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.
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
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
$2,332Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 28.35 in W 20.48 in D 22.84 in
Alias 602 Seconda Chair with Arms in Black Steel Sheet Seat and Lacquered Frame
By Alias, Mario Botta
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Alias 602 Seconda Chair with Arms in Black Steel Sheet Seat and Lacquered Frame by Mario Botta Chair with arms, with structure in lacquered ...
Steel
Mario Botta Prima Model Chair by Alias, 1982, Italy
By Mario Botta
Located in Brussels, BE
Iconic Mario Botta Prima chair by Alias, 1982, Italy. Black and light grey enameled steel, dark grey polyurethane foam cylinder. Dimensions: 72 cm H, 57 cm D, 48 cm W, seat height: 4...
Metal
$4,950 / 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, Alias, Philippe Starck, Mario Botta
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
$8,700
H 34.26 in W 76.78 in D 28.35 in
Mario Botta for Alias 'Obliqua' Sofa in Zebra Print Upholstery
By Alias, Mario Botta
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Mario Botta for Alias, sofa, model ´Obliqua´, fabric, black lacquered wood, Italy, circa 1983. 'Obliqua' sofa designed by Mario Botta for Italian manufacturer Alias in the 1980s. U...
Fabric, Wood
$600
H 32.5 in W 15.75 in D 20.25 in
Giandomenico Belotti White Spaghetti Chair for Alias Italy, 1980s
By Giandomenico Belotti, Alias
Located in Miami, FL
Spaghetti chair with white cording attached to a white lacquered frame designed by Giandomenico Belotti and manufactured by Alias. Italy 1980s. A symbol in the history of design,...
Metal
$2,711 / item
H 28.35 in W 20.48 in D 22.84 in
Mario Botta, 4 'Seconda' Black Metal Chairs, Alias Mod. 602, 1980s
By Mario Botta
Located in Argelato, BO
Three 'Seconda' chairs designed by the famous architect Mario Botta for the Italian firm Alias, model 602. All 4 are painted black both in the structure and in the seat, they bear ...
Steel
$2,430Sale 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
$1,768
H 37.01 in W 17.92 in D 22.45 in
Postmodern Italian Quinta Black Perforated Metal Chair Mario Botta Alias 1980s
By Alias, Mario Botta
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
$2,711 / 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
$7,426 / set
H 37.01 in W 18.12 in D 22.45 in
"Quinta" Dining Chairs by Mario Botta for Alias, 1980s, set of 8
By Alias, Mario Botta
Located in bruxelles, BE
Set of 8 black metal chairs designed by Mario Botta for Alias. Quinta model. Stamped Alias. Seat height: 43 cm Wear due to time and age. FOR SHIPPING, REQUEST US FOR RECEIVE THE BEST...
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
$1,167
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
Postmodern black Latonda Chair by Mario Botta for Alias
By Mario Botta, Alias
Located in London, GB
The iconic Latonda chair is constructed with a steel rod frame and folded perforated sheet-metal seat and curved back-rest. Designed as a 'sparse armchair', the Latonda was Mario Bo...
Steel
Sold
H 36.23 in W 17.72 in D 20.48 in
Pair of postmodern Quinta Chairs by Mario Botta for Alias Design, 1984
By Mario Botta, Alias
Located in Munster, NRW
the ’quinta‘ armchair is a geometric composition of rectangles and circles, reduced to the essential, showing off its construction. it’s just metal – but the curved sheet panels not ...
Metal
Mario Botta Latonda Chair, Alias, Italy, C1986
By Mario Botta, Alias
Located in London, GB
Predominantly an accomplished architect, Botta designed a range of furniture for the company Alias during the 1980s. His designs tend to include a strong sense of geometry, often bei...
Metal, Sheet Metal
Black Seconda Chair by Mario Botta for Alias
By Mario Botta
Located in London, GB
The iconic Seconda chair is constructed with a cube steel frame and ribbed foam back-rest. Born in 1943 in Mendrisio, Switzerland, award-winning arch...
Steel
Mario Botta Seconda Chairs
By Mario Botta
Located in Dronten, NL
Pair of geometric Mario Botta Seconda 601 chairs. Perforated sheet metal seat and spinning foam roller backrest. Rare architectural chairs that are s...
Steel
Latonda Chair by Mario Botta for Alias, Italy, circa 1986
By Mario Botta, Alias
Located in London, GB
Predominantly an accomplished architect, Botta designed a range of furniture for the company Alias during the 1980s. His designs tend to include a strong sense of geometry, often bei...
Cut Steel
Pair of Architect Post Modern Seconda Chairs by Mario Botta
By Mario Botta
Located in Ferndale, MI
Pair of Architect Post Modern Seconda Chairs by Swiss Born Architect Mario Botta or Alias