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.
$1,287
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
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
$1,163
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 Mario Botta, Alias
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
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
Mario Botta Latonda Chair
By Mario Botta, Alias
Located in Barcelona, ES
The 'Latonda' chair was designed by the famous Swiss architect Mario Botta in 1987 for the Italian company Alias. This chair has become an icon of contemporary design and is characte...
Steel, 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
$1,201Sale Price / item|42% Off
H 33.08 in W 19.69 in D 23.23 in
1980s Postmodern Mario Botta Latonda Chair for Alias (two available) -- 1 pc
By Alias, Mario Botta
Located in Basel, BS
What a beauty! Stunning RARE Mario Botta accent chair for any space! Very fast shipping, insured 7-21 days. RARE Black leather model, with silver frame. Chair "Latonda" Production: ...
Metal
$4,231 / set
H 37.41 in W 17.72 in D 19.69 in
Set of Four "Quinta" Chairs Designed by Mario Botta for Alias, 1985
By Mario Botta, Alias
Located in taranto, IT
Set of four "Quinta" model chairs, designed by Mario Botta for Alias, in the 1980s. Entirely made of metal, with a very particular shape, they are in excellent condition. Measu...
Metal
$4,113 / item
H 36.23 in W 17.72 in D 23.23 in
Pair of Quinta Chairs by Mario Botta for Alias, Black Perforated Steel, 1985
By Alias, Mario Botta
Located in Milano, IT
This pair of QUINTA chairs, designed in 1985 by renowned architect Mario Botta for Alias Design, embody the rigorous geometric language and architectural precision characteristic of ...
Metal, Steel
$2,429Sale 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 Mario Botta, Alias
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
Glass chair in the Manner of Louis Dierra
By Louis Dierra
Located in London, GB
This striking curved glass chair, inspired by the iconic designs of Louis Dierra for the Glass Centre Pavilion at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York, represents a masterful blend of a...
Glass, PVC
Glass chair in the Manner of Louis Dierra
By Louis Dierra
Located in London, GB
This striking curved glass chair, inspired by the iconic designs of Louis Dierra for the Glass Centre Pavilion at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York, represents a masterful blend of a...
Glass, PVC
Glass chair in the Manner of Louis Dierra
By Louis Dierra
Located in London, GB
This striking curved glass chair, inspired by the iconic designs of Louis Dierra for the Glass Centre Pavilion at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York, represents a masterful blend of a...
Glass, PVC
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Inspired Italian Style ‘Marcello’ Lounge Chairs
Located in London, GB
The high back lounge chair ‘Marcello’ was inspired by stylish Italian design from the 1950s and is now created by English craftsman for the 21st cent...
Velvet, Walnut
Italian Rocking Chair Model 572 By Cassina
By Cassina
Located in London, GB
An incredible and very rare rocking chair (has been attributed to Gio Ponti in the past and shows a strong and striking resemblance to his designs) in walnut, rubber and fabric for C...
Steel
Mid-Century Modern Inspired Italian Style ‘Marcello’ Lounge Chair
Located in London, GB
The high back lounge chair ‘Marcello’ was inspired by stylish Italian design from the 1950s and is now created by English craftsman for the 21st century. We developed a lounge chair ...
Velvet, Walnut
