USM

Founded in 1885 in Münsingen, Switzerland, USM initially operated as an ironmongery and locksmith business, establishing a foundation of precision and craftsmanship. It wasn't until the early 1960s that the company, under the leadership of Paul Schärer, grandson of the founder, pivoted towards furniture design, embarking on a journey that would redefine modern interiors. Schärer, a visionary engineer and entrepreneur, commissioned architect Fritz Haller in 1961 to design a new factory building. Haller's response was not only a functional building but a modular architectural concept that would lay the groundwork for the iconic furniture system. Inspired by the building's flexible structure, Schärer and Haller collaborated to create the USM Haller system, a modular framework of chrome-plated steel tubes and powder-coated metal panels that could be configured in countless ways.