Carsten Höller is a renowned architect and artist, widely recognized for his interdisciplinary work that flows between art, design, and architecture. His contribution to the Vitra Campus, one of the most iconic hubs of contemporary architecture, embodies an innovative vision that challenges conventions. The Vitra Tower stands out as a symbol of interactivity and innovation among his creations.
The Elevated Experience: The Vitra Campus Observation Tower
Opened in 2014, the Vitra Tower is an observation tower that goes far beyond its architectural functionality. Carsten Höller designed it with an approach that blends structure and experience, transforming it into a visual and physical playground for visitors of all ages. Its most striking feature is a spiral metal slide that wraps around the tower, allowing for a fast and thrilling descent from the top to the ground.
The slide is more than just a form of entertainment; it is a provocation. It proposes a reflection on how we perceive the functionality of architectural spaces. Höller invites visitors to defy gravity—both physically and emotionally—and to experience architecture viscerally and unexpectedly.
Carsten Höller’s Signature
Höller is known for incorporating interactivity and sensory experimentation into his projects. Before dedicating himself fully to the creative world, Höller was a scientist specializing in biology. This scientific background is reflected in his obsession with human behavior and creating experiences that challenge perceptions.
In the context of the Vitra Tower, Höller combines his artistic sensibility with architectural functionality to offer a work that goes far beyond contemplation. The tower is not just a point of observation, but an invitation to interaction, movement, and the deconstruction of the traditional idea of a built space.
The Tower as a part of the Vitra Campus
The Vitra Campus is recognized worldwide as an open-air architecture museum, housing works by greats such as Zaha Hadid, Herzog & de Meuron and Tadao Ando. Höller’s addition of the Vitra Tower brings a layer of playfulness to the complex, expanding its diversity of proposals and reinforcing Vitra’s commitment to innovation and creativity.
Alongside other iconic landmarks such as Herzog & de Meuron’s VitraHaus and Tadao Ando’s Conference Pavilion, Höller’s tower stands as a reminder that architecture can be profoundly human – made to be lived in, touched, and experienced.
Legacy and inspiration
The Vitra Tower is an iconic example of how Carsten Höller’s work transcends boundaries and redefines the way we relate to spaces. More than just an architectural project, it is a functional work of art that stimulates creativity, fun, and emotional connection.
For architects and designers who look to Höller’s work for inspiration, the Vitra Tower is a powerful testament to what can be achieved when artistic vision is combined with practical functionality. And for all of us, it is a reminder that architecture, when thought creatively, can transform our experiences and perceptions in unforgettable ways.
Recently, Pett Capellato Solutions Hub, Vitra’s exclusive distributor in Rio de Janeiro, visited the Vitra Campus and was impressed by Carsten Höller’s work. The experience reinforced the transformative power of architecture and highlighted how the Vitra Tower is a true masterpiece that inspires and provokes reflection.
