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

Posted April 14, 2024

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