Gerrit Rietveld

Gerrit Thomas Rietveld: Pioneer of De Stijl Design

Gerrit Thomas Rietveld (1888–1964) was a Dutch architect and furniture designer celebrated for bringing the principles of the De Stijl movement into both furniture and architecture. Trained as a cabinetmaker in his father’s workshop, he later studied architecture in Utrecht, developing a style defined by geometric clarity and primary colours.

In 1918, Rietveld joined De Stijl and created his iconic Red and Blue Chair, a defining example of the movement’s aesthetic. His architectural masterpiece, the Rietveld Schröder House (1924), remains a landmark of modern design. Over his career, Rietveld worked across furniture, retail spaces, housing developments, and cultural buildings, influencing generations of designers with his bold, functional, and timeless approach.