ALIAS CELEBRATES ITS 45TH ANNIVERSARY

Daniel Rybakken, Afredo Häberli, Patrick Norguet

To mark its 45th anniversary, the historic Italian company Alias continues to explore its founding philosophy encapsulated in the poetics of “Something Else” which defines its dual nature, combining functionality and creative experimentation, towards the formation of a multifaceted DNA. For the Salone del Mobile 2024, Alias is presenting new collections by contemporary talents, who were invited to make their contribution to the brand’s values.

Founded in 1979 as a profound and ironic cultural reflection, Alias has always collaborated with great masters of Italian and international design such as Jasper Morrison, Michele de Lucchi, Alberto Meda, James Irvine, Nendo, Philippe Starck, Eugeni Quitllet, PearsonLloyd, Alfredo Häberli, and Sou Fujimoto, just to name a few, resulting in unique and critical contributions that nourish the cultural debate in living spaces, in residential, contract and outdoor applications.

To renew its standing in the contemporary scene, Alias started a rebranding process last year through a new visual identity, which is continuing with the launch of the website at this edition of the Salone del Mobile. The brand’s new look highlights Alias’ underlying experimental approach, its pioneering ideals and its multifaceted identity. The company is once again seeking interdisciplinary synergy with a collective of designers, technicians and graphic designers. This collective continues to guide Alias towards the definition of a new language. Starting with artistic expressions, experimenting with technological innovations and rewriting the fundamentals of design culture through design thinking, Alias embraces this approach as a fundamental value of contemporary life.

For the Salone del Mobile, the stand design includes an unusual and dynamic approach that focuses on the technical value of the project, the object and its creator’s vision: a careful rediscovery of details to better understand the value of objects that accompany everyday life.

Among the four new projects, the Nastro collection of lift-up tables and the Lira chair mark the new collaboration between Alias and the Norwegian designer Daniel Rybakken; the Swiss designer Alfredo Häberli signs the Time seating collection, and the French designer Patrick Norguet the Savoy coffee tables.

In addition to new products, Alias introduces new colours and finishes on pieces from the Laleggera collection by Riccardo Blumer and the Taormina collection by Alfredo Häberli.

These proposals confirm the brand’s ability to renew itself and bring iconic products up to date as much as new creations, continuing to position itself as one of the most avant-garde brands on the design scene.

NASTRO Collection, designed by Daniel Rybakken
With the Nastro collection, Daniel Rybakken reconsiders the concept of a height-adjustable table, defining a unique product ideal for both work and home environments. The exclusive design is a clear departure from the usual rigid and mechanical lines that characterise this type of product, giving Nastro unprecedented versatility and elegance.

NASTRO Collection, designed by Daniel Rybakken

The original lifting system consisting of a belt and four pulleys connected to the telescopic legs creates an elegant and innovative solution that allows the movement (the height of the top) to be easily and intuitively controlled, without the need for electricity. A simple and natural gesture permits the individual elevation of the legs to be synchronised, simultaneously revealing the chromatic side of each leg. The silent and incredibly durable belt is an eternal, maintenance-free element.

The Nastro table perfectly fits into domestic spaces thanks to its linear design, enhanced by finishes that add a touch of elegance. Available in three different sizes the top and under-top are made of plywood (veneered or laminated) or lacquered MDF; or in alveolar aluminium (veneered, laminated, or lacquered) for the version with a 110×320 cm top. The legs are made of aluminium (lacquered in different colours or veneered) while the internal telescopic leg is made of aluminium with gloss lacquer in different colours.

Presented by Zipblind

Manual height adjustment allows for extraordinary cross-functional use, ranging from social occasions to informal work situations, whether in a standing or seated position. Innovative and functional at the same time, Nastro represents the evolution of the lift-up table concept, offering an unprecedented experience in every context.

“I wanted to reimagine the traditional height-adjustable table into something that could work equally well in a domestic space as in an office. Visually, traditional adjustable tables look hard and mechanical with their oversized two-leg frame. Using a toothed belt, we provide an elegant and innovative way to synchronise individual leg elevation and an easy and intuitive way to control movement, without the need for electricity. At the lowest height, the table’s unique features are not revealed at all, making it ideal for the home: from dining at the lowest height to cooking food and drinks at medium height, to working with a laptop at the highest height.” – Daniel Rybakken –

LIRA Chair, designed by Daniel Rybakken
Lira is the first chair designed by Scandinavian designer Daniel Rybakken for Alias.

LIRA Chair, designed by Daniel Rybakken

Formally, it reflects its name: two solid ash wood slats are attached to two long lacquered steel feet; a cantilevered seat and a curved wooden backrest are connected between the slats. A chair with graphic contours and a unique, recognisable design.

Rybakken set out to create a minimalist, easily stackable chair with an iconic silhouette.

Lira is the result of a meticulous design process in which a strong, minimalist character is combined with unexpected comfort, guaranteed by the deep curvature of the backrest.

The geometric silhouette is counterbalanced by the natural look of the materials used; Lira is made of solid ash wood with a seat and backrest made of curved ash wood, available in a natural finish or coloured stains. The chair is supported by steel feet lacquered in different colours, in textured or gloss finishes.

The strong personality of Lira makes it ideal for dining rooms, offices or various types of public spaces. Thanks to the protruding seat, the chair can be placed on the tabletop, making it easier to clean the surrounding space.

“The chair is unique and innovative, yet also obvious and recognisable. Together with the seat, the deep curvature of the backrest offers a very high level of comfort. The chair has a strong character in a solitary position and with its vertical bars, which are highly distinctive when repeated.” – Daniel Rybakken –

TIME Collection, designed by Alfredo Häberli
The principle of the TIME collection is based on the transformation of a simple two-dimensional sheet into an original three-dimensional seat. Time is the result of a gesture by Alfredo Häberli who shaped a shell with great stylistic balance and obvious ergonomic features. The die-cutting of the sheet allows the parts to perfectly join together and results in an enveloping and ergonomic design, which is translated into a coherent collection of chairs with a modern and contemporary design.

TIME Collection, designed by Alfredo Häberli

The chair, armchair and stools – available in two heights – feature three different shells made of ABS – a recovered, flexible and durable material – supported by graphic and minimal frames made of welded tubular steel, lacquered in different colours. The two different materials dialogue with each other, focusing on sustainability.

Available in a wide range of finishes, the chairs of the Time collection are best expressed in the monochromatic version; the interplay between the matt shell and the glossy structure enhances the shapes of the simple and light silhouette. The versions with ABS shell veneered with oak or walnut are elegant and timeless.

Thanks to its formal harmony and stylistic purity, the Time collection is perfectly suited for use in both residential and commercial settings.

With Time, Alfredo Häberli managed to combine innovation and a strong human component. He found in Alias the ideal partner to express a contemporary language and succeeded in making the project evolve. From the original die-cutting of the sheet, made from a sandwich of wood and composites – a technology borrowed from snowboard production – to the refinement of ABS material used in the recovered formula to create a versatile collection.

“From the first fleeting thoughts and sketches, the question for the TIME project was, as the name suggests, about time. From the thinnest and flattest material possible, folding from the surface medium to the third dimension. Like a sheet of paper, cardboard or plywood. It is the soft folding and organic contours that determine the shape. It was the empirical research of ergonomics about infinite models that guided the project. As of 2017, according to the archive. The other TIME factor was the idea of being able to develop different product types: a chair, a stool, an armchair… we will continue to work on this with TIME and over time.”   –Alfredo Häberli –

SAVOY Collection, designed by Patrick Norguet
Patrick Norguet designed Savoy for Alias, a collection of small tables with a distinctive sculptural character, designed to furnish the most diverse lounge contexts. The strong contrast between the leg’s linear architecture and the tabletop’s softness is the highlight of this project, in which the fusion of the robust metal and the warm, natural wood gives the elements of the collection a unique personality.

SAVOY Collection, designed by Patrick Norguet

Savoy comes in three versions with different shapes and sizes, which can be coordinated with each other. The elegantly and dynamically designed leg is composed, at different heights, of a vertical MDF element – veneered or lacquered – coordinated with the top. Lacquered steel details, attached to the end of this element, provide stability to the various tables.

Patrick Norguet’s creative vision is reflected in the Savoy collection. The care and elegance of the shapes, together with the construction logic, give these coffee tables a timeless appeal that combines aesthetics, functionality and extraordinary craftsmanship.

“Savoy marks the return of my collaboration with the prestigious Alias brand. I decided to work on this small, radical collection of tables. This radicality is part of Alias’ DNA and the modernity that makes the brand so unique. Savoy’s design is consistent with this rigour; strong, precise contours characterise this collection of tables with a strong personality. A strong contrast between the linearity of the leg and the softness of the tabletop. Wood and metal come together to create an elegant whole. I love unique objects that define a space and give it character: proportion and a sense of detail are the watchwords of good design.” – Patrick Norguet  –