291 WW #14 Rain

It rained a lot during my stay in Zurich. Certainly sunshine could have been more welcomed, but rainy weather didn't matter to me much. The colder and groomier the sky was, I could all the more appreciate the warmth at cafes and brightness of street light. One more encouraging was the fact people didn't necessarily put their umbrellas even in considerable raindrops. Roughly estimated, half of the people were walking without umbrellas.    

290 WW #13 Smoking clean

One of the amazing things I found in Zurich is the cleanliness. Another is the city has lots of habitual smoker. It seems the indoor smoking is prohibited so people smoke while walking or waiting for the tram. But the most wonderful and amazing thing is the city keeps its neatness however many smokers are walking around. I hardly found shabby cigarette-ends or ashes in major streets and plazas(I'm not exaggerating!) 

289 WW #12 Vitra; VitraHaus

Lastly I would like to introduce this fantastic place; Vitrahaus. Designed by internationally famous firm from local Basel, Herzog & de Meuron. This is the latest architecture built in Vitra Camps, and the structure is quite unique as well as other former masterpieces. As you see in the first picture the Haus is composed by 12 identical houses stacked up in different angle. Each houses has beautiful showroom furnished with sophisticated Vitra products. 

The first impression of the building to me was unbelievable and enjoyable. It was as though a set of houses were fallen from the sky one day--- like "Oz" or SF comedy. It was the most playful architecture I've ever seen. But the unique shape had an important meaning. The guide explained to me the 12 houses faced each direction and overall they made a kind of "circle" so that people could see all around the area from inside through each windows. Thinking of the area which was along the borders of Germany, Switzerland and France, the concept is important because "Open to every direction" is a clear statement of cosmopolitanism in design. It brilliantly makes sense to an international company like Vitra, along with the idea of combining outstanding architects from all over the world.

288 WW #11 Vitra; Conference Pavilion

First I thought this building was a recent work by Tadao Ando simply because I was so ignorant that I didn't know the work. Wrong. This was built in 1993 and became the first architecture realized outside his home country Japan (though he had already gained international renown before that). 

The building was full of surprise. Seen from the assigned pathway (you had to set a certain course to enter the building, like a plane landing on runway) only the top of the concrete roof appeared on the green lawn. It looked small and discreet. Then I suddenly found myself in front of a wide square garden surrounded by concrete wall. That was the entrance. It seemed solemn with sharp straight line and stern concrete face. But once going into the building I was surprised to feel the warmth, familiarity and coziness, which (surprisingly again) didn't conflict with the dignified excellence.

It had several seminar rooms different in scale. The smallest of all which the guide showed me was a simple square room furnished with only stand light, sofas and table. According to the explanation the room have been used for business meetings/discussions and appreciated for its inspirational ambiance. To me it was difficult to get it (as I didn't visit there for business purpose), but I fully enjoyed the harmony of architectural beauty and Zen-like spirit.

287 WW #10 Vitra; Fire Station

Vitra offers architectural guided tour which takes you around the Vitra Campus and gives you quick but profound explanation on each buildings. On such a cold rainy day the guest was only me. So I happily monopolized the guide and enjoyed every single conversation and Q&A. 

The Fire Station by Zaha Hadid was one of the architectures I could go inside. Seen from outside, the building looked like a sharp-shaped concrete wall with nothing especially attractive (shame on me!) But the inside was quite strange and interesting. Every line of the wall, window, floor, corner, ceiling, lighting, doors and even stairs, was in some way oblique and rarely I found right-angled figure that should have seen. The architecture gives you unbalanced, unstable feeling, and sometimes floating sensation. What makes an architect to design such an unbalanced, unstable building, especially for a fire station which essentially require functionality? Neither the guide and I couldn't answer to the question, but my friend found it when I told the experience. He said "It's to train the sense of balance and athletic skills of firemen, who always fight in extreme circumstance." 
Well done!

286 WW #9 Vitra; introduction

I've been writing down my visit to Zurich, but actually I left for Basel on the next morning I arrived in Zurich. Knowing Basel is internationally renowned for its Watch Fair(BaselWorld) held in spring, November was surely out of season. Moreover, the rain had keep falling in the Basel region during my stay. So I didn't expect sunshine or fever, but I headed for Vitra Campus in high spirits, like a pilgrim, as this was the sacred ground for modern architecture. 

Vitra is a superior brand for interior design and furniture. Vitra Campus represents its brand philosophy with a great combination of museum,  architectures and showroom, all designed by the most prominent architects of our era, Buckminster Fuller, Tadao Ando, Zaha Hadid, Frank Gary, Herzog & de Meuron and more.

The experience was beyond my expectation though I had to bear the cold weather and rain. After all, the climate wasn't a flaw as it set off the warm welcome and my imagination of the brilliance of the place in other seasons.

285 WW #8 Happy Christmas

 So this is Christmas!