Sleep

Sleep is one of the most universal yet least understood aspects of human life. We spend roughly a third of our lives asleep, yet the ways we sleep—and our ability to rest—are profoundly shaped by culture, technology, economics, and design. Accompanying the Vitra Design Museum exhibition, this publication explores sleep as both a biological necessity and a cultural phenomenon. Drawing on design, architecture, art, literature, film, and sleep research, the book examines how sleeping habits and environments have evolved over time. From historical beds and domestic interiors to contemporary sleep technologies, it traces the changing relationship between the body, rest, intimacy, and dreams. It also considers how artificial lighting, industrialisation, modern work patterns, digitalisation, and constant connectivity have transformed sleep in the modern world. At the same time, the publication addresses the broader social and political dimensions of rest. Who has access to restorative sleep? How do economic pressures, working conditions, and inequalities shape our ability to rest? And how can design contribute to healthier sleeping environments? Richly illustrated and featuring a wide range of historical and contemporary examples and infographics, the book reveals sleep as both a deeply personal experience and a reflection of wider societal change. Combining scientific insights with cultural history and design perspectives, it offers a compelling exploration of one of humanity’s most essential yet enigmatic activities—and of the forces that continue to shape how, where, and why we sleep.