christmas trees and kunstmuseum

Quiet morning from our window. After breakfast we took another stroll through the city, along the river and through tree-lined streets, and rode the ferris wheel and the tram around a bit too since our feet were chilly.

River ferry near the Munster and city views.

Friendly gull near the Helvetica statue.

We saw some of the oldest public art collection and a special Warhol exhibition at the Kunstmuseum. The museum courtyard was turned into a skating rink.

More treats, the biggest pretzel I've ever seen.

A final stop by the Tingeuly fountain, mostly frozen, and off to the train station for two trains, a tram, a bus and finally hitchhiking to make our way back home after a fantastic weekend.

vitra, weil am rhein

After a morning walk and visit to the the city wall and mill, we took a bus fifteen minutes across the German border to the Vitra Design Museum. The museum (below left) was designed by Frank Gehry and housed a temporary exhibition of his sketches and models for various building projects. The VitraHaus (below right) , by Herzog & de Meuron, contained the cafe, gift shop, and Vitra design show rooms...a great place to play.

 

At the VitraHaus, we got to sit in some fine chairs (like La Chaise lounge designed by Charles and Ray Eames in 1948). We'll get to the chairs, but first, lunch.

Pumpkin soup and a coffee served in the windowed cafe, watching the snow.

Okay, onto some design... (gallery interior, design for Superstar- a mobile Chinatown by MAD inside Buckminister Fuller dome, Gehry model for Pritzker Pavilion, Vitra Museum in the snow).

And some more...

And the chairs- plenty of places to sit, thanks mostly to Charles and Ray Eames.

Heading back to Basel for dinner and some jazz at the Bird's Eye, here's the bus stop designed by Jasper Morrison, for the Vitra:

Did I mention this place is pretty much perfect... I guess it has to be, but the publications, signage, fonts, oh so nice.