My visit to VitraHaus
Hi there,
If you follow me on Instagram you might have noticed I'm often in Switzerland. Actually My daughter and her family are currently living in Basel, so I hop over as often as I can. While I was there last Sunday we visited the contemporary design "Mecca" better know as the VITRA Design campus located in Weil am Rhein, Germany just a short tram ride from Basel.
VITRA is a design/manufacture/distributor of iconic and newly designed modern furniture and accessories such as the Eames lounge chair, the George Nelson Marshmallow sofa, Alexander Girard's "Wooden Dolls", Noguchi's lanterns to name a few.
The whole campus has become a magnet for lovers of contemporary design and architecture. Not only does VITRA design and manufacture furniture, the various campus buildings are designed by such world renowned architects as Frank Gehry, Jasper Morrison and Nicholas Grimshaw.
Whew, that's a lot of name dropping!
We had time to visit just one of these buildings, the VitraHaus, where furniture and accessories are displayed in a home environment along with a bit of contemporary design history + store all in one. I really could have moved right in as there is even the perfect little artist atelier. The views of the surrounding countryside aren't too shabby either.
Enjoy,
Karen
Mural depicting Girard's wooden dolls
greets you at reception.
Room with a view. Baby not for sale, but everything else is including the Noguchi lighting.
Blanchard "Canteen" lights all in a row.
View of the countryside from inside VitraHaus.
Demonstrating Alvar Alto"s child's table and chairs next to life size Girard wooden dolls.
I'll take all of this! Artist loft complete with disco ball.
Pin Board Inspiration (3D Pinterest to some of you)
Marshmallow sofa, designed by George Nelson, 1956
Chalkboard inspiration.
Don't miss sliding down the 30 meter high Carsten Holler designed tower on your way back to the tram!
