The top floor of Vitra’s Herzog & de Meuron-designed flagship store in Weil am Rhein, Germany, has been transformed by designer Sabine Marcelis into a vivid investigation of color and domesticity. Marcelis, who is well-known for her distinctive use of color, translucency, and reflection, has produced a number of household settings in the loft at VitraHaus.
Design Philosophy and Approach
With a big, open area separated into functional zones by color, Marcelis’s design concept for the loft reflects her personal approach to home design. In order to create a unified and creative space, this design incorporates Marcelis’s ideas with pieces by other designers, artists, and famous Vitra furniture.
Collaboration and Implementation
The loft area, which features gabled openings framing views of the surrounding countryside, was transformed by Marcelis in close collaboration with Vitra. A deliberate use of color and material layering accentuates the loft’s cozy, private atmosphere while highlighting a domestic scale through the furnishings chosen for the space.
Thematic Areas and Furniture Integration
A mint-green living area with a huge lounge pit greets guests who arrive at the loft via the elevator. The Soft Modular Sofa by Jasper Morrison, a floor-standing Curve Light by Marcelis, and a matching rug complete this pit. Marcelis believed that a central lounge area should be present in both public and private places, and this arrangement represents his views.
There are seven different rooms in the loft, each one honoring a different color. Highlights include a plum-colored minimalist kitchen, a modest seating area with caramel-colored carpeting, and a soft-pink bathroom with a handcrafted onyx tub and vanity. The many areas interact richly because to Marcelis’s thoughtful color choices, which features hues that are instantly identifiable from the organic and natural world.
Iconic Furniture and Artistic Collaborations
Classic Vitra pieces, such Verner Panton’s midcentury designs, are incorporated into the scenography and refreshed in seven new food-inspired colors. The bubble gum, butter, honeydew, and plum colors of these limited edition Panton Chair Classic and Visiona Stool variants complement the loft’s overall color palette.
In order to further enhance the cozy atmosphere, Marcelis also included artworks from friends and collaborators, such as works by Maria Pratts, Johnny Mae Hauser, and Carolijn Jacobs, in addition to specifically created printed bedsheets by Ehsan Morshed.
Summary
The VitraHaus loft has been transformed by Sabine Marcelis in a vivid, all-encompassing study of color and domesticity. Marcelis has developed a room that is both functional and unique, bringing a new perspective on modern household life. This is achieved by combining inventive color use with iconic Vitra furniture and artistic accents.
Photos: Clemens Poloczek
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