The building that launched a legend—a 'movement frozen' in raw concrete and glass that redefined the geometry of action.
Building in Weil am Rhein, Freiburg Government Region, Bade-Württemberg, Germany.
Featured in Zaha Hadid's definitive monograph, Zaha Hadid. Complete Works 1979–Today. 45th Ed.
Visitor Guide
Join a campus tour to see the interior kitchenette and conference room; the lack of right angles throughout provides one of the most unique spatial experiences in architecture.
The asphalt paths in front of the station, where lines of fire team exercises were once inscribed, offering the best perspective of the 30-meter cantilevered roof.
Accessible only via guided architectural tours of the Vitra Campus (approx. 14 EUR). The station now serves as an exhibition space for the museum's chair collection.
Hadid’s aim was to purge 'semantic garbage' from architecture. The building doesn't speak or represent; it is a breakthrough to elementary forces, compared by critics to a starfighter or speedboat.
1 hour
Design & Structure
The design began with painting as a research principle. The geometry was generated by the collision of two site orientations: the factory complex and the surrounding street.
Constructed of raw, in-situ reinforced concrete with sharp edges. Frameless glazing and polished aluminum sliding doors were used to maintain the conceptual simplicity.
The building features a 30-meter-long needle-like cantilever roof. The structure defined space rather than occupied it, functioning as a connecting unit for the campus landscape.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who designed Vitra Fire Station?+
Vitra Fire Station was designed by Zaha Hadid and completed in 1993. It is located in Weil am Rhein, Germany.
Where is Vitra Fire Station located?+
Vitra Fire Station is located in Weil am Rhein, Germany. Its coordinates are 47.6004°, 7.6146°.
When was Vitra Fire Station built?+
Vitra Fire Station was completed in 1993. It was designed by Zaha Hadid.
Can I visit Vitra Fire Station?+
Vitra Fire Station is a real building in Weil am Rhein that can be viewed from the outside. Check local information for interior access and visiting hours. Use the Parametric Atlas walking tour feature to plan a route that includes this building.