Furniture designer Ueli Berger and his wife, Susi Berger-Wyss, collaboratively designed furniture for over 40 years, establishing themselves as influential mid-century modern designers. The Swiss duo produced geometric designs with playful artistry that reflected their longstanding credo: “only a new idea justifies a new piece of furniture.”
In the 1950s, Ueli Berger apprenticed as a painter before attending a trade school and school of arts and crafts. In the early 1960s, he worked with Swiss interior designer Hans Eichenberger. After he married Susi, the couple partnered on furniture design for Swiss manufacturers Victoria-Werke, de Sede and Röthlisberger. In 1965, Berger became head of design and development at Troesch in Bern. By 1971, he was self-employed with his own studio.
Among the couple’s best-known designs is the de Sede lounge chair. Its form is related to the modular seating Berger completed with designers Eleonore Peduzzi Riva, Heinz Ulrich and Klaus Vogt. While the modular chairs and sectional “snake” sofas offer a high level of customization, the lounge chair — complete with a tall back and X-shaped frame made from dark lacquered wood — is an innovation marvel. Upholstered in cognac leather, Berger’s seating feels as sexy, comfortable and radical as it did in its heyday.
The pair received the Swiss Grand Award for Design and exhibited work in museums around the world, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and Switzerland’s leading design and visual communication museum, the Museum für Gestaltung Zürich. Their Cloud Lamp, or Wolkenlampe, was featured in Modern Magazine and designs for Röthlisberger like the Kungfu Regal shelving and Robot Kommode continue to attract the attention of collectors and modern decorators.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of Ueli Berger seating, lighting and more.
De Sede DS-600 Non Stop Modular 38 Elements Snake Sofa 2015
By Ueli Berger, De Sede
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Monumental bespoke De Sede DS 600 Non-Stop snake sectional sofa featuring a dramatic indigo blue velvet upholstery. The custom ordered sofa is from a Samantha Todhunter Design instal...
Metal
De Sede Terrazza Sofa Cognac Leather Ubald Klug Ueli Berger 1972 Mid Century
By Ueli Berger, Ubald Klug, De Sede
Located in Munster, NRW
2x De Sede Terrazza sofas, model DS 1025 in cognac leather. Designed in 1972 by Ubald Klug & Ueli Berger for De Sede, Switzerland. Sophisticated design sofa elements form the perfec...
Leather
De Sede Ds-600 "Non Stop" Snake Shaped Modular Sofa in Full Black Leather
By De Sede, Heinz Ulrich, Eleonore Peduzzi Riva, Ueli Berger
Located in Oud Beijerland, NL
A fabulous De Sede full leather DS 600 "Non Stop" or snake shaped sofa. The DS 600 was designed in 1972 by Ueli Berger, Eleonore Peduzzi Riva, Heinz Ulrich and Klaus Vogt for De S...
Leather
Large Modular Sofa by U. Berger, E. Peduzzi Riva E K.Vogt, Italy, 1972
By Klaus Vogt, Ueli Berger, Eleonore Peduzzi Riva
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Large modular sofa (24 modules) by Ueli Berger, Eleonore Peduzzi Riva e Klaus Vogt. Italy, 1972. Manufactured by De Sede. Wood, leather. Measures: 100 x 600 x H 73 cm, each module: 1...
Leather, Wood
De Sede DS-600 “Non- Stop” Sofa (16 segments)
By Ueli Berger, Eleonore Peduzzi Riva, De Sede, Heinz Ulrich, Klaus Vogt
Located in Renens, CH
De Sede DS-600 “Non-Stop” or “Tatzelworm” modular sofa model in red leather. This large modular sofa consists of 16 pieces, and was designed by Ueli Berger and Eleonore Peduzzi-Riva...
Leather, Wood
De Sede Ds-600 "Non Stop" Snake Shaped Modular Sofa, 1980's
By Ueli Berger, De Sede, Heinz Ulrich, Eleonore Peduzzi Riva
Located in Oud Beijerland, NL
A fabulous De Sede leather DS 600 "Non Stop" or snake shaped sofa. The DS 600 was designed in 1972 by Ueli Berger, Eleonore Peduzzi Riva, Heinz Ulrich and Klaus Vogt for De Sede S...
Leather
$77,000 / set
H 26.78 in W 35.44 in D 61.03 in
Ubald Klug DS-1025 "Terrazza" Sofa for De Sede, Brown Leather, 1974, Set of 4
By De Sede, Ubald Klug
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Ubald Klug DS-1025 "Terrazza" sofas for De Sede, brown leather, Switzerland, 1974, set of four. Ubald Klug designed this rare modular DS-1025 "Terrazza" sofa as a real living landsc...
Leather
De Sede DS-11 Modular Sofa in Original Brown Leather, 1970s
By De Sede
Located in amstelveen, NL
De Sede "DS 11" modular sofa in original brown leather, Switzerland, 1975. Sectional De Sede DS-11 sofa, manufactured in 1975 in Switzerland. This patchwork modular sofa consists of...
Leather
Modular Sofa " Sistema 61" by Giancarlo Piretti, Italy, 1970s
By Giancarlo Piretti
Located in Brussels, BE
Modular Sofa " Sistema 61" by Giancarlo Piretti, Italy, 1970s Dimensions on the listing are for one of the possible configurations. This sofa is modular. Dimensions : 62*62*38.5h...
Fabric
$24,500 / set
H 28 in W 120 in D 37 in
De Sede, Mid-Century Modern, DS-600 Non Stop Sectional Sofa, Green Fabric
By De Sede
Located in Manhasset, NY
De Sede, Mid-Century Modern, DS-600 Non Stop Sectional Sofa, Green Fabric Vintage 'Non-Stop' DS 600 sofa designed by Ueli Berger, Eleanora Peduzzi-Riva, Heinz Ulrich, and Klaus Vogt...
Fabric, Felt
De Sede DS-600 'Snake' Sectional Sofa in Light Grey Leather
By De Sede, Eleanora Peduzzi-Riva, Heinz Ulrich, and Ueli Berger
Located in Waalwijk, NL
De Sede, Sectional sofa model ‘Snake’ DS-600, leather, Switzerland, 1972. An amazing design by Ueli Berger, Elenora Peduzzi-Riva, Heinz Ulrich and Klaus Vogt for De Sede, Switzerla...
Leather
De Sede DS-600 'Snake' Sectional Sofa in Brown Leather
By De Sede
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Ueli Berger, Eleonora Peduzzi-Riva, Heinz Ulrich and Klaus Vogt for De Sede, 'Snake' sectional sofa, model 'DS-600', leather, Switzerland, 1970 Designed by Ueli Berger, Eleonora Ped...
Leather
$28,700
H 28.75 in W 139.77 in D 36.03 in
De Sede DS-600 'Snake' Sectional Sofa in Warm Sage Colored Suede
By De Sede, Ubald Klug
Located in Waalwijk, NL
De Sede, ‘Snake’ DS-600, suede, felt, Switzerland, 1970s A design by Ueli Berger, Elenora Peduzzi-Riva, Heinz Ulrich and Klaus Vogt for De Sede, Switzerland. This De Sede modular Sn...
Suede, Felt
$20,000
H 26.78 in W 35.44 in D 61.03 in
Ubald Klug DS-1025 "Terrazza" Sofa for De Sede, Brown Leather, 1974
By De Sede, Ubald Klug
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Ubald Klug DS-1025 "Terrazza" sofa for De Sede, brown leather, Switzerland, 1974. Ubald Klug designed this rare modular DS-1025 "Terrazza" sofa as a real living landscape. Each element recalls a terrace-like, stepped slope with different widths and depths. A valley or a mountain can appear depending on how the individual modules are assembled. The "Terrazza" was recreated thanks to the De Sede manufacturer and its ability to transform high-quality leather into seating furniture. This multi-layered upholstered relief invites people to sit or lie down, combining durability and comfort with a unique design. After training at the Art and Design College in Zurich, Ulbald Klug (1932) gained further experience in architectural practices in Zurich and Helsinki. Paris has been his sphere of activity since 1966, when he founded his architecture and interior design bureau. Klug proved himself successful at finding solutions to different challenges and developed non-conformist solutions - from furniture design, to concepts for urban installations, to architectural prototypes...
Leather
De Sede 'DS-1025' Terrazza Sofa Pair by Ubald Klug, 1970s
By De Sede, Ubald Klug
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Iconic De Sede 'DS-1025' Terrazza sofas by Ubald Klug, 1970s. Upholstered in rich dark moss green leather. Designed for quintessential Swiss manufacturer De Sede. Its distinctive lay...
Leather
$40,600Sale Price|30% Off
H 29 in W 150 in D 39 in
De Sede DS-600 Non-Stop Sofa – Exclusive Edition Lunar Chrome Leather
By De Sede
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Iconic elegance and refined exclusivity take on a new form in the DS-600 Lunar, the latest creation unveiled by Duplex at the "Gran Salotto" exhibition. This extraordinary sofa embod...
Leather
$47,500 / set
H 26.5 in W 60 in D 35 in
Pair of De Sede DS-1025 'Terrazza' Sofas by Ubald Klug, Swiss Design
By De Sede, Ubald Klug
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of 2 DS-1025 'Terrazza' sofas designed by Ubald Klug for quintessential Swiss manufacturer De Sede. This iconic design with layered cushions makes the DS-1025 both visually stunn...
Leather
$48,500
H 28 in W 199 in D 39.5 in
Gorgeous 1970s De Sede DS600 "Non-Stop" Sectional Sofa, Burnt Orange Leather
By De Sede, Eleanora Peduzzi-Riva, Heinz Ulrich, and Ueli Berger
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An truly iconic De Sede DS600 "Non-Stop" or "Snake" sectional sofa, conceived by the visionary design team of Ueli Berger, Eleanora Peduzzi-Riva, and Heinz Ulrich. This magnificent e...
Leather
De Sede Ds-600 "Non Stop" Snake Modular Sofa in Full Leather
By Heinz Ulrich, De Sede, Eleonore Peduzzi Riva, Ueli Berger
Located in Oud Beijerland, NL
A fabulous De Sede full leather DS 600 "Non Stop" or snake shaped sofa. The DS 600 was designed in 1972 by Ueli Berger, Eleonore Peduzzi Riva, Heinz Ulrich and Klaus Vogt for De Sed...
Leather
Sold
H 29 in W 10 in D 40.5 in
De Sede DS-600 'Non-Stop Sectional Sofa' in Cognac Leather, 22 Elements, Signed
By De Sede, Stendig Co., Ueli Berger
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This classic twenty-two (22) element cognac leather DS-600 'Non-Stop Sectional Sofa' by Swiss maker De Sede and distributed by Stendig, also referred to as the 'Snake' sectional sofa...
Leather, Fabric
Sold
H 29.14 in W 224.41 in D 39.38 in
DS600 Modular Non Stop Sofa by Ueli Berger for De Sede. Set of 22 Pieces
By Ueli Berger, De Sede
Located in Melbourne, VIC
The DS-600, affectionately known as the "Non Stop" sofa, is a design masterpiece that emerged in 1972 through the collaborative efforts of Ueli Berger, Eleonore Peduzzi-Riva, Heinz U...
Suede
De Sede DS600 Modular Non Stop Sofa by Ueli Berger 1972
By De Sede, Ueli Berger
Located in Aachen, NW
Impressive De Sede DS600 Element sofa by Ueli Berger & Riva. Designed in 1972, this rare soft suede edition includes 15 elements and comes from an earlier production. The elements are connected with a plug-in hinge and a construction made of hide and zipper. Timeless and stunning design, maybe the most popular sofa in the world! The DS600 is known for its comfort and its high quality. The “Tatzelwurm” sculpture sofa...
Suede
Sold
H 26.78 in W 59.06 in D 26.78 in
De Sede, 2 Terrazza Sofa DS 1025 in Leather by Ubald Klug & Ueli Berger in 1972
By De Sede, Ueli Berger, Ubald Klug
Located in Munster, NRW
2x De Sede Terrazza sofas, model DS 1025 in leather. Designed in 1972 by Ubald Klug & Ueli Berger for De Sede, Switzerland. Sophisticated des...
Leather
De Sede DS-600 Snake Sofa in Dark Brown Leather, 1970s
By Ueli Berger, De Sede
Located in amstelveen, NL
De Sede DS 600 “Non-Stop” sectional leather sofa by Heinz Ulrich, Ueli Berger and Elenora Peduzzi-Riva from the 1970s. Original brown leather seating with brown felt bases. 28 pieces...
Leather, Felt
De Sede DS-600 Snake Sofa in Dark Brown Leather, 1970s
By De Sede, Ueli Berger
Located in amstelveen, NL
De Sede DS 600 “Non-Stop” sectional leather sofa by Heinz Ulrich, Ueli Berger and Elenora Peduzzi-Riva from the 1970s. Original brown leather seating with brown felt bases. 14 pieces...
Leather, Felt
De Sede DS600 Cognac Leather Sectional Non-Stop Snake Sofa
By Ueli Berger, De Sede
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Iconic 15 piece sectional sofa designed by Ueli Berger for De Sede. The set consists of two armrest ends and 13 seating elements. Early 21st century sofa...
Leather, Foam, Wood
De Sede DS-600 'Non-Stop Sectional Sofa' in Grey Leather, 18 Elements
By De Sede, Stendig Co., Ueli Berger
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This classic grey leather DS-600 'Non-Stop Sectional Sofa' by Swiss maker De Sede, also referred to as the 'Snake' sectional sofa was designed by Ueli Berger, Eleanora Peduzzi-Riva, ...
Leather, Fabric
Sold
H 30 in W 61 in D 140 in
Mid-Century Modern De Sede 600 Nonstop Curved Leather Sectional Sofa in Cognac
By De Sede, Stendig Co., Ueli Berger
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A long articulating sofa designed by Ueli Berger, produced by De Sede, and distributed by Stendig. This example features 14 elements / sections in cognac colored Italian leather and ...
Leather, Wool, Wood
De Sede DS600 Sofa in Brown Leather, 1970s
By Ueli Berger, De Sede
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
A true design classic, this snake like modular sofa from De Sede is maybe the company's best known design. Very versatile sofa consisting of 19 beautifully patinated high quality ...
Leather
Sold
H 26.78 in W 59.06 in L 26.78 in
De Sede, 2 Terrazza Sofa DS1025 in Leather by Ubald Klug & Ueli Berger in 1972
By De Sede, Ubald Klug, Ueli Berger
Located in Munster, NRW
Two De Sede Terrazza sofas, model DS 1025 Designed in 1972 by Ubald Klug & Ueli Berger for De Sede, Switzerland. Sophisticated design sofa ...
Leather