Schaudepot, Visible storage facility at Vitra Campus, Weil am Rhein, Germany
The Schaudepot is a visible storage building on the Vitra Campus with red brick walls and exposed concrete interiors that display furniture and design objects openly. The collections are arranged without cases or barriers, allowing visitors to walk directly past the pieces on shelves and stands.
The building was completed in 2016 as part of the Vitra Campus expansion, designed by architects Herzog & de Meuron. It introduced a new approach to how design collections could be shared with the public rather than keeping them in traditional storage.
The name combines "show" and "depot," reflecting the idea of making collections publicly visible rather than hidden away. Visitors experience how furniture design evolves across time and style without feeling confined to traditional museum spaces.
The building is located on the Vitra Campus grounds and easily accessible from the parking areas. A café serves refreshments and light meals, while a shop sells design publications and items related to the displayed collections.
The floor surfaces feature a special paving pattern designed to create an optical illusion that makes the interior feel more spacious than it actually is. This detail demonstrates how architecture can subtly influence the way visitors perceive space.
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