Sonneveld House
The bathroom that smells of soap, art that you can touch and music from the 1930s that fills the rooms: a visit to the Sonneveld House Museum is now an even richer experience, thanks to new and exciting sensory elements that you can smell, touch and hear. Through a series of interventions, designers Simon Dogger and Hedwich Hooghiemstra have brought the house to life and made it accessible to people who are blind or partially sighted.
From 5 October
Modern villa
Now a national heritage site, in the 1930s Sonneveld House was the home of Van Nelle factory director Albert Sonneveld, his wife Gésine and their daughters Puck and Gé. The modernist villa is a perfect example of functionalist architecture, decorated in the avant-garde style of the time. When you visit the Sonneveld House Museum, you enter the world of a wealthy Rotterdam family in the 1930s.
Coffee
A subtle aroma indicates the function of a room: the kitchen smells of freshly brewed coffee, and a soft soapy scent greets you in the bathroom. You can also experience the advanced technology of the time, for which the house is known. For the residents of the 1930s, the ringing of the telephone was part of modern life and there are no fewer than 12 of them. You can also hear the music and conversations of the time through the radio speakers.
Tactile model
Dogger and Hooghiemstra have also designed a tactile model, so that blind or partially sighted visitors can get an idea of the house. A tactile floor plan with relief helps visitors to find their way around.
Tours
In consultation with Dogger and Hooghiemstra, the Detour Guides have developed a tour of the multi-sensory house with an emphasis on sensory experiences. Check the agenda for dates and times.
Simon Dogger and Hedwich Hooghiemstra
Simon Dogger, a designer who is also blind, graduated from the Design Academy Eindhoven. His designs combine visual, auditory and sensory resources to improve the quality of life – not just for people who are blind or visually impaired, but for anyone who could benefit from intuitive tools that help them connect with others and their environment.
Hedwich Hooghiemstra studied at the Royal Danish Academy in Copenhagen in 2016 and graduated from Design Academy Eindhoven in 2018, with the furniture collection “Adaptable Seating”. In her designs, she creates multiple layers that give a space or product a different use and experience. Whether in public or private spaces, her designs invite us to look beyond the object.
The multi-sensory house was made possible thanks to a financial contribution from the Vivace Foundation.
