Vitra Schaudepot

We caught a terrific exhibit regarding the relationship of science fiction and furniture design. The peek into the archive below and recreation of the Eames office were also very meaningful. Recommend a visit here in addition to House.

The entire Vitra campus is large and beautiful. The museum itself was fantastic, and many of the outdoor “attractions” are worth seeing even without a ticket. However, the Schaudepot was a bit disappointing. The exhibition upstairs was small but interesting, yet there are only four windows that allow you to look into the actual depot, which was quite a shame.

Love the experience here. A huge collection of design pieces and creative storytelling.

Loved walking the campus in general but the space age collection is not to be missed. Amazing curation of historical objects and design facing a vision of a space age future.

Nice architecture buildings but not that wao! If you are an architect you should see the building and the architecture especially Nike and Zuha Hadid fire station

An absolute must for anyone interested in design. Even if you don’t like the chairs or architecture, there is no doubt that this company has produced some of the most iconic chairs in the world. The buildings on the campus are all great examples of some of the best architects living today. My only gripe with this place is that I didn’t have time to see it all. If you visit, it’s probably worth taking an architecture tour, as some buildings, such as the fire station by Zaha Hadid, are only accessible to tour groups. Mind you, if you don’t want to doll out the cash, you can still walk around it and even have a peek inside. The gift shop is full of general designy type stuff, and while it’s not extraordinary, there are some souvenirs that you might want to take home. The cafes have reasonable food at reasonable prices, so there’s no need to pack your lunch unless you’re on a tight budget. The cakes in the Herzog De Meuron building has the best cakes. In all, you should not miss this place, and be sure to give yourself plenty of time to take it all in.

Designed by Herzog & de Meuron, the Schaudepot stands out as one of the most refined and elegant structures on the Vitra campus, especially compared to their other work, Vitra Haus. The simplicity and sophistication of the building make it a delight to experience. One of the remarkable features of the Schaudepot is its brick façade, where the bricks are split in half using a special technique, creating a unique and textured appearance. This detail adds a sense of craftsmanship and depth to the structure, complementing its minimalist design. When I visited in 2017, I was mesmerized by the building and its collection. On my recent visit, I was equally excited to revisit it. However, I was disappointed to find that they now display themed exhibitions instead of showcasing their entire collection as before. This time, the theme was sci-fi, and the selection of chairs was underwhelming compared to the timeless classics. As someone living abroad, it’s hard to keep up with their changing themes, and this shift felt like a missed opportunity to engage with the full breadth of their collection. It also gave the impression of being a calculated strategy to encourage repeat visits, which I found unsettling.

Their ongoing Nike exhibition was good, but the Vitra Design Museum's Science Fiction building was my absolute favourite. Excellent curation!