TERRA!
We are proud to announce that Terra!, the iconic armchair designed by Studio Nucleo,
has been acquired by the prestigious Vitra Design Museum as part of its permanent collection.
The Vitra Design Museum is one of the world’s leading institutions dedicated to the research and presentation of design.
Located in a building designed by Frank Gehry, the museum showcases major temporary exhibitions, often developed with renowned designers,
exploring contemporary themes like sustainability, mobility, and future technologies, alongside historical design milestones.
Its collection includes key objects from design history and the estates of figures such as Charles & Ray Eames and Verner Panton.
The acquisition of Terra! by such a prestigious institution marks a significant achievement for our studio,
recognizing our ongoing contribution to contemporary design.
First conceived in 2000, Terra! is more than just an armchair—it is a living entity, an organic piece of furniture that evolves with its environment.
Its construction invites deep personal involvement:
made from a flat-pack cardboard frame, soil, and grass seeds, it requires the owner to assemble it,
allowing them to become a co-creator in the process.
By participating in its creation, the relationship between object and owner transforms;
there is no greater form of intimacy than being the creator of the object you live with.
Terra! is a Landscape
Terra! is a Terraforming
Terra! is a Process
As designers, we have always believed that building an object is the most profound way to understand it.
Terra! embraces this philosophy, inviting its owner to connect with the natural world,
turning a simple material process into an intimate act of creation.
The chair, shaped over time by the surrounding landscape, becomes an integral part of its environment,
whether in a lush garden, an urban courtyard, or even amidst snow-covered terrain.
Over the years, Terra! has evolved.
The original version debuted at Milan Salone Satellite in 2000 and was later exhibited at the Centre Pompidou in Paris in 2001,
followed by other prestigious venues such as the Milan Triennale (2004) and the Carnegie Museum of Art (2012).
In 2016, Studio Nucleo reintroduced Terra! in a smaller, more accessible form, reviving its legacy for a new generation of creators.
The acquisition by Vitra Design Museum is a monumental step, placing Terra! in one of the world’s
leading collections dedicated to design and architecture.
This recognition celebrates Terra! not just as a piece of furniture, but as a concept—a reflection on
sustainability, creativity, and the emotional bond between object and creator.
© 2024 Studio Nucleo