Vitsœ

Heritage

Vitsœ was founded on 4 September 1959 by the Danish furniture dealer Niels Vitsøe and Otto Zapf, as Vitsoe+Zapf, to realise the furniture designs of Dieter Rams. The 606 Universal Shelving System (originally RZ 60) followed in 1960, and the 620 Chair Programme and 621 Table in 1962. In 1969 the company became Wiese Vitsœ, adopting the œ ligature and naming products after their year of introduction; its identity was created by Wolfgang Schmidt in Adrian Frutiger's Univers. Mark Adams founded Vitsœ UK in 1986, and in 1995 the corporate seat and production moved from Germany to the United Kingdom.

Philosophy

Vitsœ's ethos is "living better, with less, that lasts longer". Its furniture is designed as true systems – recyclable aluminium, steel and wood joined mechanically rather than bonded or welded – so it can be extended, repaired and dismantled. The company reuses wooden stillages between suppliers, pays planners no commission, charges a single honest price and holds no sales, because its stock does not become obsolete.

Iconic Works

• 606 Universal Shelving System (1960) – in MoMA's permanent collection since 2004
• 620 Chair Programme (1962) – accepted into the V&A's permanent collection in 1970
• 621 Table (1962)

Today

Since 2013 Vitsœ has been the exclusive worldwide licensee of Dieter Rams's complete collection of original furniture designs and sells only direct to customers. Production moved to a purpose-built building in Royal Leamington Spa in 2017, with shops in London, New York, Munich and Leamington Spa, delivering directly to more than 90 countries.