The name Vitra has become indispensable today in the field of avant-garde and innovative design. Vitra is among the most influential and important design furniture manufacturers in the world. It has left a lasting mark on modern design and continues to shape it.
The History of Vitra
The history of Vitra, a family-owned furniture manufacturing company founded in 1950 in Weil-am-Rhein (Germany) by Willi and Erika Fehlbaum, is inextricably linked to that of Charles & Ray Eames. In 1953, Vitra’s founders were captivated by the chairs designed by the legendary couple. The meeting with these prodigious creators, who were seeking a European publisher, sealed the beginning of a long friendship and would be decisive in how Vitra subsequently collaborated with designers, whom it considered authors in their own right.
Since then, the brand, which is based in Switzerland, has conquered the global market and continues to publish the most iconic creations of contemporary design.
The list of artists and designers working or having worked for Vitra is exceptional. George Nelson, Charles and Ray Eames, Isamu Noguchi, Jean Prouvé, Verner Panton, Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec, Philippe Starck, Hella Jongerius, to name but a few, have created their most beautiful pieces for the brand: chairs, armchairs, office furniture, tables, coffee tables, sofas, and accessories.
Aesthetics, Longevity, Functionality, and Durability
Vitra maintains a close relationship with them, which is essential for the expression of each individual’s creativity. “Aesthetics, longevity, functionality, and durability” could be Vitra’s motto, but it would still be reductive, as the brand is committed to providing users with a unique experience. Vitra, a benchmark publisher, a visionary and inspired brand, successfully navigates through eras and imposes its style through cult creations that do not age but rather grow more beautiful with time, unlike their numerous pale imitations.
An Unforgettable Visit
The Jbonet team was particularly pleased to be invited last month to visit the brand’s Campus and headquarters in Switzerland.
For 48 hours, we had the opportunity to experience the Club Office in Birsfelden, a new concept where the office becomes a space for collaboration and innovation, and the Vitra Campus in Weil am Rhein, a unique complex of contemporary architecture that notably houses the Vitra Design Museum, one of the largest design museums in the world.
The Schaudepot, designed by architects Herzog & de Meuron, complements the Vitra Design Museum and houses part of the collection with nearly 7,000 pieces of furniture, over a thousand luminaires, numerous archives, and the collections of several famous designers. The permanent exhibition brings together more than 400 major works of contemporary furniture design from 1800 to the present day.
Thus, the Campus reflects Vitra’s entire commercial, environmental, and cultural philosophy: over the years, buildings designed by renowned architects have made this production site a must-see for design and architecture enthusiasts worldwide.
Jbonet is an official Vitra distributor. Would you like information on Vitra products? Our teams are available in our showrooms to advise you.
