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.
1980s Pair of Postmodern Mario Botta for Alias Seconda Chairs with Arms in Gray
By Alias, Mario Botta
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
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
$7,761 / set
H 28.35 in W 20.48 in D 22.84 in
Mario Botta, '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 three are painted black both in the structure and in the seat, they bea...
Steel
$2,282
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 Mario Botta, Alias
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
$4,793 / 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 Philippe Starck, Mario Botta, Alias, Shiro Kuramata, Michele de Lucchi
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
Seconda Chairs by Mario Botta for Alias, Set of 4 circa 1980
By Mario Botta
Located in Greensboro, NC
Set of 4 “Seconda” chairs designed by Italian architect and designer Mario Botta. These chairs are a vintage Alias production, circa 1980s. Chairs show well with minor wear commens...
Metal
$1,249
H 37.4 in W 17.71 in D 21.65 in
Mario Botta La Quinta chair for Alias, Switzerland 1985, One Chair
By Mario Botta, Alias
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
$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
$1,129
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
$2,625 / 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
$4,565 / set
H 28.35 in W 22.45 in D 18.9 in
Mario Botta for Atlas, Pair of Black "Prima" Chairs, Italy, 1980s
By Mario Botta, Atlas
Located in Naples, IT
Designed in 1982 by the legendary Swiss architect Mario Botta for Alias, the "Prima" chair is one of the purest and most recognizable symbols of postmodern design and architecture ap...
Metal
$2,396 / item
H 28.35 in W 20.48 in D 22.05 in
Post Modern Swiss Design Black Seconda Chairs by Mario Botta for Alias, 1980s
By Mario Botta, Alias
Located in Renens, CH
Seconda Chairs 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 m...
Metal
Mario Botta Seconda Chairs, Set of 4
By Mario Botta
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
Designed in 1982 by renowned Swiss architect Mario Botta for the Italian brand Alias, the Seconda chair is a definitive icon of the Postmodern era. Celebrated for its rigid geometry,...
Metal, Steel, Cut Steel, Sheet Metal, Steel Mesh
1980s Postmodern Arc Chairs, a Pair
Located in Chicago, IL
Beautiful chairs in excellent condition. These would be lovely in a living room or bedroom. Chairs are in excellent condition but upholstery is original. No tears or stains.
Upholstery
Quinta chair by Mario Botta for Alias, 1985.
By Alias, Mario Botta
Located in Athens, Attiki
Quinta chairs by Mario Botta for Alias, 1985.
Metal
$15,065 / set
H 38.2 in W 17.92 in D 22.45 in
Postmodern Vintage Six Black Metal Armchairs Quinta Mario Botta Italy 1985
By Mario Botta
Located in Vienna, AT
Postmodern six ( 6 ) armchairs or dining chairs designed by Maria Botta 1985, Italy for Alias, Italy. A great and extraordinary set of six ( 6 ) dining chairs or armchairs in amazing...
Sheet Metal
$2,353Sale 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
Postmodern black Latonda Chair by Mario Botta for Alias
By Mario Botta, Alias
Located in London, England
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 Alias, Mario Botta
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, England
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