Gerrit Rietveld

The best known De Stijl ("the style") work was produced by Gerrit Rietveld (1888-1964), whose Schruder House at Utrecht is the most complete realization of the movement's ideas. It is a rectilinear block made up of complex, interpenetrating planes of wall, roof, and protruding floor, with voids filled by glass in metal sash.

The (upper) main living floor is divided by a system of sliding panels that permit rearrangement to achieve varying degrees of openness. Built-in and movable furniture of Rietveld's design is geometric and abstract in concept. Only primary colors and black are introduced within the generally white and gray tones of most surfaces.

Because of its few members, short life, and limited accomplishments, De Stijl influence in the development of modernism has been less obvious than that of the pioneers in Germany and France.

movement – движение

rectilinear -прямолинейный

interpenetrating -взаимопроникающий

plane – плоскость

protruding – выступающий, выдающийся

void -пустота

sash – рамка, обрамление

to divide – делить, разделять

sliding panels – раздвижные панели

built-in -встроенный

movable -передвижной

concept -понятие

primary color – основной цвет

surface -поверхность

limited -ограниченный

accomplishment -достижение

obvious -очевидный

2. Find the English equivalents in the text:

наиболее полное воплощение, заполненный стеклом, жилой этаж, позволить переставить, меняющаяся степень открытости, из-за короткой жизни.

3. Answer the questions:

1. What is Gerrit Rietveld famous for?

2. What kind of building is his Schruder House?

3. What permits to achieve varying degrees of openness?

4. What kind of furniture did he use?

5. What colors did he prefer to use?

6. Why is the influence of De Stijl in the development of modernism not so obvious?

Part 3