Swiss architect Mario Botta may be renowned for his impressive postmodern architecture projects such as the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, but the chairs, lighting and other furniture he created reflect a mastery of geometrically rich forms and an elegant application of simple symmetry.
Born in Mendrisio, Switzerland, in 1943, Botta gained an interest in architecture at an early age. He apprenticed at the architectural firm Carloni and Camenisch and designed his first building — a two-family house at Morbis Superiore in Ticino — at age 16. During the early 1960s, Botta attended the Liceo Artistico in Milan and then studied at the University Institute of Architecture in Venice under art historian Giuseppe Mazzariol and influential Italian architect Carlo Scarpa.
While studying in Venice, Botta worked for Swiss-born French architect Le Corbusier — whose career spanned hundreds of architecture projects — and gained inspiration from Estonian-American architect Louis Kahn, who was known for his modern and brutalist architectural style. In 1969, Botta completed his studies and established his practice in Lugano, designing and building single-family homes.
Throughout the 1970s, Botta gained fame for his innovative, geometrical designs and deceptively simple forms, such as his first large-scale building project in 1977 — the Middle School in Morbio Inferiore, Switzerland. Botta later established himself as one of the masters of 1980s postmodern design in his architecture and his furniture. His postmodern ideas characterize the dining room tables and seating he designed for companies such as Alias, as well as his table lamps and floor lamps for Artemide.
Botta’s noteworthy architectural projects designed during the 1990s and 2000s include the Cymbalista Synagogue and Jewish Heritage Center in Tel Aviv, Israel; the Monastery of the Holy Apostles Saint Peter and Andrew in Lviv, Ukraine; and the Theater of Architecture in Mendrisio, in 2018.
On 1stDibs, discover a range of vintage Mario Botta lighting fixtures, seating, tables and decorative objects.
Bench Riva 1920 Bottea Design Mario Botta - Oak from Barrique barrels
By Mario Botta, Riva 1920
Located in Alcamo, IT
Brand: Riva 1920 Model: Bottea Design by: Mario Botta The Bottea bench is entirely crafted from oak reclaimed from Barrique barrels, embodying a powerful dialogue between geometric ...
Wood
Vintage Campaign Folding Oak 4 Seater Bench. English C.1920
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Fabulous folding bench Original patina. Nice colour of oak I particularly like the side profile. It reminds me of the Jeanneret Chandigarh chair...
Oak
$3,482Sale Price|30% Off
H 16.93 in W 70.08 in D 28.35 in
Louis XIV Style French Large Bench Dark Oak from 1920s
Located in Miami, FL
This beautiful Louis XIV style French bench was made in solid patinated oak in the early 1920s. Fully restored and newly upholstered with a large wool colorful geometric, this large ...
Oak
Swedish Designer, Bench, Oak, Sweden, 1920s
Located in High Point, NC
An oak bench designed and produced in Sweden, c. 1920s. Seat height 18.25
Oak
Low oak bench, Breton craftsmanship from the 1940s
Located in MONTESSON, FR
This large stained oak bench is a Breton piece from the 1940s. Its sleek design is enlivened by two central turned wooden posts, which add a decorative detail while ensuring the stru...
Oak
$11,846 / item
H 17.72 in W 94.49 in D 16.54 in
Mountains Outdoor Bench in Solid Cedar with Vulcano Finish by Riva1920
Located in NEW YORK, NY
The Mountains Bench by Hsiao‑Ching Wang for Riva 1920 is a sculptural seating piece carved from a single block of solid cedar wood. Its flowing, undulating ...
Cedar
Vintage Oak Bench From Denmark, Circa 1960
Located in Nashville, TN
Vintage Oak Bench From Denmark, Circa 1960. Solid oak construction with cushion. Excellent condition.
Oak
Charlotte Armchair by Mario Botta
By Mario Botta, Horm
Located in Milan, IT
An example of skillful craftsmanship in a sophisticated, modern design, this armchair by Mario Botta comprises a structure in white-painted metal covered entirely by natural wicker. ...
Metal
Rustic Oak Bench, circa 1920's
Located in Asheville, NC
Antique handmade oak bench featuring a weathered top and splayed legs. 68”L x 20”D x 18”H
Oak
$7,139 / item
H 15.75 in W 55.12 in D 15.36 in
Collectible Indoor Outdoor Mollettina Cedar Bench by Baldessari for Riva1920
By Baldessari & Baldessari
Located in NEW YORK, NY
The Mollettina Bench is designed by Baldessari e Baldessari, a design studio known for its innovative and playful approach. The bench is inspired by the simple form of a clothes peg (or "molletta" in Italian), transformed into a large-scale piece of functional art. The bench takes the familiar shape of a clothes peg and reinterprets it in a bold and humorous way. The Molletta Bench...
Metal
Latonda chair designed by Mario Botta for Alias, Italy 1987
By Mario Botta, Alias
Located in Milano, IT
Latonda chair designed by Mario Botta for Alias, Italy 1987 The bent steel tube traces a fluid curve that gracefully moves through space. The two inclined circles, broken at the cen...
Steel
A 1920s Oak Two Seater Bench
Located in Tetbury, England
The shaped saddle seat and fan backrest raised on turned front legs with swept rears. Beautifully drawn, excellent manufacture and scale.
Oak
Vintage Swiss Black Lacquered Bench in the Manner of Mario Botta
Located in Chicago, IL
A Swiss three-seat bench from the 1980s, in the manner of Mario Botta. The structure is composed of a black-lacquered steel rod frame, its rectilinear geometry forming a precise arch...
Metal