USM Haller Highboard L with Angled Shelves

Originally developed by Fritz Haller for the offices of the Swiss company USM, USM Haller sideboards has since become world famous. Haller was initially the architect in charge of planning new facilities from USM in Münsingen, but was also asked to suggest a suitable solution for the interior. Company boss Paul Schärer's wanted a system that offered optimal flexibility and which paid no heed to design hierarchies within the company. In 1963 Haller developed his modular furniture system solely as a solution to serve the needs of the company. However with the contract to supply units for Rothschild Bank in Paris 1969 USM Haller finally went over from the one-off production in the series production.
Haller's system is based on three simple basic elements of steel, which can be variably constructed depending on needs. The core of the system are the connectors: chrome plated brass balls containing six threaded holes. Via the connection balls, the steel tubes can be connected in all directions. The powder coated metal panels are then inserted into the resulting basic structure. The minimalist design is principally defined by the orthogonality of the system that consists of lines and surfaces. And which always lead to a cubic shape. The intelligent and simple construction principle allows the USM modular furniture system its flexibility: USM Haller sideboards can be customized to suit different circumstances, and can be converted at a later date should those circumstances change. To this end the USM Haller high board M can be extended in all directions.

Configuration options for the USM Haller System

Designer

Fritz Haller, designer of the USM Haller modular furniture system, grew up in the creative world of his architect father, and with seventeen began his training as a draughtsman. His own concepts and theories on architecture were largely determined by his year spent working in the Rotterdam office of the functionalist architects Willem van Tijen and Berend Bakema. Returning to Switzerland Haller sought to interpret what he had learned in Holland into his own buildings, and in doing so developed his now unique form language. His USM Haller system reflects these influences and approach. After Paul Schärer had commissioned Haller with the design and construction of new operating facilities for the USM base in Münsingen, Switzerland, Haller designed the furniture system that, although only intended for USM, would revolutionise the world of office furniture. In 1977 Fritz Haller succeeded Egon Eiermann as professor at the University of Karlsruhe and also taught in Stuttgart and Dortmund. His greatest popular achievement is still USM Haller. The system has received numerous awards in the United States and Europe often and has become one of the true classics of modern design history. Fritz Haller died in October 2012 in Switzerland.

USM designer Fritz Haller

Powder coating a USM metal panel

Production

The story of all USM Haller units begins at the company's main base in the Swiss village of Münsingen. There the steel tubes for the basic structure, the chrome-plated connectors and the metal and glass panels are produced. The metal panels being powder coated in one of the 15 standard USM colours. For the German market the raw components are transported to USM factory in Bühl, Baden-Württemberg fro assembly. Produced using high quality, durable materials USM Haller units are particularly long lasting, an attribute than combined with the system's endless variability and flexibility means that System USM Haller is a very sustainable piece of furniture. In addition the recent opening of new production lines at Münsingen have helped USM reduce the energy, emissions and raw materials. associated with the production of their modular furniture system.

Ulrich Schärer's original locksmith business