Fritz Haller

Fritz Haller (born October 23, 1924, in Solothurn, Switzerland) is a standout example of an architect who successfully translated architectural thinking into furniture design. After training as a draftsman and working with various Swiss architects, he contributed to post-war reconstruction in Rotterdam before joining his father’s firm in 1949.

Haller’s work—both buildings and furniture—is defined by modular, extendable systems based on repeatable quadratic forms. Early projects like the 1957 Weststadtschulhaus and the 1960 Kantonsschule Baden showcase this approach. His three structural systems—“mini” for homes, “midi” for larger buildings, and “maxi” for industrial spaces—share a scalable steel-frame logic. In 1963, at the request of local metal producer Ulrich Schärer, Haller adapted his system for furniture, creating the iconic USM Haller modular system, built from steel tubes, panels, and a signature chrome-plated brass ball.