Vitra and Christmas

Every year the Vitra Campus welcomes new and fascinating installations: we visited the “village” of Weil am Rhein and breathed in the Christmas atmosphere of VitraHaus

It could be the temperature, well below zero, it could be the VitraHaus decorated with lots of Christmas trees and tables dressed in their festive best, but Christmas at the Campus Vitra in Weil am Rhein is felt very strongly.
From the Vitra Design Gallery to the new work by Thomas Schütte to the Vitra Schaudepot: the ‘village’ always surprises.

Vitra Design Gallery
Vitra Design Gallery

The tour begins with the exhibition at the Vitra Design Gallery “Beyond the Surface”, curated by the designer Christien Meinderstma, which questions today’s production of various objects, and the conceptual and economic models behind this process.

Victor Papanek, Vitra Design Museum
Victor Papanek, Vitra Design Museum
Victor Papanek: The Politics of Design, Vitra Design Museum
Victor Papanek: The Politics of Design, Vitra Design Museum

Until 10 March 2019, Victor Papanek’s works will be the protagonists of the Vitra Design Museum. An exposition divided into four areas that traces the life of the naturalised American designer in relation to his philosophy that is made manifest in works that place emphasis on political and social issues, with a special focus on minorities.
Victor Papanek: The Politics of Design makes an appeal to inclusion, social justice and sustainability, topics that have great relevance still today.

VitraHaus
VitraHaus
VitraHaus
VitraHaus
Mensa, Vitrahaus
Mensa, Vitrahaus

After a brief stop at the refined and modern company canteen, one cannot miss a visit to VitraHaus: a store designed by Herzog&DeMeuron that extends over four floors and is home to classic Vitra pieces, such as the seats designed by Charles and Ray Eames, as well as to new products designed by contemporary designers like Antonio Citterio.

VitraHaus
VitraHaus
VitraHaus
VitraHaus
VitraHaus
VitraHaus
VitraHaus
VitraHaus

Festively set tables and Christmas trees are the undisputed protagonists of the space: next to the natural colours of red and green, objects in coral shades make headway, in the trend tone of 2019 according to Pantone.

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BlockHouse, Campus Vitra

Next to the VitraHaus stands the recent work of the sculptor Thomas Schütte: a wooden house made of asymmetrical shapes developed on a hexagonal plan and using centenarian wooden logs coming from local plantations. The Blockhaus is designed for meditation: inside there are only two wall-mounted wooden benches and a sink.

Torre Vitra
Torre Vitra

Continuing the tour of the campus, one come across the surprising Vitra Tower enlivened by a slide that seeks to celebrate the former fire station within the park.
Lastly, a few steps away is the Schaudepot or ‘exhibition depot’, a true home for the selection of about 430 icons of furniture design made from 1800 to the present day.

Schaudepot, campus Vitra
Schaudepot, campus Vitra
Schaudepot, campus Vitra
Schaudepot, campus Vitra
Schaudepot, campus Vitra
Schaudepot, campus Vitra