Mackintosh’s Hill House Becomes an International Iconic House!
SPECIAL – Czech Classics
Record Number of Modern House Museums Newly Affiliated with Iconic Houses
Laichter House: The Story of Burnt Books and Broken Bricks
Iconic Houses Network Members' Meetup London, November 4
Remembering Irving J. Gill
Iconic Houses in the Media
Interview in Leading Catalan newspaper ARA
Bauhaus Villa in Berlin For Sale
Historical Exhibition, Marie-Laure de Noailles, Painter, Conversation
Our Badge of Honour
Istanbul’s Modernist Ataköy Housing Estate is At Risk
Early Furniture Designs by Le Corbusier on Permanent Display in Maison Blanche
Photo Report City Icons Amsterdam
Healing Through Architecture
Reopening An Iconic Modernist Landmark
City Icons Kick Off with Talk by Linda Vlassenrood
MORE MIES - Pure Architecture in Haus Lange Haus Esters
Through a Bauhaus Lens: Edith Tudor-Hart and Isokon
Modernism Week Lecture: 12 Years of Iconic Houses
Aluminaire House Grand Opening
Exhibition Icons of the Czech Avant-Garde
An Elementalist and Mediterranean Architecture
Icon for Sale - Loos Villa: Haus Horner
SPECIAL – Iconic Dreams Europe - Sleep in an Iconic House!
SPECIAL – Iconic Dreams North America - Sleep in an Iconic House!
SPECIAL – Dutch Delights!
SPECIAL - Vacances en France!
SPECIAL – German Greats!
SPECIAL - Casas Icónicas en España!
SPECIAL – Northern (High)Lights!
SPECIAL – Iconic Artist Residencies
SPECIAL – Iconic Collective Housing
SPECIAL – Women & Iconic Houses
Public Screenings and Private Streaming of Pioneers of the Dutch Modern House
Support the Frankfurt Declaration (on Housing)
Winy Wants a World Wonder
Welcome Atelier Volten!
Sleep in a Modernist Gem – Huis Billiet in Bruges
Iconic Houses in The Netherlands - 100 Years Van Zessen House
Exclusive Tour and Film Screening Package
The Last House Designed by Adolf Loos Will Be Built in Prague
Icons of the Czech Avantgarde
Icon for Sale - Casa Legorreta
Rietveld Day: 200 Enthusiasts Explored 3 Utrecht Icons
Hurray! 10 Years Iconic Houses
7th International Iconic Houses Conference A Huge Success
Meet Conference Co-Chair Iveta Černá
Meet Conference Co-Chair Maria Szadkowska
Eighteen Iconic Houses Under One Roof
17 June - 'Pioneers-film' Screening Amersfoort
Iconic Houses in The Netherlands - Van Eesteren House Museum
Welcome Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky Zentrum in Vienna!
Welcome Vila Volman! Jewel of Czech Functionalism
Movie Night: Adolf Loos- Revolutionary Among Architects
'Inside Iconic Houses' Case Study House #26 Webcast in Webshop
Inside Iconic Houses at Taut’s Home in Berlin
Rediscovering Forgotten Loos Interiors in Pilsen
'Inside Iconic Houses' - Online Tour Program
Iconic Houses in The Netherlands - The Diagoon House
Iconic Houses in The Netherlands - Rietveld Schröder House
Rietveld Houses Owners Association
Corberó Space: New Life for Hidden Jewel
Iconic Houses in The Netherlands - Pierre Cuypers' House and Workshops
Reeuwijk Celebrates Completion of Restoration Rietveld Homes!
Iconic Houses in The Netherlands - Van Doesburg Rinsema House
Welcome Rietveld's Van Daalen House!
Architect Harry Gessner Passed Away at 97
Watch Pioneers of the Dutch Modern House Now On Demand
Icon Saved: Dorchester Drive House
Welcome Umbrella House!
Iconic Houses in the Netherlands – Berlage’s Masterpiece
Iconic Houses in The Netherlands - Het Schip
Inside Iconic Houses - Tour of Maison Cazenave
Inside Iconic Houses Tours Vizcaya Museum & Gardens in Miami
Casa Masó Celebrates 10 Year Anniversary
Inside Iconic Houses tours Roland Reisley's Usonian Frank Lloyd Wright House
Rietveld’s Experimental Housing in Reeuwijk Saved
Serralves Villa after restoration
Portraits of the Architect - Interview with Gennaro Postiglione
Test Labs for New Ideas - Interview with Natascha Drabbe
Inside Iconic Houses - Isokon Building
Inside Iconic Houses - 16 December: Sunnylands with Janice Lyle
BCN-BXL Coderch-De Koninck - Beyond Time
New Chairman Architect Nanne de Ru on The Perfect Platform
Health and Home - Interview with Beatriz Colomina
A Life Less Ordinary – Interview with Valentijn Carbo
Invisible Women - Interview with Alice T. Friedman
Winy Maas on the Green Dip
Anita Blom on Experimental Housing of the 1970s
Women’s Worlds - Interview with Natalie Dubois
The Culture of Living - Interview with Robert von der Nahmer
Hetty Berens: A Fresh Take on Modernism
Niek Smit on Supporting Modern Heritage
Alice Roegholt on Amsterdam’s Working-Class Palaces
July is Iconic Houses Month
Hans van Heeswijk on The Pioneers of the Dutch Modern House
Wessel de Jonge on Dutch Icons at Risk
Save Maison Zilveli - Sign the Petition!
How a Building Tells a Story - Recorded Event
Toolkit for Owners of a Modern House
13 Aalto Sites Nominated for UNESCO World Heritage
Villa Beer At Risk - Sign the Petition!
Business Cards of Stone, Timber and Concrete in the Brussels Region 1830-1970
Exhibiting & Visiting Modernist Monuments
Fostering Well-Researched Responsible Design
ICONS AT RISK
Enjoy a virtual visit to the California House and a Q&A with architect Peter Gluck
Exhibition 'Modernism and Refuge'
A Hidden Gem of Postmodernism
New Centre for Historic Houses of India
An Online Chronicle of the Douglas House
Villa Henny, geometric style icon in The Netherlands
A Mendini temple in Amsterdam
IH-lectures USA & Canada Feb 2020 on Melnikov House
Sponsors and Friends
An Afternoon with the Glucks
Chandler McCoy on Making Modern Houses Sustainable
Catherine Croft: Getting Away from the Demolition Mentality in the UK
Patrick Weber on Discovering an Unknown Icon
Fiona Fisher on Iconic Interiors
Jocelyn Bouraly on Villa Cavrois
Mireia Massagué on finding success through a new kind of partnership
Danish Moderns – Looking Back at Our Mini-Seminar
Venturo house complements Exhibition Centre WeeGee’s offering
Lecture report: Remembering Richard Neutra
Hôtel Mezzara and the Guimard Museum project
We welcome 13 new members!
BREAKING NEWS: 8 Wright Sites Inscribed on Unesco World Heritage List!
LECTURE 29 August - Raymond Neutra: My Father and Frank Lloyd Wright
Iconic Reads
Iconic Houses End Year Message
City-ordered rebuild of landmark house stirs debate: Appropriate or overreach?
Kohlberg House Restoration in Progress
Planned Demolition of Rietveld Homes in Reeuwijk
Renovation Gili House in Crisis
An Iconic Saga
Restoring Eileen Gray’s Villa E-1027 and Clarifying the Controversies
Modernism on the East Coast
Iconic Houses in Latin America
Conference testimonials
House Tours May 2018
Expert Meetings
Natascha Drabbe - Iconic Houses: The Next Chapter
Terence Riley -KEYNOTE SPEAKER- on Philip Johnson
New era for Villa E-1027 and Cap Moderne
Hilary Lewis on Philip Johnson and his Glass House
John Arbuckle on Great House Tours
William D. Earls on the Harvard Five in New Canaan
Stover Jenkins on Working for Philip Johnson
Frederick Noyes on his Father’s House
Scott Fellows and Craig Bassam on their Passion for Preservation
Jorge Liernur -KEYNOTE SPEAKER- on Latin American Modernism(s)
Fabio Grementieri on Modernism in Argentina
Catalina Corcuera Cabezut on Casa Luis Barragán
Renato Anelli on Lina Bo Bardi’s Casa de Vidro
Tim McClimon on Corporate Preservation
Amanda Nelson on Building Donor Relationships
John Bacon on Planned Giving
Jean-Paul Warmoes on the Art of Fundraising in America
Chandler McCoy on Why Less is More
Katherine Malone-France on Moving with the Times
Anne Mette Rahbæk on Philanthropic Investments and Preservation
Peter McMahon on Saving Modern Houses on Cape Cod
Toshiko Kinoshita on Japanese Modern Heritage Houses
Roland Reisley on Life in a Frank Lloyd Wright House
5th Iconic Houses Conference May 2018
Kristin Stone, Pasadena Tour Company
Restoring the past: The Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo Home Studio
Behind the Scenes: Hendrick de Keyser Association
Crosby Doe, Architecture for Sale
Latin America Special – Focus on Mexico
De Stijl in Drachten
Preserving the Nancarrow House-Studio
Meet the Friends - Nanne de Ru
Latin America Special – Focus on Brazil
Jan de Jong’s House is Latest Hendrick de Keyser Acquisition
Stay in a Belgian Modernist Masterpiece
In Berlin’s Modernist Network
Rietveld-Schröder House Celebrates De Stijl Anniversary
Meet Our New Foundation Board Members
Maintaining Aalto's Studio – Linoleum Conservation
Virtual Tour of a Papaverhof Home in 3D
Getty Grant for Villa E-1027
Plečnik House in Ljubljana
Iconic Dacha
Iconic Houses: A Bohemian Road Trip
Work in Progress: Capricho de Gaudí
11 Le Corbusier Homes now on Unesco World Heritage List
At home with Le Corbusier
Henry van de Velde’s Study in Haus Hohe Pappeln Restored
Lynda Waggoner reports
A Conference to Remember
4th International Iconic Houses Conference
Guest of Honor - Harry Gesner
Fallingwater: European Lecture Tour
Wright Plus 2016 Walk
Susan Macdonald, Getty Conservation Institute
John Mcllwee, Garcia House
Meet the Friends – Elisabeth Tostrup
Iconic Houses: The Story So Far
Willie van Burgsteden, designer Iconic Houses
Buff Kavelman, Philanthropic Advisor
Meet the Friends - Frederick Noyes
Sheridan Burke, GML Heritage
Meet the Friends - Raymond Neutra
Sidney Williams, Frey House
Franklin Vagnone and Deborah Ryan, Museum Anarchists
Meet the Friends - James Haefner
Toshiko Mori, architect
Malachi Connolly, Cape Cod Modern House Trust
Meet the Friends - Penny Sparke
Lucia Dewey Atwood, Eames House
Cory Buckner, Mutual Housing Site Office
Jeffrey Herr, Hollyhock House
Speaking Volumes: Building the Iconic Houses Library
Sarah Lorenzen, Neutra VDL Studio and Residences
Ted Bosley, Gamble House
Keeping It Modern - Getty Conservation Grants
Meet the Friends - Thomas Schönauer
Wim de Wit, Stanford University
Linda Dishman, Los Angeles Conservancy
Jesse Lattig, Pasadena Heritage
Join us in Los Angeles! Update
Work in Progress: Casa Vicens
Work in Progress: Van Wassenhove House
Work in Progress: Villa Cavrois
Work in Progress: The Pearlroth House
Conference calls!
Follow us!
Third Iconic Houses Conference a huge success
Conference House Tours Barcelona
Marta Lacambra, Fundació Catalunya-La Pedrera
Natascha Drabbe, Iconic Houses Foundation
Special speaker Oscar Tusquets
Jordi Tresserras, UNESCO Network ‘Culture, tourism and development’
Christen Obel, Utzon Foundation
Elena Ruiz Sastre, Casa Broner
Fernando Alvarez Prozorovich, La Ricarda
Tim Benton, Professor of Art History (Emeritus)
Susana Landrove, Docomomo Spain
Rossend Casanova, Casa Bloc
Conference Program 25 November 2014
Jordi Falgàs, Casa Rafael Masó
Documentary La Ricarda
Marga Viza, Casa Míla/La Pedrera
Celeste Adams, Frank Lloyd Wright Trust
Conference 25 November 2014 at La Pedrera
Henry Urbach, The Glass House
Victoria & Albert Museum London November 12
Tommi Lindh, new director of the Alvar Aalto Foundation and Museum
Iveta Černá, Villa Tugendhat
Lynda Waggoner, Fallingwater
Kimberli Meyer, MAK Center
Rent a house designed by Gerrit Rietveld
Barragán House on Screen
Gesamtkunstwerk – An Icon on the Move
Triennale der Moderne 27 September - 13 October 2013
Prestigious Art Nouveau mansions in Brussels open
September 14 + 15: Heritage Days in Paris
June's New Arrivals: Museum Apartments
Iconic Houses is now on Twitter and Facebook
Corbu’s Cabanon: Reconstruction and Lecture
Projekt Mies In Krefeld: Life-sized model of the Krefeld Clubhouse
New arrivals: Spain special
MAMO: Le Corbu’s ‘Park in the Sky’ open 12 June
Taut's Home wins Europa Nostra Award
Annual Wright Architectural Housewalk: 18 May
Frank Lloyd Wright Homes on Screen
Message from the Editor
Neutra’s House on Screen
Michel Richard, Fondation Le Corbusier
Symposium The Public and the Modern House
Melnikov House on Screen
Iconic Houses in the media
Message from the Editor
Round Table Review
Eileen Gray House on Screen
Copy Culture
At Home in the 20th Century
New 20th century Iconic Houses website launches
Philippe Bélaval, Centre des monuments nationaux
SPECIAL – Iconic Dreams Europe - Sleep in an Iconic House!
Always wanted to sleep in a museum? Now's your chance! Iconic Houses' members include an exclusive selection of museum homes that you can rent for a holiday. Most houses served as weekend or holiday homes for their owners, giving architects more creative freedom. These well designed, authentic, and often experimental houses have wonderful stories to tell.
The houses are popular with architecture enthusiasts, so early booking is recommended. Here is a selection of European highlights, ranging from villas originally commissioned by industrialists to apartments for the middle class and from a hidden Brutalist gem in Belgium to a 'whale house' on the coast of Italy.
It is also great to see that by renting these houses you contribute to the preservation of this architectural heritage for future generations. It is a win-win situation where you not only get a unique experience, but also play an important role in the preservation of cultural heritage.
We’ve arranged the houses here below for you by country.
We look forward to introducing more iconic holiday homes to you soon!
We want your tips!
We’re always looking out for new and inspiring examples. So, if you know a unique and unmissable house from the 20th century, please tell us about it by mailing info@iconichouses.org. Thanks for your suggestions!
AUSTRIA
Haus Dellacher, Oberwart, 1969
The Dellacher House, built between 1965 and 1969 by Raimund Abraham for his childhood friend Max Dellacher, is one of the most iconic modern buildings in Austria. After being empty for almost 15 years, it was renovated in 2016 and since 2020 you can book an overnight stay there. In the beautiful landscape of southern Burgenland, the house sits like a sculpture in the surrounding nature. Just like Loos and Frank Lloyd Wright, who incorporated Japanese influences into their designs, Abraham was also inspired by clear language, honest materials, and spatial experience, which are best expressed in the dining room. In 2018, a sculpture park was added with pieces by regional artists.
BELGIUM
Huis Billiet, Bruges, 1928
Billiet House, designed by architect Huib Hoste in 1927 for Jules Billiet and his family, has been restored to its former glory in 2017 after years of neglect. The former diamond cutting factory at the rear now serves as living space for the owners, while the house has been returned to its original splendour. Since 1995, the house has been protected as a monument, saved from threatened demolition. The play of colours on floors, walls and interior carpentry is a highlight of this monument. With geometric surfaces in ten different colours, inspired by a design from 1925, the living room creates a lively 3D effect. The play of colours extends throughout the entire house, from the entrance hall to the bathroom, and makes Huis Billiet a unique experience.
Van Wassenhove House, Sint-Martens-Latem, 1974
In 1974, the Belgian architect Juliaan Lampens designed the Van Wassenhove House in Sint-Martens-Latem. The house, made of concrete, wood and glass, houses all functions in one open space: the sleeping area in a circle, the kitchen in a triangle and the study in a square. This unique design radiates tranquility and invites serenity, making the house an oasis of zen.
CZECH REPUBLIC
Vila Volman, Čelákovice, 1938-1939
Vila Volman is located just a 40-minute drive from the Prague city centre. This hidden gem of Czech modernism opened to the public in autumn 2022 and has since welcomed more than 15,000 visitors on tours available in English, French, and Czech. For an even better experience, it is highly recommended to book a private tour with one of the villa’s expert guides by making an appointment through the website. For architecture and history lovers, the villa offers a unique and unforgettable experience: an overnight stay, allowing you to fully soak in its unique atmosphere throughout the day, evening, and night. The stay includes a private English-language tour of the villa and a rich breakfast.
Hotel Avion, Brno, 1928
The Avion Hotel, an icon of the Czechoslovak avant-garde from the interwar period, symbolizes innovation. Designed by architect Bohuslav Fuchs and opened in 1928, it is one of Europe's narrowest hotel complexes with ten floors. Located in the historic heart of Brno, it covers only 8 meters wide and 34 meters deep but reaches up to 40 meters high. With 37 rooms and a restaurant on the ground floor, the hotel offers a spectacular space that highlights Fuchs' influence on Brno's urban planning. Home to its permanent exhibition about Fuchs, the Avion Hotel remains a globally recognized symbol of architectural innovation.
Villa Winternitz, Prague, 1932
Completed in 1929, Villa Winternitz is the last masterpiece by Adolf Loos and Karel Lhota before Loos' death. The spacious house embodies Loos' Raumplan concept, with staggered floors that provide a unique spatial experience. With built-in furniture, beautiful materials and surprising colours, the craftsmanship radiates. For adventurous spirits, Villa Winternitz offers the opportunity to rent the house for an overnight stay. Here you can enjoy the beautiful details, the three terraces and the lush garden undisturbed. A chance to experience the heritage of Loos and Lhota in an enchanting setting.
ESTONIA
Villa Tammekan, Tartu, 1932
It is possible to stay overnight at the Villa Tammekann in Estonia and thus experience the unique environment of this design by Alvar Aalto. Although stays are primarily intended for university staff on work visits, special groups interested in architecture are also welcomed. With two twin rooms and three single rooms a stay includes also use of the sauna :-)
FINLAND
Paimio Sanatorium, Paimio, 1933
Iconic Houses is not just about 20th-century residential gems that have become house museums. We also collect hotels designed by renowned architects because they offer a unique opportunity to experience great architecture. Now, the world-famous Paimo Sanatorium is opening its rooms for the summer season for overnight stays. It's the ultimate place to recharge your batteries in nature - be the first to experience it!
GERMANY
A house from Taut, Berlin, 1930
In the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Horseshoe Estate, the modest Taut’s Home stands like a time machine to the stylish Berlin of the 1930s. The owner couple, a graphic designer and a landscape architect, even won the prestigious Europa Nostra Award for their sublimely restored home. This home can accommodate up to four guests. It is perhaps the most authentic experience to feel the spirit of Berlin's emerging modernism and Golden Twenties. With its historical context and unique restoration, Taut’s Home is a true gem for architecture and history lovers.
Haus Schminke, Löbau, 1933
In 1933, Hans Scharoun designed the remarkable Haus Schminke for Fritz Schminke, owner of a nearby noodle factory. Infused with practical details, this house suited the family life of six perfectly. The spacious windows flood the interior with light and offer panoramic views. The original 'Frankfurt Kitchen’, flowing spaces and child-friendly details make it a cheerful place. A must experience for architecture lovers is enjoying a glass of wine in the winter garden after an overnight stay. Upon request, extra beds can be added for up to twelve guests. The Haus Schminke embodies timeless elegance and family friendliness.
ITALY
Villa Leoni, Tremezzina, Lake Como, 1944
Villa Leoni, designed by Pietro Lingeri as a summer residence for the Leoni family, reflects the charm of Lake Como. With living rooms on the lower floor and bedrooms on the upper floor overlooking the lake through large glass fronts, it exudes a timeless elegance. The service rooms are strategically located upstream on both floors. Lake Como is known worldwide for its breath taking scenery and countless historic villas, once summer residences of noble Lombard families. Unsurprisingly, the lake is often chosen as a filming location, with productions such as John Irvin's 'A Month by the Lake' and George Lucas' 'Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones' filmed near Villa Leoni.
Villa Morassuti, San Martino di Castrozza, 1956
Villa Morassutti, is an iconic work from 1956 by architect Bruno Morassutti in the enchanting Dolomites. It combines the local building traditions of the Dolomites with elements of Venetian architecture. The central hall, a nod to architects from the Veneto, functions as the beating heart of the house, both symbolically and functionally. Morassutti's influences are broad, from his postgraduate studies with Frank Lloyd Wright to Japanese interiors. The separation of the house into day and night areas was ground breaking for its time. Villa Morassutti remains a timeless example of architectural ingenuity and cultural integration.
Casa Saldarini, Baratti, Piombino, 1965
In 1961 Casa Saldarini was built on the Gulf of Baratti, a treasure in Tuscany. Designed by Vittorio Giorgini of Florence, this house is known as Casa Dinosauro or the Whale House. It was pioneering work: the first building ever to rest on a wire construction of iso-elastic membrane and concrete. This concept laid the foundation for later works, including Maison Bernard in Théoule-sur-Mer and the famous Palais Bulles, Pierre Cardin's holiday home, by Hungarian architect Antti Lovag. This architectural masterpiece exudes the spirit of innovation, set along Italy's glorious coastline.
Casa Salvati, Toscolano-Maderno, 1972
Casa Salvati is a gem for individualists and design lovers, an original architect house from 1972. In 1972 the main ambition was the construction of three summer homes at the shores of lake Garda. Designs were intended for personal use of the architect Alberto Salvati (born in 1935) and his family from Milan. In the family's own olive grove on a hill between Gardone Riviera and Maderno, an ensemble with 3 cubes was created, which are aligned on the north-south axis and look like sculptures from a distance.
NETHERLANDS
Dijkstra House, Groet, 1934
Dijkstra House dates from 1934 and embodies the modernist ideas of that time. This summer house, close to the sea and dunes, perfectly illustrates the experimental architecture of the 1930s. It was designed by the progressive architects Ben Merkelbach and Charles Karsten, leading figures of the 'New Building'. Preserved in its original state, it now offers the possibility of holiday accommodation through Hendrick de Keyser Monuments. Merkelbach's office, known for its public housing and commercial buildings, also realized notable projects such as the Avro studio in Hilversum (1936).
SPAIN
Can Lis, Mallorca, 1971
In 1971, architect Jørn Utzon completed his own house Can Lis, located on a steep cliff near Porto Petro, Mallorca. After leaving the Sydney Opera House project, Utzon found a new home here. Can Lis embraces traditional Mallorcan construction methods and local materials, organically integrating them into the daily lives of Utzon's family. For Utzon, architecture was more than an external form; it provided the framework for family life’s rituals. The Utzon Foundation offers architects and students the opportunity to experience Can Lis in the months when the house is not in use by an artist in residence. This architectural gem is a testament to Utzon's connection with the environment and his vision on architecture.
SWITZERLAND
Casa Navegna, Zurich, 1929
Architecture, art and nature lovers seeking a peaceful retreat will fall in love with the spectacular setting of Casa Navegna on the Swiss-Italian border. Built in 1929 by architect Ernst Bechstein, it was the first modernist house in the region. Today, Casa Navegna is considered one of Bechstein's most important projects in the style of Neues Bauen.
SWB Guest Apartment, Zurich, 1932
In 1932, the SWB Guest Apartment in Zurich on the Neubühl estate was introduced with the slogan “Live as if you were on holiday”. This architectural gem, designed by Paul Artaria and his team, embodied the ideal of living with light, air and sun. Located between the Uetliberg and Lake Zurich, the apartment offers a unique experience. Now rented by the Swiss Werkbund, the apartment still exudes the charm of modern classics from Swiss furniture history, including the Ulmer stool and table by Max Bill, beds by Alfred Roth, armchairs by Werner Max Moser, and the iconic height-adjustable table by Jürg Bally.
Posted April 14, 2024