Founded in 1950 by Willi Fehlbaum, who owned a furniture shop in Basel, Switzerland, Vitra quickly illustrated its keen foresight by acquiring the license agreements for important mid-century furniture designers. With its headquarters in Birsfelden and production sites in five countries, Vitra combines its own "engineering excellence with the creative genius of leading international designers." The company seeks to create products with "a high functional and aesthetic life expectancy.
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Iconic Design —
Vitra is the name behind many mid-century classics, including the Eames Lounge Chair and La Chaise by Charles and Ray Eames, Pretzel Chair and Ball Clock by George Nelson, Freeform Sofa and Ottoman by Isamu Noguchi, C1 and Heart Cone Chair by Verner Panton, and Butterfly Stool by Sori Yanagi. Vitra has also created contemporary classics such as Tom Vac by Ron Arad, HAL by Jasper Morrison, and Wiggle Side Chair by Frank Gehry.
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Lounge Chair Atelier —
Intended to showcase the craftsmanship that goes into every Eames Lounge Chair, the Lounge Chair Atelier allows visitors to follow the construction of this classic Vitra piece--from the chair's design story to its natural materials and design longevity. Visitors can opt to purchase their own Eames Lounge Chair and follow its construction at the Lounge Chair Atelier; these products receive a special commemorative plaque before being shipped.
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Centric Collection —
Intended to showcase the craftsmanship that goes into every Eames Lounge Chair, the Lounge Chair Atelier allows visitors to follow the construction of this classic Vitra piece--from the chair's design story to its natural materials and design longevity. Visitors can opt to purchase their own Eames Lounge Chair and follow its construction at the Lounge Chair Atelier; these products receive a special commemorative plaque before being shipped.
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Vitra Campus —
Known as the Vitra Campus, the company headquarters are located in Birsfelden, Switzerland. Composed of varied buildings designed by famous international architects, the Vitra Campus includes VitraHaus, designed by Herzog & de Meuron; the Conference Pavilion by Tadao Ando; the Vitra Design Museum by Frank Gehry; a Bus Stop by Jasper Morrison; Factory Buildings by Nicholas Grimshaw; a Petrol Station by Jean Prouve; a Dome by Richard Buckminster Fuller and T.C. Howard; a Factory Building by Alvaro Siza; a Factory Building by Kazuyo Sejima/SANAA; and a Fire Station by Zaha Hadid. Vitra offers daily guided architectural tours of its campus to visitors.
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Vitra Design Museum—
One of the most important design museums in the world, the Vitra Design museum houses a large collection of furniture, lighting, and industrial design, as well as an archive and research library. Focusing on industrially manufactured objects produced from 1850 to the present, the Vitra Design Museum also stages two to three exhibitions each year, which consequently travel to other museums worldwide. Visitors to the museum can purchase miniatures and re-editions of classic furniture pieces.
Vitra's focus on sustainability begins with its main goal of product longevity, a tradition that follows the objectives of Charles and Ray Eames: "short-lived styling is avoided at all costs." Additionally, the company formed a work group in 1986 entitled "Vitra and the Environment" to develop ideas and strategies for sustainable design. Vitra also ensures strict standards in its work conditions and safety practices.
