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.
Dining Table "Tesi" and 4 Chairs "Quinta" design by Mario Botta for Alias, 1985
By Alias, Mario Botta
Located in taranto, IT
Designed in 1985 by Ticino architect Mario Botta for Alias, the set consisting of the "Tesi" table and four "Quinta" chairs represents an absolute masterpiece of postmodern design. T...
Metal
Set of Four "Quinta" Chairs Designed by Mario Botta for Alias, 1985
By Mario Botta, Alias
Located in taranto, IT
Set of four "Quinta" chairs, designed by Mario Botta for Alias in the 1980s. Designed by renowned Ticino architect Mario Botta in the 1980s for Alias, the "Quinta" chairs represen...
Metal
$2,353
H 28.35 in W 20.48 in D 22.05 in
Post Modern Swiss Design Black Seconda Chair by Mario Botta for Alias, 1980s
By Alias, Mario Botta
Located in Renens, CH
Seconda Chair by Mario Botta for Alias, 1980s The Seconda Chair (1982) is an iconic piece of design, with use of materials that are typical for Botta’s furniture and lamps: Sheet me...
Metal
$1,165
H 36.62 in W 22.45 in D 17.72 in
Italian postmodern metal Quinta 605 chair by Mario Botta for Alias, 1980s
By Alias, Mario Botta
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian postmodern metal Quinta 605 chair by Mario Botta for Alias, 1980s. Quinta 605 chair, postmodern Italian, in metal by Mario Botta for Alias 1980 Quinta 605 armchair with seat ...
Metal
$1,289
H 37.4 in W 17.71 in D 21.65 in
Mario Botta La Quinta chair for Alias, Switzerland 1985, One Chair
By Alias, Mario Botta
Located in Basel, BS
Fast Shipping, insured in 8-15 days. Mint condition original 1980s La Quinta chair by Mario Botta Chairs for Alias. One chair is left. During the 198...
Metal, Sheet Metal
Latonda chair designed by Mario Botta for Alias, Italy 1987
By Alias, Mario Botta
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
$4,944 / set
H 28.35 in W 20.48 in D 22.45 in
Pair Seconda Postmodern armchairs by Mario Botta for Alias, 1980s, Set of 2
By Shiro Kuramata, Michele de Lucchi, Mario Botta, Alias, Philippe Starck
Located in Brussels, Brussels
The Seconda Armchair, designed by Swiss architect Mario Botta and crafted by Alias, is a bold icon of postmodern design. Launched in 1982, it showcases Botta’s architectural backgro...
Steel, Sheet Metal
Quinta chair by Mario Botta for Alias, 1985.
By Mario Botta, Alias
Located in Athens, Attiki
Quinta chairs by Mario Botta for Alias, 1985.
Metal
$1,765
H 37.01 in W 17.92 in D 22.45 in
Postmodern Italian Quinta Black Perforated Metal Chair Mario Botta Alias 1980s
By Mario Botta, Alias
Located in Hamburg, DE
Postmodern armchair by Italian manufacturer Alias, designed by Mario Botta in the 1980s. A timeless design classic from the 1980s. Classic black and made entirely of metal. Naturall...
Metal
$2,020Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 33.08 in W 19.69 in D 23.23 in
Rare Black Leather Model 91 Chair by Mario Botta for Alias, 1991
By Mario Botta, Alias
Located in Basel, BS
What a beauty! Stunning accent chair for any space! Very fast shipping, insured 7-21 days. RARE Black leather model, with black frame. Chair "Botta '91" 1989 Design: 1989 Production...
Metal
$2,427Sale Price / set|40% Off
H 30 in W 25 in D 19 in
PAIR 1980s Postmodern Mario Botta Latonda Chair for Alias - 2 pcs
By Alias, Mario Botta
Located in Basel, BS
What Beauties! Stunning RARE PAIR of Mario Botta accent chairs for any space! Very fast shipping, insured 7-21 days. RARE Black leather model, with silver frame. Chair "Latonda" Pro...
Metal
$3,950 / set
H 26 in W 20 in D 21 in
1980s Pair of Postmodern Mario Botta for Alias Seconda Chairs with Arms in Gray
By Mario Botta, Alias
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a pair of postmodern Mario Botta Seconda armchairs, produced by Alias circa the mid 1980s. These are gorgeous and iconic works b...
Metal
$2,707 / item
H 28.35 in W 20.48 in D 22.84 in
Mario Botta, 4 'Seconda' Metal Chairs, Alias Mod. 602, 1980s
By Mario Botta
Located in Argelato, BO
Mario Botta, set of 4 "Seconda" Armchairs produced by Alias, Italy 1982. Structure with armrests in gray powder-coated steel, black seat in perforated steel sheet. Backrest made up...
Steel
Swiss ‘Quinta’ Accent Chair by Mario Botta for Alias, 1985
By Mario Botta
Located in Chicago, IL
Designed by Swiss architect Mario Botta for Alias in 1985, the ‘Quinta’ chair is composed of a black-lacquered steel rod frame with a perforated sheet metal seat and back. Its archit...
Metal, Steel