USM Haller E Highboard L with Compartment Lighting

The Design

The new creative potential of the design classic USM Haller = energy: thanks to the further development of the USM ball, connector and tube, a flow of current can now be integrated into the USM furniture structure, thereby supplying the integrated lighting and/or USB inserts with energy. And when switched off, these are virtually invisible. The revolutionary power supply offers amazingly diverse application possibilities - from the targeted lighting of a piece of furniture over the lighting of the room to the practical USB charger for mobile devices. The design possibilities with USM Haller and its modular light modules are therefore as individual as the requirements and needs of today.

The central element of every USM Haller shelf: the ball

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.

Manufacturer

USM can look back on a long history. Established in 1885 by Paul Schärer as a hardware store and locksmith business, the company developed into a metal factory and then under the direction of Paul Schärer into a modern industrial enterprise. The development of the USM Haller furniture system of 1963 was however to have a decisive influence on the history of the company, which in 1969 began the serial production of the modular furniture system. Today, USM sells the furniture system, which has been copyrighted since 1988 and is part of MoMA New York's collection, in showrooms from Japan to New York. In 1992, the previous core business producing window fittings was discontinued, allwoing the company to concentrate exclusively on the production and further development of the USM furniture system, which is today features USM sideboards, USM rollcontainers and USM tables... and now also new lighting and USB components.

The classic in a new light: USM shelf with lighting

Production

USM produces all parts of the USM Haller furniture at their Swiss headquarters in Münsingen. All metal cladding elements are powder-coated in the typical colours, such as USM Haller white, graphite black or ruby red. From principle the firm promote responsible use of energy, raw materials and reduction of emissions in all stages of production and sales. Ecological sustainability is in addition also part of the design of the USM Haller product: all materials are of high quality and extremely durable, and the furniture can also be adapted as your requirements for your USM Haller unit change, it does not have to be replaced by a new piece of furniture, but can be adapted to meet the new circumstances.

The metal panels are powdercoated in Münsingen

Historical Context

Not only Fritz Hallers's architecture, but also Haller's USM furniture system - a project that is very closely related to his architectural work - is today clearly defined as functionalism. Although the term had already played a role as a key principle of the Bauhaus movement it was after the Second World War that functionalism evolved as the epitome of modern construction. In essence with functionalism all frills and embellishments are studiously avoided, and instead the aim is to achieve a universal and time enduring aesthetics by focusing on functional aspects. Not only in the world of office furniture does Haller's shelving system elegantly meet this requirement, but also, for example, in the living area with USM media furniture. On the one hand USM is with its flexibility, adaptability and functionality almost unbeatable, on the other hand, thanks to its rigorous reduction to basic geometric structures a timeless formal classic.