VITSŒ, Royal Leamington Spa

Having recently invested in the Vitsœ 606 Universal Shelving System for our new RÆBURN studio at Design District, I was delighted to be invited to Royal Leamington Spa to visit the Vitsœ headquarters and see first-hand the thinking, people and processes behind a company I've long admired.

The building itself immediately sets the tone. Light, open and highly considered, it brings design, manufacturing, workspace and community together under one roof. Like the 606 system itself, the architecture has been conceived to adapt and evolve over time rather than remain fixed. There is a refreshing clarity to everything; materials are used intelligently, structure is celebrated rather than concealed, and every decision feels considered for the long term.

We were hosted by Daniel Calderbank, who did a superb job of guiding us through everything from the different stages of assembly for the 606 shelving to the details and intricacies of the 620 Chair. What was particularly inspiring was seeing how completely Vitsœ's philosophy carries through the organisation. 

From the way products are manufactured and assembled to the commitment to repair, adaptability and encouraging customers to buy only what they need, there is a consistency between what the company makes, how it makes it and the values behind it. It's an approach that feels naturally aligned with our own thinking at RÆBURN around resourcefulness, longevity and designing with greater responsibility.

The tour was incredibly engaging and educational, made all the better by the generosity and knowledge of our hosts. Even lunch from chef Will Leigh reflected the same attention to detail, prepared and enjoyed together within the Vitsœ headquarters. A simple gesture, but one that spoke volumes about the importance placed on people, conversation and community.

A particular highlight towards the end of the visit was The Strong Collection, an extraordinary collection of more than 250 Braun products assembled by American graphic designer Tom Strong over more than 50 years. From radios and audio equipment to clocks, calculators and domestic objects, the collection offers an incredible opportunity to see the breadth and evolution of Dieter Rams' approach to industrial design in one place. Importantly, Strong donated the collection to Vitsœ so it could be used as an educational resource for future generations, another idea that feels particularly relevant to us at RÆBURN: an archive made more valuable by being shared.

We left Royal Leamington Spa with plenty to think about and an even greater appreciation for the system we've chosen for the RÆBURN studio. The 606 shelving will continue to change and adapt with us, housing everything from new-season developments and archive samples to materials, books and artefacts collected along the way.