Know any abstract artists who keep all their work in their apartment because nobody else will display it? Neither does Jasper Morrison.
But the London-based industrial designer – and recent Wallpaper* Designer of the Year winner – has created a fictional one. He lives on the first floor of the VitraHaus in Weil am Rhein, the Vitra brand's flagship, designed by Herzog & de Meuron. And he's got impeccable taste, by the way.
Morrison's 'Monopad' chair
‘This is the apartment of Allard Pierson, an abstract artist who doesn’t exhibit his sculptures because nobody’s interested in abstract art anymore,’ says Morrison of the 150 sq m scene he's staged in the light-flooded upper level, ‘so he lives at home with them and occasionally invites people to dinner, to show them his new work.’
Morrison invented the character to inject personality into his presentation, part salon, part studio. Understated, utilitarian designs – like his ‘Place’ sofa and ‘HAL’ chair – live comfortably alongside items from other Vitra designers, providing a neutral foil for the bold upholsteries and accessories. ‘This was not done intentionally,’ he says. ‘The intention was to create good atmosphere in as natural a way possible. The balance of neutral and colourful shades is important. Too much colour and the balance would have been off, too little and it would have been boring.’
Bold colours were used for upholstery and accessories
Morrison has used a deft and delicate hand in the layout, allowing the sculptural artworks place to breathe. The space joins a similar interior concept down the hall, by Italian designer Antonio Citterio, while Studioilse previously dressed the space for a fictional couple, Harri and Astrid.
The apartment includes Morrison's 'Place' sofa for Vitra
Neutral shades were chosen for the furniture
Morrison set up a workshop for Allard Pierson, the home's fictional inhabitant
‘This is the apartment of Allard Pierson, an abstract artist who doesn’t exhibit his sculptures because nobody’s interested in abstract art anymore,’ says Morrison of the project
The designer suggests Pierson lives at home with his art, and ‘occasionally invites people to dinner, to show them his new work’
INFORMATION
For more information, visit the Vitra website
ADDRESS
VitraHaus
Ray-Eames-Strasse 1
D-79576 Weil am Rhein
-
Olfactory Art Keller: the New York gallery exhibiting the smell of vintage perfume, blossoming lilacs and last night’s shameOlfactory Art Keller is a Manhattan-based gallery space dedicated to exhibiting scent as art. Founder Dr Andreas Keller speaks with Lara Johnson-Wheeler about the project, which doesn’t shy away from the ‘unpleasant’
-
Explore a barn conversion with a difference on the Isle of WightGianni Botsford Architects' barn conversion transforms two old farm buildings into an atmospheric residence and artistic retreat, The Old Byre
-
Audi launches AUDI, a China-only sub-brand, with a handsome new EV conceptThe AUDI E previews a new range of China-specific electric vehicles from the German carmaker’s new local sub-brand
-
Alessi Occasional Objects: Virgil Abloh’s take on cutleryBest Cross Pollination: Alessi's cutlery by the late designer Virgil Abloh, in collaboration with his London studio Alaska Alaska, is awarded at the Wallpaper* Design Awards 2023
-
Design Miami 2022: highlights from the fair and around townDesign Miami 2022 (30 November – 4 December) aims at ‘rebooting the roots of our relationship with nature and collective structures, ecospheres, and urban contexts’
-
Salon Art + Design 2022: design highlights not to missWallpaper* highlights from Salon Art + Design 2022, New York
-
Design Week Lagos 2022 celebrates creativity and innovation in West Africa and beyondCurated by founder Titi Ogufere, Design Week Lagos 2022 is based on a theme of ‘Beyond The Box’
-
Designart Tokyo transforms the city into a museum of creativityDesignart Tokyo presents global design highlights through a series of exhibitions involving global creative talent and traditional Japanese craft
-
Rimowa Design Prize set to celebrate student innovationThe new Rimowa Design Prize is launching in collaboration with 15 universities, celebrating both student innovation and German design
-
Tom Dixon marks his studio's 20 years with a show of design experimentsMushroom, cork, steel coral and more: Tom Dixon showcases an overview of his design experiments as he celebrates his practice's 20 years
-
Vitra unveils new London home in the Tramshed, ShoreditchLondon Design Festival 2022: after a year-long renovation, Vitra opens the door to its new showroom in the heart of Shoreditch
