Content: Piet Mondrian and De Stijl Movement SECOND PART Ex. 14 a. Look carefully at images A, B and C, then choose which one is built using neoplastic principles and try to explain why. Before answering, read some of the neoplastic architecture points, according to Theo van Doesburg who wrote Towards Plastic Architecture, Paris 1924. (individual work and then in pairs) A B C A. Batlo House B. Schröder House C. Ville Savoye The new architecture is anti- cubic, which specifies that it does not attempt to combine all functional space- cells into one closed cube, but projects the functional space- cells (as well as extending planes, the volumes of balconies forwards) giving a completely new plastic expression in open space; It is an economic and functional architecture; It is not monumental, non- ornate, the form is open to the exterior through horizontal windows and balconies; The new architecture has suppressed monotonous symmetry as well as the rigid equality which results from division into two halves or the use of the mirror image; In contrast to frontalism, which was born out of a rigid, static concept of life, the new architecture offers the plastic richness of an all- sided development in space- time. Ex. 14 b. Write a brief explanation
15 a. Now look at the houses depicted below (A- B- C) and try to explain which one of these can be linked to the artworks shown below (images 1 and 2) and say why. (individual work and then in pairs) A B C 1 2 P. Mondrian, Tableau I, 1921 T.Van Doesburg and C. van Eesteren, Study for a house, 1923 Ex. 15 b. Write a brief explanation
Ex. 16a Look at the Schröder House, match and complete these questions. Then do the exercise n.16.b (individual work and then in pairs) 1 Which aspects i) the roof like? 2 What construction iii) introduce important innovations? materials 3 Who was can be associated to the colours of the house? 4 How many iv) the architect who made the Schröder House? 5 In which floor plan did the architect 6 What is v) floors are there in the house? vi) are used for building the house? A The roof is flat and it can be used as a terrace; B Gerrit Thomas Rietveld designed this house in 1924; C The house was built using traditional construction materials, such as bricks and wood, apart from few elements, such as the foundations and the balcony base, made of reinforced concrete C There are only two floors: ground floor and upper floor D In the upper floor important innovations were introduced by the architect: sliding wooden panels to make the organization of the interior space flexible and functional. E The colours can be associated with different aspects: white and grey underline the volume of the house, black to define doors and windows frames and primary colours are used for exterior railings and interior spaces to underline the asymmetrical design and different functions of interior space. Ex. 16.b Put the above sentences in the correct order and re- write them in the following boxes
Innovative Learning Paths for Clil towards a plurilingual education 2016-2017 Ex. 17.a First of all, see the two plans of the house: the ground floor (see image a) and the first or upper floor (see images b1- b2). Read the text below (the interior design) and then do exercise n.17.b. (individual work and then in pairs) a b1 b2
The Interior design The interior of the house is divided into two levels or floors; the private rooms are located on the upper floor and the public space is on the ground floor. On the ground floor (image a) Rietveld designed a traditional interior arrangement, with fixed walls and spaces; here there are: a kitchen, a servant's bedroom, a small storage room, a studio and a reading room. The upper level of the house is considered a private space; there are Mrs. Schröder s bedroom (smaller than the others) children s bedrooms and a living room. Actually, the second floor of the house is where Rietveld put many innovations, also thanks to Mrs. Schroder s suggestions. Here the space is divided with sliding wooden panels so that the interior space can be organized in different ways, as an open space (image b1) or as a closed and more private space (image b2), thus becoming a dynamic and changeable space. sliding wooden panels EX.17b. Look at this image below, carefully and match the numbers written in the map with the definitions. (individual work and then in pairs) LIVING ROOM MRS. SCHRÖDER S BEDROOM CHILDREN S BEDROOM CHILDREN S BEDROOM BATHROOM N.4 CHIMNEY b2
Ex. 18 Choose which chair and table of those shown below can be linked to the interior of the Schröder House and say why. (individual work and then in pairs)
Art High School M.Preti- A.frangipane - Reggio Calabria Ex. 19. See the images related to The Red & Blue Chair, which was designed by Rietveld. Read the text and fill in the gaps in the text below. (individual work and then in pairs) Fill in the gaps in the text The "Red & Blue Chair is one of the most famous piece of. created by Rietveld. It consists of straight black rectangular and vertical.., two armrests with a rectangular profile and two rectangular panels that form the blue and the red... The cut.. of the battens are yellow. The "Red & Blue Chair was shown in the journal "De Stijl" and was also exhibited in an. organised by the Bauhaus in Germany, where it made quite an impact. Although the chair was originally designed in 1918, its colour of primary colours plus black was applied to it around 1923. This chair and other furniture productions designed by Rietveld are now exhibited in the Schröder House that has been listed as a national monument since 1976 and a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2000. scheme- seat- back- furniture- surfaces- battens- frame- exhibition Focus on vocabulary Batten: a narrow strip of wood, used to build a frame or to make a piece of furniture Furniture: it is a noun referring to some household articles, such as chairs, sofas, tables, etc. Frame: a rigid structure used in many ways, such as photo frame, chair frame, window frame, etc. Surface: the top part of a frame or a table or anything else. Seat: a part of furniture that has been designed for someone to sit on. Back: a part of furniture that has been designed for someone to place his back against. Armrests: arms of a chair. 7
Art High School M.Preti- A.frangipane - Reggio Calabria Ex. 20 Watch the video and read the audio- script. Then do exercise n. 21 (individual work and then in pairs) Rietveld Schröderhuis or Rietveld Schröder House. (UNESCO/NHK) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyzzktzgami Gerrit Thomas Rietveld started his career as an architect. He was born in the city of Utrecht in the Netherlands in the late 19th century. Utrecht was a culturally lively place and a new artistic movement emerged there in the early 20th century, Neo- Plasticism. The leading advocate of this movement was the painter Piet Mondrian; he was known for his simply composed works of straight lines and three basic colours. Rietveld was inspired by Neo- Plasticism, which also referred to as the De Stijl movement. This is the Red & Blue Chair, which made him famous. He extended his creativity into architecture and built a house on the outskirts of Utrecht in 1924. Commissioned by a banker s widow, called Mrs. Schröder, it was the first building constructed completely using the concept of Neo- plasticism art. The entrance door was divided in two parts and can be opened both ways. Ordinary hardware (metallic material) was used to make this simple umbrella stand; the second floor is uniquely composed of straight lines and square shapes. It is painted in basic colours, red, blue and yellow; the floor can be freely divided by sliding doors and the room becomes a bedroom or living room; the staircase can be closed off, however, the transparent glass panels provide for the continuity of the floor and the sense of the space; the skylight can be easily opened or closed so sunlight can enter the house during the daytime in any season. The dining- room window was one of his favorite parts of the house; there is no frame between the two windows in the corner, thus the space is more open and more light can enter; the chair by the window is known as the Berlin chair, one of the Rietveld s masterpieces. It was Mrs. Schröder s favourite spot. A framed photo of Rietveld is placed in the dining - room. Mrs. Schröder lived in to her mid- nineties and died in 1985, after living in the house for 60 years. Ex. 21 Match the words in bold in the text above with their Italian definition. You can choose from those in the box below and write them beside the English words. (individual work and then in pairs) advocate widow entrance door hardware umbrella stand floor staircase skylight window favourite spot outskirts Scala - materiale metallico- porta ombrelli - lucernario- vedova- posto preferito- porta d entrata- sostenitore- periferia- piano- finestra 8
Art High School M.Preti- A.frangipane - Reggio Calabria Ex. 22. Now do the final quiz concerning the Schröder House and its interior design https://create.kahoot.it (individual work and then check online together) 1.How many floors are there in the Schröder House? One Two Three Four 2.When did Rietveld design the Schröder House? 1918 1922 1924 1930 3. Where was the house built? Amsterdam Laren Utrecht Rotterdam 4. To which avant- garde art is the Schröder House linked? Constructivism Art Nouveau Cubism Neo- Plasticism 5. Which chair design made Gerrit Rietveld famous? Red & Blue Chair Chaise Longue Thonet Chair Berlin Chair 6. What is the purpose of the sliding doors in the upper floor of the Schröder House? Allowing the interior space to be closed Allowing the interior space to be opened Allowing the interior space to be flexible and changeable Allowing the weight of the walls to be relieved 9
Art High School M.Preti- A.frangipane - Reggio Calabria 7. What kind of materials are used to build the house? only reinforced concrete bricks, wooden materials and reinforced concrete bricks and wooden construction materials only wooden construction materials 8. What principles of De Stijl art are recognisible in the Schröder House? It appears to be a three- dimensional representation of Mondrian s painting It is linked to the principles of Rationalism Movement It follows the aesthetics of Art Nouveau It conveys all the features of the Suprematism 9. Where was Rietveld invited to exhibit his furniture products? In Italy In Spain In Germany In France 10. When was the Schröder House listed as the Unesco World Heritage? In 1976 In 1986 In 2001 In 2000 10