Porsche - Precision Meets Poetry

Precision Meets Poetry

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Alfredo Häberli

Alfredo Häberli – a name much like a program. Latin temperament unites with Swiss practicality. The product designer creates fascinating interiors, accessories, and scenography inspired by this symbiosis. Extraordinary aesthetics for everyday moments.

A feeling like Christmas: we can see numerous finely formed objects that we would love to have or give someone as a present. They all carry the signature of Alfredo Häberli – his passion and his inspiration. Even if you were to include only the most important pieces, it would be far too much. We approach the product designer by means of an object that’s small, but also one of his greatest works, at least in terms of its presence: a bowl that belongs to the extensive Origo dish series of the Finnish brand Iittala. Häberli gave the unmistakable piece a cheerful, colorful striped design that brings festive dining tables to life all over the world. You could even imagine the bowl’s stripes on a dress by British fashion designer Paul Smith. But there’s so much more to Häberli’s design: while the colorful pattern reflects his South American roots, the bowls, saucers, and plates can be stacked to save space and serve as sustainable containers for food storage, an example of Häberli’s rational side. Swiss school of thought – practical is important.

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Inspiration
The designer appreciates beauty, whether it’s his Porsche 911 built in 1976 or the scenery surrounding the Lake of Zurich.

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Mood board
Alfredo Häberli can always keep an eye on his sketches on the studio wall.

A different product for the same customer was even more successful – the Essence set of glasses. Häberli suddenly sits down at his desk with paper and pencil and sketches the classic pieces in two or three perfect lines. As odd as it sounds, the glasses are both soft and angular. Developed 20 years ago, the design is still a best seller. Häberli, who is 57 years old, never stops drawing. In fact, he only recently designed a set of dishes to match the glasses. In 2021, the Finnish brand’s design gallery showcased some of his pieces in a huge exhibition space in Helsinki, a sea of shapes and colors.

There was nothing to hint at the success story to come when the young Alfredo emigrated from Argentina to Switzerland with his parents in 1977. As you may have guessed from his last name, his ancestors stem from this Alpine region. The teenager had his favorite Matchbox car – the No. 14, an Iso Grifo – in his backpack. The stylish sports coupe from the late 1960s was designed by Giorgio Giugiaro for Bertone. “I think my fascination for the design of this toy is one of the reasons I became a designer myself,” explains Häberli. He had had a special relationship with cars virtually from birth, having grown up in Córdoba, just a few miles from the Autódromo Oscar Cabalén racecourse.

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Armchair creations
Häberli created “Take a Line For a Walk” for Moroso (half visible on the right) and Time (behind the first in black) for Alias.

Much like a Swiss watch, Alfredo Häberli’s career progressed in a straight line and with exceptional precision. He studied Industry Design at Höhere Schule für Gestaltung Zürich and graduated with honors. The way in which he was able to communicate his enthusiasm for design even back then promptly granted him access to the furniture industry and other sectors. His imposing appearance may have also played a role: Häberli could work as a model, and occasionally even does. “But more for fun and for good friends,” he says, playing it down. This talent led to one of the most important turning points in his life: “In Zurich, we industry designers studied on the second floor. The fashion designers, who were on the fifth, never had budgets for their presentations. So we would build their stages, and that’s how I ended up walking the runway for them,” says Häberli, remembering back. “The Graphics program was located on the floors between us – and that’s where I met my wife, Stefanie.” That was 33 years ago, and both of their children are now grown. The couple has also implemented design projects together.

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Alfredo Häberli
“The 911 is simply unparalleled.”

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Tone on tone
The brown and beige interior consisting of imitation leather and tweed perfectly complements the Platinum Diamond paint. And Häberli picked out an outfit to match for the photo shoot.

Cars have remained a constant source of inspiration in Häberli’s work. He internalized the design principles of the Porsche 911, in particular, for his pieces: “Few joints, homogenous design, much like a sculpture,” he says. “That’s my design goal, too: eliciting strong emotions with very simple lines.” Precision meets poetry – this sentiment gets straight to the heart of his Argentinean-Swiss nature.

Whether it’s vehicles, landscapes, or the ice hockey helmet on the shelf that he can’t seem to take his eyes off of, Häberli tends to look very closely. That’s always how new ideas materialize in his mind. “Observation is the most beautiful form of thought,” he says. In the studio, he expands on these thoughts and transforms them into intelligent products with personality.

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Wonderfully practical
Origo by Iittala as stackable eye candy.

Some inspirations even manage to achieve immortality in a product name. Cubist painter Paul Klee came up with the bon mot: “A drawing is simply a line going for a walk.” Roaming around like a dog or gliding like a bird, rather than simply moving from A to B. This famous quote was the source of inspiration for Häberli’s armchair entitled “Take a Line For a Walk,” which he designed in 2003 for the Italian avant-garde label Moroso. And the comfortable armchair with eye-catching lines along the sides has long been considered a classic.

In his studio on the eastern banks of the Lake of Zurich, Häberli works in a small team. “There are only four of us.” For larger projects like the interior of 25hours Hotel Zürich West, which he designed with his wife, or studies on electric mobility, freelance designers are hired on a temporary basis.

“For me, observation is the most beautiful form of thought.”

Alfredo Häberli

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Craftsmanship
Häberli even designed the pencil he uses to roam around on paper. He works with a small team in his studio.

After a spin in the 911, it’s time to take the line out for another walk. Alfredo Häberli takes a seat at his desk again. He even designed the pencil in his hand – the Fixpencil with colored leads is a new model of the Swiss brand Caran d’Ache, which he uses to roam around between the two continents of his life. He just might be creating a future classic.

By Robert Hofman
Photos by Christian Grund