Sonneveld House (Huis Sonneveld) is one of the best-preserved houses in the Dutch functionalist style. The villa was designed in 1933 by architecture firm Brinkman and Van der Vlugt for Albertus Sonneveld, a director of the Van Nelle Factory, and his family. The architects created a total concept in which architecture, interior and furnishings are perfectly coordinated and reinforce one another. Light and spacious, the house features numerous balconies and large windows that offer views of the surrounding garden. Almost all the furniture and lamps in the house were made by the Gispen factory, some of them specially for the Sonnevelds. This customisation reveals the family’s appreciation of luxury and comfort. Sonneveld House is therefore not a dogmatic example of functionalism, but a personal environment.

“I like to take the visitor on a journey with the stories I tell. My goal is to make people feel enthusiastic and have them leave feeling satisfied with the experience.”

Joëlle is a huge fan of the visual arts. As well as being a passionate artist herself, she is also an art teacher and exhibition visitor and provides a home for a large collection of art books.