Walter Maas Huis, Amsterdam School villa in De Bilt, Netherlands
The Walter Maas Huis is an Amsterdam School villa in De Bilt featuring a steep thatched roof and a semicircular wooden concert hall as its most striking elements. A separate garden house on the property draws inspiration from Scandinavian design traditions and provides an additional musical space.
Julius Röntgen, a composer, commissioned the villa in 1925 and lived there until 1932, during which time it became known for musical gatherings. After Röntgen's departure, Walter Maas took over the property and used it as a refuge during World War II.
The house served as a gathering place where renowned composers like Karlheinz Stockhausen and Olivier Messiaen performed and exchanged ideas with fellow musicians. These meetings made it an important international hub for musical exchange and collaboration.
The villa is open to the public through concerts and cultural events organized regularly by a foundation dedicated to preserving its musical heritage. Visitors should check in advance for event schedules, as the house is not open daily for casual visits.
The garden house is an unusual replica of a Norwegian composer's studio, showing an intriguing connection between Dutch and Scandinavian architecture that many visitors overlook. This detail reveals how international influences shaped the property's design in unexpected ways.
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