Fritz Haller & Paul Schärer

Fritz Haller & Paul Schärer

Fritz Haller was born in 1924 in Solothurn, Switzerland, and became one of the most influential architects and urban planners of the post-war period. After completing his architectural training, he began his career with an apprenticeship in Switzerland before working in Rotterdam during the 1950s with Willem van Tijen and Berend Bakema, two of the most prominent modernists of the time. While in Rotterdam, Haller took part in urban planning projects and housing developments, where he gained experience with modular construction methods and rational building – elements that would define his later design philosophy. He also studied how prefabricated components could be used to create both functional and flexible housing and office environments, with a focus on simplicity, scale, and repeatable elements.

Architecture as a foundation

Upon returning to Switzerland, Haller established his own practice in Solothurn, where he developed the MINI, MIDI, and MAXI building systems. These systems made it possible to create modular and flexible solutions for housing, offices, and industrial buildings, and they laid the foundation for his view of rational and functional design.

In 1961, Paul Schärer Jr., grandson of NO GA’s founder, joined the company as an engineer. He recognized the need to modernize the factory facilities in Münsingen and commissioned Haller to design a new building. During the project, the idea was born for a modular furniture system that could be adapted and combined according to different needs in both private and professional environments.

Launch of USM Haller

Two years later, in 1963, USM Haller was launched. The system consists of units constructed from chrome-plated steel tubes, spheres, and panels in metal or glass, assembled using a simple screw technique. The design allows the furniture to be combined and expanded in many ways, providing flexibility in both office environments and private homes. As storage furniture, the system can be modularly combined to offer flexible solutions for offices and domestic spaces alike.

International recognition and legacy

Since 2001, USM Haller has been part of the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, confirming its status as a landmark example of modern applied design. The system has been praised for its combination of clarity of form, functionality, and long-term durability, and it has been highly influential in the development of modular storage furniture.