Vitra Campus Fall Festival & Opening of Doshi Retreat
Saturday, 25 October, 10 am – 6 pm
In the warm autumn light, the Vitra Campus shimmers in hues of gold. This not only creates a beautiful setting for the Fall Festival, but also provides the perfect backdrop for the opening of the latest architectural addition to the Vitra Campus, the Doshi Retreat, which will take centre stage during the event.
Join us at the Vitra Campus on Saturday, 25 October from 10 am to 6 pm to celebrate the Fall Festival with friends and family.
The Doshi Retreat will be welcoming visitors for the first time during the Fall Festival. It will also feature in guided tours and be a topic of an exhibition at the Vitra Campus Gallery, and starting 25 October, the structure will be open to the public daily during regular campus hours, from 10 am to 6 pm.
Join us at the Vitra Campus on Saturday, 25 October from 10 am to 6 pm to celebrate the Fall Festival with friends and family.
The Doshi Retreat will be welcoming visitors for the first time during the Fall Festival. It will also feature in guided tours and be a topic of an exhibition at the Vitra Campus Gallery, and starting 25 October, the structure will be open to the public daily during regular campus hours, from 10 am to 6 pm.
The Doshi Retreat was designed by Indian architect Balkrishna Doshi in collaboration with his granddaughter Khushnu Panthaki Hoof and her husband Sönke Hoof as a place of contemplation. It was Doshi’s first project to be completed outside of India – as well as the last design he worked on prior to his passing in 2023. He was awarded the Pritzker Architecture Prize in early 2018.
Khushnu Panthaki Hoof and Sönke Hoof run the architecture firm Studio Sangath in Ahmedabad, India. They developed the vision for what would become the Doshi Retreat through an intimate dialogue with Balkrishna Doshi, subsequently shaping its form and spatial rhythms on the Vitra Campus in harmony with the surrounding landscape. During the Vitra Campus Fall Festival, the couple will present the Doshi Retreat. In keeping with the theme, festival visitors can also enjoy Indian music and food. And are you familiar with rangoli? Explore the world of these vibrant Indian floor decorations for special occasions. Admire their inspirational shapes and colours or take part in one of the workshops – suitable for all ages. You can also join one of the architectural tours and view the different buildings and other highlights across the Vitra Campus.
Khushnu Panthaki Hoof and Sönke Hoof run the architecture firm Studio Sangath in Ahmedabad, India. They developed the vision for what would become the Doshi Retreat through an intimate dialogue with Balkrishna Doshi, subsequently shaping its form and spatial rhythms on the Vitra Campus in harmony with the surrounding landscape. During the Vitra Campus Fall Festival, the couple will present the Doshi Retreat. In keeping with the theme, festival visitors can also enjoy Indian music and food. And are you familiar with rangoli? Explore the world of these vibrant Indian floor decorations for special occasions. Admire their inspirational shapes and colours or take part in one of the workshops – suitable for all ages. You can also join one of the architectural tours and view the different buildings and other highlights across the Vitra Campus.
Fall Festival Programme
Saturday, 25 October, 10 am – 6 pm
10.30 am – 5pm: short guided tours
The tours are free of charge, registration on site at the meeting point, limited number of participants.
10.30 am, 12.30 pm, 2.30 pm and 4.30 pm
Short guided tours of the Doshi Retreat, German, 30 minutes
Meeting point: Doshi Retreat
11.30 am, 1.30 pm, 3.30 pm and 5.30 pm
Short guided tours of the Doshi Retreat, English, 30 minutes
Meeting point: Doshi Retreat
11 am and 12 noon
Short guided tours of Khudi Bari and the Tane Garden House, German, 30 minutes
Meeting point: VitraHaus reception desk
1 pm and 2 pm
Short guided tours of Khudi Bari and the Tane Garden House, English, 30 minutes
Meeting point: VitraHaus reception desk
10.30 am, 12.30 pm, 2.30 pm and 4.30 pm
Short guided tours of the Doshi Retreat, German, 30 minutes
Meeting point: Doshi Retreat
11.30 am, 1.30 pm, 3.30 pm and 5.30 pm
Short guided tours of the Doshi Retreat, English, 30 minutes
Meeting point: Doshi Retreat
11 am and 12 noon
Short guided tours of Khudi Bari and the Tane Garden House, German, 30 minutes
Meeting point: VitraHaus reception desk
1 pm and 2 pm
Short guided tours of Khudi Bari and the Tane Garden House, English, 30 minutes
Meeting point: VitraHaus reception desk
2 pm, presentation by the architects, with registration
‘Immersing, Emerging and Being – The Story of the Doshi Retreat‘: The Doshi Retreat was designed by Indian architect Balkrishna Doshi in collaboration with his granddaughter Khushnu Panthaki Hoof and her husband Sönke Hoof as a place of contemplation. Khushnu Panthaki Hoof and Sönke Hoof run the architecture firm Studio Sangath in Ahmedabad, India, and will be presenting the latest addition to the Vitra Campus in the Fire Station by Zaha Hadid. Introduction by Rolf Fehlbaum, Vitra Chairman Emeritus; moderated by Mateo Kries, Director Vitra Design Museum. Duration approx. 45 minutes. Language English. Registration requested, places are limited. Free entry, tickets here (already fully booked).
1 pm and 5 pm: Instrumental Sounds from India – Concerts in the Fire Station
Immerse yourself in the world of classical Indian music and enjoy a 30-minute concert with sitar player Thomas Niggli. He is accompanied by the virtuoso tabla player Shrirang Mirajkar.
12 noon – 5 pm: Elephants on Parade – Craft a Miniature Eames Elephant out of Paper
Admired for its majestic size and loved because of its gentle nature, almost no other animal is as popular as the elephant. Charles and Ray Eames also succumbed to the pachyderm’s charm and developed a toy elephant made of plywood in 1945, which went into production in a version made of plastic over 60 years later. During the workshop, the two-part design will be employed to create an elephant out of paper, artfully decorated with paint, fabric, leather, felt and other materials. Anyone who’s able to use scissors can take part!
12 noon – 5 pm: Rangoli – Decorative Floor Art for Special Celebrations
Rangoli are mandala-like patterns created from a variety of colourful materials, arranged on the floor or at the entrance to homes in India to welcome guests during festive occasions. In the workshop, participants can learn this fascinating art form and try it out themselves – even directly on Charles-Eames-Strasse at the Vitra Campus, if the weather permits. Suitable for ages 5 and up, and fun for adults too.
12 noon – 5 pm: Block Printing – Stamping on Textiles and Paper
Block printing is a traditional Indian decorative technique dating back more than a century, in which patterns are applied using hand-carved wooden stamps – mainly on textiles. In the workshop, wooden blocks are fitted with a variety of foam-rubber motifs, allowing both children and adults to stamp prints onto textiles and paper. Participants are also welcome to bring their own fabric items.
The regular public guided tours of the Vitra Design Museum will take place according to the usual programme. In addition to the activities of the Fall Festival and the opening of the Doshi Retreat, visitors can explore the VitraHaus by Herzog & de Meuron and the Vitra Design Museum with its new exhibition ‘Catwalk: The Art of The Fashion Show’. The Vitra Circle Store, Vitra Schaudepot, Depot Deli and VitraHaus Café will also be open throughout the event.
No registration is required for the Vitra Campus Fall Festival, with the exception of the presentation on the Doshi Retreat at 2 pm (see programme). The Fall Festival will take place whatever the weather. Admission to the event and participation in the short guided tours and workshops are free of charge.
Up-to-date information can be found on our social media channels, our website vitra.com or in the ‘News’ section of the Vitra Campus app. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us by email at [email protected] or by phone at +49 762 1702 3510.
No registration is required for the Vitra Campus Fall Festival, with the exception of the presentation on the Doshi Retreat at 2 pm (see programme). The Fall Festival will take place whatever the weather. Admission to the event and participation in the short guided tours and workshops are free of charge.
Up-to-date information can be found on our social media channels, our website vitra.com or in the ‘News’ section of the Vitra Campus app. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us by email at [email protected] or by phone at +49 762 1702 3510.
XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel for the Doshi Retreat was generously donated by ArcelorMittal.
Publication date: 15.9.2025
Images: © Vitra, Images: Daisuke Hirabayashi, Marek Iwicki, Dejan Jovanovic