(smow) reading: The Vitra Campus – Architecture Design Industry

There is an old adage about turning problems into chances, of every cloud having a silver lining, of every thorn having its rose.

One of the best examples of such is the Vitra Campus in Weil am Rhein.

In the wake of a 1981 fire at the Weil am Rhein production site, Vitra found themselves needing to quickly rebuild. And needing a fire station.

The first problem was solved by Nicholas Grimshaw with his Production Hall. The second by Zaha Hadid with her Fire Station.

In the intervening 30+ years the Vitra Campus has grown into a collection of buildings and structures by some of the leading architects of our age, a collection of buildings that more than just demonstrates what contemporary architecture can be, but which also provide useful workspace for Vitra.

In addition to dramatic, photogenic, highlights such as Herzog & de Meuron’s VitraHaus or Frank Gehry’s Vitra Design Museum, the Vitra campus encompasses less eye-catching yet just as challenging constructions including the new SANAA Factory Building and Alvaro Siza’s Production Hall, in addition to simple everyday objects, albeit simple everyday objects designed with an alluring panache, including, for example, Jean Prouvé‘s 1953 Petrol Station and Jasper Morrison‘s bus shelter.

Whereas a visit to the Vitra Campus, and for all the guided architecture tour, can always be recommended, we appreciate that it is not always possible. Fortunately the Vitra Design Museum have now produced a guide to the Vitra Campus. Featuring some 200 images over 200 pages “The Vitra Campus – Architecture Design Industry” presents the story of the Vitra Campus alongside biographies of the architects involved in a work that provides a delightful overview of the Vitra Campus Project. And that in a German, an English and a French version

Vitra Campus – Architecture Design Industry can be purchased from the Vitra Design Museum shop, or we have two copies to win: one German and one English.

To be in with chance of winning a copy of The Vitra Campus – Architecture Design Industry simply tell us in the comments section below which version you would prefer – German or English – and we’ll draw two winners from all entries – one German, one English.

Closing date for “entries” is 23:59 Leipzig Standard Time on Friday December 13th 2013.

And so all going well the books will be with the winners by Christmas….. #easypresentforarchitcetureanddesignfans