Dutch exhibition designers Kossmann.dejong have created a show celebrating the “spectacular” interior designs of the Amsterdam School of architecture in the early 20th century.
The exhibition, called
Living in the Amsterdam School: Designing for the Interior 1910-1930, will open in the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam tomorrow (9 April).
The Amsterdam School – which grew out of international Expressionist architecture – is famous internationally for the progressive buildings its followers produced, but is less well known for its significant influence on interior design.
“Visitors will be immersed in the wealth of details, shapes and craft that are particular for the Amsterdam School,” said Kossmann.dejong in a statement. “The exhibition focuses on the interior design of this expressive, influential movement – the sculptural lines, the colourful palette and intricate patterns.”
Over 500 objects will be on display, including furniture, lamps, ceramics, textiles, clocks and stained glass.
The exhibition begins by exploring how the style of architecture and design evolved against the backdrop of World War I and the women’s suffrage movement, gradually becoming a popular style used in bars, restaurants, and the theatre, such as the famous lobby of the Tuschinski cinema in Amsterdam.
The walls of the exhibition feature extremely enlarged images of design details, emphasising the stylistic variants developed by the Amsterdam School – including an expressive style with exuberant shapes, contrasting colours and a distinct contour lines, and a crisper, more geometric approach.
