Vitra's Design Icons: A Legacy Ahead of Art Basel
Vitra's design mythology is built on a museum, a Herzog & de Meuron shop, and miniature reproductions. The 2015-2016 exhibition 'The Bauhaus #itsallaldesign' explored design through the works of Walter Gropius, Marcel Breuer, Alessandro Mendini, and Konstantin Grcic. Vitra reissues iconic models: Charles & Ray Eames's Chaise (1948), inspired by Gaston Lachaise's Floating Sculpture and created for a MoMA competition, remains timeless after 68 years. Frank Gehry's Wiggle Side Chair (1972/2005) uses cardboard, a material that became design-friendly 44 years ago. Willi Fehlbaum commissioned Gehry to design the Vitra Design Museum in Weil am Rhein near Basel in 1989. Verner Panton's Chair (1959-60) was realized in 1999 as the first single-piece plastic chair, becoming a 20th-century icon. Isamu Noguchi's Coffee Table dates from 1944.
Key facts
- Vitra's design mythology includes a museum, a Herzog & de Meuron shop, and miniature reproductions.
- The exhibition 'The Bauhaus #itsallaldesign' ran from late 2015 to early 2016.
- Charles & Ray Eames's Chaise (1948) was inspired by Gaston Lachaise's Floating Sculpture and created for a MoMA competition.
- Frank Gehry's Wiggle Side Chair was designed in 1972 and reissued in 2005.
- Willi Fehlbaum commissioned Frank Gehry to design the Vitra Design Museum in 1989.
- Verner Panton's Chair (1959-60) was first produced in 1999 as the first single-piece plastic chair.
- Isamu Noguchi designed his Coffee Table in 1944.
- The article was published on Artribune Magazine #28.
Entities
Artists
- Charles Eames
- Ray Eames
- Frank Gehry
- Verner Panton
- Isamu Noguchi
- Walter Gropius
- Marcel Breuer
- Alessandro Mendini
- Konstantin Grcic
- Gaston Lachaise
- Willi Fehlbaum
- Flavia Chiavaroli
Institutions
- Vitra
- Vitra Design Museum
- MoMA
- Herzog & de Meuron
- Artribune
Locations
- Weil am Rhein
- Germany
- Basel
- Switzerland
- New York
- United States