Originally envisioned as a private collector’s museum, the museum initially produced smaller exclusive exhibitions, such as on Erich Dieckmann or the then little-known Ron Arad. It had its headquarters designed by the Californian architect Frank Gehry. It was founded in 1989 by the company Vitra and its owner Rolf Fehlbaum. On the Vitra Campus, they are complemented by a diverse programme of events, guided tours and workshops. The museum conceives its exhibitions for touring, and they are shown at venues around the world. The museum library and document archive are available to researchers upon request.
The work of the Vitra Design Museum is based on its collection, which encompasses not only key objects of design history, but also the estates of several important figures like Charles & Ray Eames, George Nelson, Verner Panton and Alexander Girard. Others address historical aspects, protagonists and design styles like the Mid Century Modern. Often developed with renowned designers, many of the museum’s exhibitions cover highly relevant contemporary themes, such as future technologies, sustainability or questions like mobility and social awareness.
Smaller parallel shows are presented in the Vitra Design Museum Gallery, a neighbouring exhibition space. In the main museum building by Frank Gehry, the museum annually mounts two major temporary exhibitions. The Vitra Design Museum is dedicated to the research and presentation of design, past and present, and examines design’s relationship to architecture, art and everyday culture.
0 kommentar(er)
