explore moreSonneveld House

Sonneveld House

Library, second floor. Sonneveld House, J.A. Brinkman and L.C. van der Vlugt, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 1929-1933.

Dining room and living room, second floor. Sonneveld House, J.A. Brinkman and L.C. van der Vlugt, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 1929-1933.

Dining room, second floor. Sonneveld House, J.A. Brinkman and L.C. van der Vlugt, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 1929-1933.

Kitchen, second floor. Sonneveld House, J.A. Brinkman and L.C. van der Vlugt, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 1929-1933.

Kitchen, second floor. Sonneveld House, J.A. Brinkman and L.C. van der Vlugt, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 1929-1933.

Studio, first floor. Sonneveld House, J.A. Brinkman and L.C. van der Vlugt, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 1929-1933.

Studio, first floor. Sonneveld House, J.A. Brinkman and L.C. van der Vlugt, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 1929-1933.

Parents’ bedroom, third floor. Sonneveld House, J.A. Brinkman and L.C. van der Vlugt, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 1929-1933.

Parents’ bedroom, third floor. Sonneveld House, J.A. Brinkman and L.C. van der Vlugt, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 1929-1933.

Parents’ bathroom, third floor. Sonneveld House, J.A. Brinkman and L.C. van der Vlugt, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 1929-1933.

Parents’ bedroom and bathroom, third floor. Sonneveld House, J.A. Brinkman and L.C. van der Vlugt, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 1929-1933.

Stairwell, second floor. Sonneveld House, J.A. Brinkman and L.C. van der Vlugt, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 1929-1933.

Guest rooms, third floor. Sonneveld House, J.A. Brinkman and L.C. van der Vlugt, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 1929-1933.

Bedroom of Puck Sonneveld, the oldest daughter, third floor. Sonneveld House, J.A. Brinkman and L.C. van der Vlugt, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 1929-1933.

Bedroom of Gesine Sonneveld, the youngest daughter, third floor. Sonneveld House, J.A. Brinkman and L.C. van der Vlugt, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 1929-1933.

Guest room, third floor. Sonneveld House, J.A. Brinkman and L.C. van der Vlugt, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 1929-1933.

Dressing room, third floor. Sonneveld House, J.A. Brinkman and L.C. van der Vlugt, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 1929-1933.

Servant’s room, first floor. Sonneveld House, J.A. Brinkman and L.C. van der Vlugt, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 1929-1933.

Library, second floor. Sonneveld House, J.A. Brinkman and L.C. van der Vlugt, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 1929-1933.

Consultation with the family

Brinkman and Van der Vlugt developed the house’s architecture, interior and decor as a total concept, working closely with their clients. Rooms for residents and staff were kept strictly separate. The architects chose the house’s colours and designed its facilities in consultation with the family. They were also involved in furnishing the interior down to the details. The reason they were able to devote so much time and attention to the design was that the country was in the grip of an economic malaise. After the 1929 stock market crash, no big commissions were forthcoming.

Colours

The house’s interior is characterised by warm, clear hues – vermilion, cornflower blue and egg-yolk yellow – in combination with light and dark grey and brown. For the soft furnishings, the architects used a colour range selected by the designer Bart van der Leck. In the living room and library, a yellow office chair and orange-red armchairs create accents against the neutral background of bronze, brown and beige. In the bedrooms and dining room, the reverse is true. Here, bright colours are applied to the large surfaces – red cabinets, blue curtains, yellow on the floor – while the table and chairs are in the neutral shades of natural wood, black, gray and chrome.