DESIGN MECCA
If you subscribe to the Charles and Ray Eames school of thought that pleasure may (and should) be found in the melding of art and architecture, the uncommon beauty of common things and devilishly delicious details, then perhaps it is time to plan a pilgrimage to the architectural park that is the Vitra Campus in the German town of Weil am Rhein
The tiny German town of Weil am Rhein has long been a magnet for those with an eye for detail, a penchant for striking lines and clever curves, and a lifelong pursuit of making everyday living extraordinary. At first impression, it pales in comparison to the offerings of nearby Swiss city Basel, but this small town on the east bank of the River Rhine is a veritable architectural mecca, primarily because it is the site of the Vitra Campus, a design wonderland that takes visitors on a magical storybook journey, told through a thousand and one tales of iconic design, the collective structures of world-famous star-chitects and, in the words of Charles Eames himself, a colossal coming together of “the uncommon beauty of common things”.
It is a unique assembly of contemporary architecture grouped on a part-exhibition, part-working 25,000ha site that is the masterpiece of the Fehlbaum family, who founded furniture company Vitra in 1953. Although the company is itself headquartered in Birsfelden, Switzerland, the facilities in Weil am Rhein form part of the production and distribution backbone. It was only after a disastrous fire in 1981 that the seed that would later transform the site into a living showcase for design and architecture enthusiasts was first sown. Beginning with British architect Nicholas Grimshaw, other world-famous talents ranging from Frank Gehry to Zaha Hadid soon made their way here to create stunning new structures that would help transform Weil am Rhein into a mecca for design and architecture enthusiasts. If you have yet to visit, here are some of our must-dos while there.
Diana Khoo is editor of the Options desk at The Edge Malaysia
Vitra Showroom 315 Outram Road #14-08 Tan Boon Liat Building, Singapore 169074 Tel: +65 6270 8828