Following a major fire in 1981, the company Vitra has pursued a conscious approach to its own architecture, starting with the commission awarded to the English architect Nicholas Grimshaw to build a new factory hall. His high-tech architecture was seen as upholding the vision of Vitra as an enterprise synonymous with technical excellence.

After completion of the first structure, he was assigned the task of developing a master plan for the Vitra grounds. This idea of "corporate identity architecture" was called into question, however, by the 1984 erection of the sculpture "Balancing Tools" by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen. It served as the trigger for an entirely new architectural concept: deliberately contrasting works of architecture were to confront one another and imbue the site with vitality and a distinctive identity. In keeping with this idea, Vitra commissioned a different architect for each building project. Such as Frank O. Gehry, for example, who designed the expressive main building of the Vitra Design Museum with its towers, ramps and cubes that was dedicated on 3 November 1989.

Vitra Design Museum is pleased to be able to offer guided architectural tours of the buildings by Gehry, Citterio, Grimshaw, Ando, Hadid and Siza on the Vitra grounds.

Click here for more information.