WEIL AM RHEIN.- Hella Jongerius: Whispering Things
14 March 2026 − 6 September 2026

For more than thirty years, Hella Jongerius has been one of the leading figures in contemporary design. Her pioneering work spans textiles, ceramics, furniture, and lighting, as well as sculptural pieces. This exhibition is the first retrospective to present the full scope of the Dutch designer’s oeuvre, including her collaborations with Maharam, KLM, Camper, and Vitra.

Since 2024, the archive of her design studio JongeriusLab has been housed at the Vitra Design Museum. The objects and documents it contains offer insights into Jongerius’ working methods, her multi-layered thinking, her passion for craft processes, and her deep engagement with materiality and the symbolism of objects. Her interest in craftsmanship and colour is always accompanied by critical reflection on her own practice and on the role of design in today’s society. The exhibition catalogue also includes a detailed documentation of the Jongerius Archive at the Vitra Design Museum.

VITRA DESIGN MUSEUM

Geoffrey Bawa: Architecture for the Senses
26 September 2026 − 28 February 2027

Geoffrey Bawa (1910–2003) counts among the most influential architects in twentieth-century Asia. His more than two hundred projects shaped the architecture of postcolonial Sri Lanka, forming a remarkably diverse body of work encompassing hotels, private residences, schools, universities, factories, office buildings, and the country’s national parliament. Bawa is considered the father of an architecture of tropical modernism that responds sensitively to climate, landscape, and social context. He worked closely with local craftspeople, and many of his buildings continue to inspire generations of architects seeking to bridge traditional forms and modern design. In 2026, the Vitra Design Museum and M+ Hong Kong will present the first major retrospective of Bawa’s work. Featuring an unprecedented wealth of drawings, models, furniture, photographs, and films, the exhibition brings to life the captivating, sensory quality of Bawa’s architecture – from his early modernist works to the experimental and sometimes little-known projects of his later years.

VITRA SCHAUDEPOT

Verner Panton: Form, Colour, Space
23 May 2026 − 9 May 2027

He made chairs float from the ceiling and created organic living landscapes that continue to fascinate us today: the Danish architect and designer Verner Panton (1926–1998) shaped post-war design like few others. To celebrate the centenary of his birth, the Vitra Design Museum will dedicate a major exhibition at the Vitra Schaudepot to Panton’s work. Showcasing the full breadth of his creative output – from iconic pieces like the »Panton Chair« to his lighting and textile designs – it will also feature his little-known architectural projects. A full-scale, walk-in reconstruction of the legendary »Fantasy Landscape« (1970) brings Panton’s revolutionary understanding of space and the spirit of the era vividly to life. The exhibition design transforms his sculptural, colour-rich worlds into an immersive experience. Drawing extensively on the Verner Panton Archive at the Vitra Design Museum, the exhibition invites visitors to rediscover a visionary designer – between Pop, utopia, and organic worlds of colour.