Sabine Marcelis creates colour-blocked scenography for VitraHaus loft
A mint-green lounge pit and custard-yellow home office are among several colourful set pieces installed by designer Sabine Marcelis on the top floor of Vitra's Herzog & de Meuron-designed flagship store in Weil am Rhein, Germany. Marcelis, who is known for her work exploring colour, translucency and reflection, was invited to create a series of
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A mint-green lounge pit and custard-yellow home office are among several colourful set pieces installed by designer Sabine Marcelis on the top floor of Vitra's Herzog & de Meuron-designed flagship store in Weil am Rhein, Germany.
Marcelis, who is known for her work exploring colour, translucency and reflection, was invited to create a series of domestic scenes within the VitraHaus loft that feature some of the furniture company's most iconic products.
The scenography immerses visitors in a world of colour, with the various spaces providing a vision of domestic life that aims to be both practical and imaginative.
"The philosophy behind the design closely mirrors how we created our family home," said Marcelis, who organised Vitra Design Museum's archive into a colour-coordinated exhibition called Colour Rush in 2022.
"It features a large open space divided into functional zones, delineated by colour. We then blended my creations with those of other designers, artists and, of course, Vitra furniture to create a cohesive whole."
Marcelis worked closely with Vitra to transform the loft of the flagship store on the Vitra Campus, also home to Zaha Hadid's dynamic Fire Station and Frank Gehry's swirling museum building.
The loft, with its gabled openings framing views of the surrounding countryside, has a domestic scale that is accentuated through the choice of furnishings and the layering of colour and materials.
"The VitraHaus loft is the perfect canvas to display the diversity of Vitra furniture," said Till Weber, the company's creative director of interiors and scenography. "It provides a collage where we can mix and match furniture for the characters that live within it."
"The tones and hues Sabine has used are recognisable from the natural, organic world and they have a rich interaction with the various spaces – things are connected but do not all perfectly match," he continued.
Visitors arriving via a lift enter a cool-green living area featuring a large lounge pit created using Jasper Morrison's Soft Modular Sofa. The sofa is complemented by a green rug and Marcelis's floor-standing Curve Light.
"The original sofa system is generally used to create L shapes and we've just merged it all to form this enveloping pit," the designer said.
"I think it's so important to have a good lounge. It can be really fun – I have a lounge pit at home as well and it's the core of the house. It's so good to just jump in there."
The lounge space is one of seven distinct areas, each designed to celebrate a different colour. These include a soft-pink bathroom with a custom onyx tub, sink and vanity.
Other zones include a small seating area with caramel-coloured carpeting that matches the leather upholstery on a pair of George Nelson's Coconut Chairs, as well as a minimalist kitchen with shelving and stools in a plum hue.
"The colours used in the VitraHaus Loft are personal favourites," Marcelis said.
"I like these colours and never tire of them, which makes them timeless for me. I think this attitude is important for anyone creating their own home."
Incorporated within the scenography are iconic pieces from Vitra's archive including two of Verner Panton's midcentury furniture designs, which Marcelis has updated in seven new colours.
The limited edition versions of the Panton Chair Classic and the Visiona Stool are produced in food-inspired hues including bubble gum, butter, honeydew and plum that match the colour scheme used in the VitraHaus Loft.
Along with upholstery in the seven new colours, Marcelis specified different types of finishes for the cylindrical Visiona pouf, including faux fur and untreated leather.
The designer also selected artworks by friends and collaborators that help to create a homely feel throughout the spaces.
Pieces by Maria Pratts, Johnny Mae Hauser and Carolijn Jacobs feature alongside printed bedsheets by Ehsan Morshed, which were created for the VitraHaus Loft and are available to purchase at the VitraHaus.
Marcelis has worked on numerous projects in recent years that display her innovative take on colour and materiality.
Most recently, she created colourful plinths for the match balls of the Euro 2024 football tournament and designed a conceptual version of the Renault Twingo car featuring a semi-transparent exterior and raspberry-coloured interior.
The photography is by Clemens Poloczek.
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