored to its original state. The house may not be significantly renovated or expanded in a way that negatively impacts the architects’ original vision.

4. The house must be available for public visitation either through regular hours of operation or by appointment. Information regarding hours of operation and any restrictions such as exterior viewing only, must be published on a wesbite along with physical address and contact information including email address and telephone number.

If the house meets these criteria, the organization running the house can participate in the Iconic Houses Network in different membership levels. This explains why some houses are presented more extensively than others.

Mission Statement

The foundation's objective is:
promoting the preservation and cultural heritage of modern house museums, architects’ houses and artists' homes and studios, collectively referred to as 'ICONIC HOUSES'.

The foundation seeks to achieve these goals by:

1. expanding and maintaining a network of owners or directors of Iconic Houses;

2. bringing Iconic Houses to the attention of the general public with every available communication tool;

3. advancing knowledge about maintaining Iconic Houses and about preventing mutilation and demolition;

4. identifying, creating and maintaining documentation of Iconic Houses;

5. organizing conferences;

6. raising funds for projects that aim to support the Iconic Houses' mission, and projects that can help achieve its mission;

7. moreover, everything that can directly or indirectly relate to or assist the mission, in the broadest sense of the word.

Meet the Volunteers

Alice Marques
Monique van Dongen
Emma Valjakka

Emily Wijns is a collection care specialist with a love for modern architecture, interior design and preserving heritage. She is responsible for the care and conservation of Huis Sonneveld in Rotterdam. Emily assists with Iconic Houses’ marketing and social media.


Klaas-Jan Visser is a tax specialist assisting Iconic Houses with streamlining our international fundraising efforts, notably ensuring that local donors can where possible access local tax facilities.