62 HOME NEW ZEALAND
AboveDieterRamsdesignedthe
‘620ChairProgramme’forVitsœ
in1962.Separatechairscan be
arrangedintoa sofa.BelowThe‘606’Universal
ShelvingSystemhasevolved
tohousea library,stereo, lighting,
art and objects.glass,metalandconcrete,withouta singlebrushstroke
ofpaint.There’ssomethingofVitsœintheelegant
shed,number-eightwireandColinMcCahon’suseof
unstretchedjutecanvas:a transparencyandhonesty,
bothinitsbuildingandphilosophy.Nomatterhow
hardyoulook,there’snoveneerofcorporatefacade
towearoffbecausethereisnofacade.
It mademewonder:whatif weweretodoubledown
onthesevaluesandmake‘livingbetter,withless,
thatlastslonger’a kindofnationaldesignmantra?
Weseemtohavethefoundationsbuiltforusbyour
20th-centuryarchitectsanddesigners.Vitsœshowsus
thatyoucan,infact,leadtheworldwitha less-is-best
mentality,andturna goodprofitatthesametime.
Twoyearsafterthecompanycompletedthemove
fromLondontoitsnewpurpose-built,low-energy
headquartersinLeamingtonSpa,Vitsœseemsto
beenteringa newandexcitingchapterinitshistory.
OnewonderswhichofRams’designsit willmake
next.Vitsœhasalwaysdonethingsdifferently,always
rejectedtrendsandfashions.Andata timewhen
theimplicationsofdecadesofa throwawayculture
aremorethanclear,Vitsœ’sunderstated,long-term,
slow-but-steadyphilosophyoffersa lessonforusall.
Thephilosophycomesfree– beautiful, long-lasting
furniture is an optional extra.