Vitra Design Museum
Museum Design museum on the Vitra campus, notable architecture
Vitra Design Museum near Basel focuses on furniture and industrial design within architect-designed pavilions; architects, students and collectors visit rotating exhibitions and study the campus buildings.
The Vitra Design Museum is a private museum for industrial and furniture design located on the Vitra Campus in Weil am Rhein, Baden-Württemberg, near the border with Switzerland. Its main building, designed by Frank Gehry, opened in 1989 and established the museum as a centre for design exhibitions and research.
The museum stages temporary and thematic exhibitions on design, holds a significant research archive and runs educational programmes related to furniture and industrial design. The campus includes additional architecture by internationally known architects and is visited both for exhibitions and for its collection of modern architectural works.
Founded by the Vitra company and its leadership to document, study and present design, the museum has expanded its facilities over time to include the Schaudepot for collections storage and display. The site sits in Weil am Rhein, close to Basel in the tri-border region of Germany, Switzerland and France.
- Vitra Campus: Part of the larger Vitra Campus, which includes buildings by multiple notable architects and regular architecture tours.
What to See #
- Main building (Frank Gehry): The museum's principal building was designed by Frank Gehry and opened in 1989; it houses rotating exhibitions on industrial and furniture design.
- Schaudepot (Herzog & de Meuron): The Schaudepot, completed by Herzog & de Meuron and opened in 2016, is an on-site depot and exhibition space for the museum's larger holdings and archival material.
How to Get to Vitra Design Museum #
The Vitra Design Museum is in Weil am Rhein, near the tripoint of Germany, France and Switzerland. It is reachable by regional trains to Lörrach or Basel and then a short bus or taxi to Weil am Rhein; signage on the Vitra Campus guides visitors from the main entrance.
Tips for Visiting Vitra Design Museum #
- Buy timed tickets online during busy seasons to avoid queues - the museum is popular with design students and specialists.
- Allow 1.5-2 hours to see the permanent collection and the building's architecture by Frank Gehry.
- Combine the visit with a walk through the nearby Vitra Campus to see other design pavilions by Zaha Hadid and Tadao Ando.
Best Time to Visit Vitra Design Museum #
Spring through autumn for campus strolling and outdoor pavilions; the museum itself is good year-round.
Weather & Climate near Vitra Design Museum #
Vitra Design Museum's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -1°C to 25°C. Moderate rainfall (804 mm/year).
January
January is the coolest month with highs of 4°C and lows of -1°C. Moderate rainfall (51 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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February
February is cold with highs of 7°C and lows of -1°C. Moderate rainfall (53 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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March
March is cold with highs of 11°C and lows of 2°C. Moderate rainfall (48 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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April
April is cold with highs of 15°C and lows of 4°C. Moderate rainfall (63 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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May
May is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 9°C. Regular rainfall (85 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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June
June is cool with highs of 23°C and lows of 12°C. The wettest month with 86 mm of rain and partly cloudy skies.
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July
July is the warmest month with highs of 25°C and lows of 14°C. Regular rainfall (82 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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August
August is mild with highs of 25°C and lows of 14°C. Moderate rainfall (75 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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September
September is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 10°C. Moderate rainfall (67 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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October
October is cool with highs of 15°C and lows of 6°C. Moderate rainfall (64 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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November
November is cold with highs of 9°C and lows of 2°C. Moderate rainfall (65 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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December
December is cold with highs of 6°C and lows of 0°C. Moderate rainfall (65 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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