Vitrahaus, Basel

Commissioned by upmarket furniture company Vitra (http://www.vitra.com/en-gb/) in 2006 and completed in 2010, Herzog & De Meuron's Vitrahaus in Weil-am-Rhein near Basel is a great example of the unofficially monikered Jenga architecture. 

Whether it's the contribution of the subconscious that fascinates us or the relinquishing of the normally tight grip of control or even just laziness, Jenga architecture is a common theme for conceptual, albeit rarely built, architecture.

Where Vitrahaus differs is in the clever way the seemingly random form has been cleverly stitched together to create a program that works as intended - as a showcase for the Vitra products. The only shared element is the lift running through the houses.

Each 'house' points in a different direction - to Germany, France and Switzerland, taking advantage of the area's unusual circumstance of being the meeting point of each of these countries. The glazed ends of each house allows the visitor to look out and imagine themselves in a dream house without losing the scale of a showroom slash museum.

View of Frank Gehry's Vitra Museum

Herzog & De Meuron's Bird Nest Stadium in light form

Vitrahaus perfectly matches the humor of many of the products

The form and indeed technique could be related to the neo post modern movement in that it is referencing a vernacular building form but Herzog & De Meuron have successful avoided this label by keeping the detailing and form minimal with the powerful use of a reduced and demur colour palette with natural and manmade textures.

For an example of how it could have looked, one needs only to look at this hotel by WAM Architecture. A perfect example of why most post modernism should stay in the 1980's where it belongs. Amusing for 5 minutes but take pity on the poor neighbours who will have to look out their windows at this monstrosity for the next 10 years when, with any luck, it will be pulled down.

http://www.wam-architecten.nl/projecten/Intell_Hotel_Zaandam.php

For further examples of Jenga architecture see:
http://www.designboom.com/eng/interview/sou_fujimoto.html
http://www.trendhunter.com/slideshow/jenga-inspired-architecture

For more information on the Vitrahaus visit http://www.archdaily.com/50533/vitrahaus-herzog-de-meuron/