Vitra Campus

The Vitra Campus is an incredibly impressive site, showcasing works by some of the most renowned architects in the world. It stands as a testament to innovative design and its contributions to the architectural and design community are truly significant. From the sculptural forms of Frank Gehry and Zaha Hadid to the refined craftsmanship of Herzog & de Meuron and the serene simplicity of Tadao Ando, the campus offers a diverse and inspiring journey through contemporary architecture. Its role in fostering a global appreciation for design is undeniable, making it a must-visit destination for architecture enthusiasts. That said, my experience with the architecture tour had some shortcomings: In Tadao Ando's building, we couldn’t access the conference area or the rooftop terrace because the guide said they didn’t have the key. Apparently, it’s sometimes available and sometimes not, but this explanation was unsatisfactory. Additionally, the guide didn’t point out the leaf-patterned concrete detail in this building. Later research revealed its existence, and not seeing it was disappointing. For many structures, we could only view them from the outside. For example, remarks like “You can peek inside through the glass windows of X building” left me feeling unsatisfied with the tour. We were able to enter SANAA’s warehouse building, which was a nice experience despite photography being prohibited inside. Unfortunately, we couldn’t access Grimshaw’s buildings. Zaha Hadid’s Fire Station was part of the tour, and it was truly impressive. However, Renzo Piano’s structure wasn’t even mentioned. Even though the tour is limited to two hours, I believe it should at least provide an overview of all the buildings on the campus so visitors can explore further on their own afterward. Preferably, necessary measures should be taken to unlock certain areas for a more comprehensive experience.

I loved the architecture of all the buildings, from the Vitra Haus with its current shop and home designs, the museum and the Schaudepot. The slide is an awesome addition, as is the garden with its wild flowers. Even the food at the cafe was tasty, including the cakes. It's a great stop to and from Switzerland! Check the times for the architecture tour if you're interested in it, especially for visiting the fire station as you can only get it with a tour.

An amazing experience that surpassed all my expectations! Absolutely a must if you want to see Germany at its best.

The architecture in the campus is much more interesting than the exhibitions in the museums.

Viewing tower and slide designed by Carsten Höller. If you enjoy descending rock, enjoy this slide for free. Don't forget to enjoy the view on your way down~ 😉

grimshaw, gehry, tadao ando, zaha hadid, alvaro siza, herzog & de meuron, sanaa, buckminster fuller, eames... genügt das? - eben ;-)

I always wanted to visit this place, and yes it is dedicated to design in many beautiful ways and expressions. We got there taking the bus from Basel and walking into the Campus. It was a bit disappointed to get there and find the museum closed, so make sure before you go to check times, cost of tickets and other important info.

Spectacular architecture and in-depth tour. We got to go inside the famous buildings like Zaha's Fire Station and Tadao Ando's conference pavilion. Our tour guide was a lively and entertaining while throwing us a lot of interesting facts and anecdotes. As a student, I had to only pay 14 Euros that included both the tour and the chair museum.

The Vitra Campus is an incredibly impressive site, showcasing works by some of the most renowned architects in the world. It stands as a testament to innovative design and its contributions to the architectural and design community are truly significant. From the sculptural forms of Frank Gehry and Zaha Hadid to the refined craftsmanship of Herzog & de Meuron and the serene simplicity of Tadao Ando, the campus offers a diverse and inspiring journey through contemporary architecture. Its role in fostering a global appreciation for design is undeniable, making it a must-visit destination for architecture enthusiasts. That said, my experience with the architecture tour had some shortcomings: In Tadao Ando's building, we couldn’t access the conference area or the rooftop terrace because the guide said they didn’t have the key. Apparently, it’s sometimes available and sometimes not, but this explanation was unsatisfactory. Additionally, the guide didn’t point out the leaf-patterned concrete detail in this building. Later research revealed its existence, and not seeing it was disappointing. For many structures, we could only view them from the outside. For example, remarks like “You can peek inside through the glass windows of X building” left me feeling unsatisfied with the tour. We were able to enter SANAA’s warehouse building, which was a nice experience despite photography being prohibited inside. Unfortunately, we couldn’t access Grimshaw’s buildings. Zaha Hadid’s Fire Station was part of the tour, and it was truly impressive. However, Renzo Piano’s structure wasn’t even mentioned. Even though the tour is limited to two hours, I believe it should at least provide an overview of all the buildings on the campus so visitors can explore further on their own afterward. Preferably, necessary measures should be taken to unlock certain areas for a more comprehensive experience.

I loved the architecture of all the buildings, from the Vitra Haus with its current shop and home designs, the museum and the Schaudepot. The slide is an awesome addition, as is the garden with its wild flowers. Even the food at the cafe was tasty, including the cakes. It's a great stop to and from Switzerland! Check the times for the architecture tour if you're interested in it, especially for visiting the fire station as you can only get it with a tour.

An amazing experience that surpassed all my expectations! Absolutely a must if you want to see Germany at its best.

The architecture in the campus is much more interesting than the exhibitions in the museums.

Viewing tower and slide designed by Carsten Höller. If you enjoy descending rock, enjoy this slide for free. Don't forget to enjoy the view on your way down~ 😉

grimshaw, gehry, tadao ando, zaha hadid, alvaro siza, herzog & de meuron, sanaa, buckminster fuller, eames... genügt das? - eben ;-)

I always wanted to visit this place, and yes it is dedicated to design in many beautiful ways and expressions. We got there taking the bus from Basel and walking into the Campus. It was a bit disappointed to get there and find the museum closed, so make sure before you go to check times, cost of tickets and other important info.

Spectacular architecture and in-depth tour. We got to go inside the famous buildings like Zaha's Fire Station and Tadao Ando's conference pavilion. Our tour guide was a lively and entertaining while throwing us a lot of interesting facts and anecdotes. As a student, I had to only pay 14 Euros that included both the tour and the chair museum.

About 20 minutes from Basel by tram and bus, across the border into Germany, Vitra is a museum to design and furniture. And it's a massive retail shop. It's well worth the trip to see a bit into chairs that you'd never actually sit in and stuff you'd never actually have in your home. Yet some people actually buy this stuff. Several videos and movies (in Italian without subtitles) explain the history of the designers and architecture. The museum is only 8 CHF. I've been here once, should I return to Basel I would skip coming back. It's a one-time thing. They have a cafe on site which accepts Euros and credit cards.

We biked in from Basel. The ride was worth it. The Vitra Design Museum was indeed impressive. The coat racks at the front are of course a row of Eames Hang-It-All. It was interesting to see advertisements for furniture in their envisioned habitat along with the pieces themselves. Several tours (including English) show visitors the campus daily. Next to the museum is the Vitra Haus; an enormous retail floor wrapped in an impressive building. There is also a delicious and reasonably priced cafe on the patio. If you enjoy modern furniture and are in the neighborhood - drop by!

The Vitra Design Museum has become a term of modern architecture and people from all over the world visit it every day. On the green fields around the museum you can see groups, but also individuals who hold the building in photos, many even by drawing or painting. The fresh green invites to stay there for one or several hours. But the changing exhibits inside the museum are also worth for seeing. There is a small shop, where you can buy souvenirs in form of miniature chairs for example. A café invites after the visit to relax. The museum, the shop and the cafe are daily opened from 10-18 clock, on Wednesday even to 20 clock. The admission to the museum will cost 8 euros for adults, children under 12 are free. It's possible to participate in a guided tour for a few euros more. Outside you can view free. Weil am Rhein is not least because this museum, which the locals are calling chair museum, the city of chairs.

Oh MY GOD, this is like the temple of Design! the actual vitra museum was ok they only have temporary exhibitions. We went to the Frank Ghery exhibition and it was a bit dissapointing. The building was more exciting than the actual exhibition. The showroom building, however, was amazing. The building itself looks amazing from the outside, when you are inside it is equally an amazing experience. You can walk around and try out all the furniture. You can also customise pieces and create wishlists that can be emailed to yourself. If you like designer furniture, this is the place to go. Everything is designed, even the toilet roll holders. The museum shop has a good selection of products. The restaurant has a great selection of cakes and drinks. The small menu of food is very well thought out. It is a bit pricey for being in Germany, but standard museum restaurant prices. It all tastes as good as it looks. A visit to Vitra is at least half a days of design experience. Even the factory building and the bus stop is designed. I recommend the combined ticket for the museum entrance and a tour on the grounds. The showroom which is the best part is free.