Herzog & de Meuron's 'Made to Measure' Furniture Collection: A Fusion of Architectural Principles and Adaptable Design
The "Made to Measure" (MTM) furniture collection, conceived by Herzog & de Meuron in collaboration with UniFor, presents a novel perspective on furniture creation. Instead of designing individual items, the collection emerges from a singular, adaptable structural concept. This foundational approach, rooted in principles of geometry, proportion, structure, and construction, enables the system to transform and expand across diverse functions and settings while maintaining its inherent unity and character.
Herzog & de Meuron, established in Basel in 1978 by Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron, is renowned for its diverse architectural portfolio, spanning small-scale projects to grand cultural institutions globally. The firm's methodology eschews a uniform architectural language, instead emphasizing that each project's design is dictated by its unique conditions, such as material, structure, program, or contextual influences. This commitment to specific realities rather than a fixed style is a cornerstone of their design philosophy, as articulated by Jacques Herzog, who highlights their interest in tailoring every endeavor to its particular situation.
MTM extends this architectural ethos to the realm of furniture. The collection's inception addresses a fundamental constructional challenge: how a structural decision can foster variations to accommodate diverse applications. The solution is found in a precise 12-degree geometry and an innovative three-dimensional timber joint. These elements form the basis for a range of furnishings, including tables, benches, sofas, a daybed, coffee tables, and even a table tennis table, all available in multiple lengths. While Herzog & de Meuron's buildings derive their distinct identities from the specific contexts of each project, MTM establishes its identity by responding to a different set of realities inherent in furniture design.
The collection was unveiled at Milan Design Week 2026 within the installation "Non Places," designed by Studio Klass, alongside the Giuditta seating range. While Giuditta originated from a specific architectural project—the bistro at Villa Roccabruna—MTM adopts a more expansive, open-ended principle. Despite being composed of individual pieces, the MTM collection is conceptualized as an interconnected system. Its inherent structural matrix can be scaled, modified, and reconfigured to meet the specific demands of various spaces.
A crucial, though not immediately obvious, feature of MTM is the connection system binding the four solid timber beams that form its supportive framework. Herzog & de Meuron, in partnership with UniFor, reimagined the classic castle joint—a sophisticated woodworking technique involving interlocking components. This traditional joint links four elements at a central intersection using precisely cut notches and extensions. Historically, these components rely solely on their geometric configuration for support, eliminating the need for additional fasteners and creating a remarkably stable structure by distributing forces in multiple directions.
Historically, crafting such joints demanded profound expertise in timber behavior and exceptional manufacturing precision, as even minor dimensional inaccuracies could jeopardize the entire connection. This blend of structural ingenuity and skilled craftsmanship is what makes the joint so significant: it is not concealed but forms an integral part of the object's identity and the underlying constructive logic that underpins the broader system. For MTM, this traditional principle is modernized through contemporary engineering. Integrated, concealed metal rods within the timber beams establish a pre-tensioning system, allowing for longer spans while preserving the elegant clarity of the wooden structure. This approach exemplifies a broader theme in Herzog & de Meuron's work, where construction is not merely a technical necessity but an intrinsic component that shapes architectural expression, evident in recent projects like Titlis Tower and Hortus.
The careful selection of materials reinforces the system's logic. Solid wood delineates the load-bearing frame, visually articulating the construction and underscoring the precision of the structure. Tabletops introduce variety through inserts of natural oak, colored glass, travertine, and striking Lepanto Red stone, allowing diverse surfaces to harmoniously coexist within the same structural framework. A polished mirror-finish steel version further demonstrates the principle's versatility, translating the structural essence into a distinct material expression. Upholstered elements incorporate cork, chosen for its inviting tactile quality and its ability to gracefully accumulate signs of use over time. This material imparts a softness to a collection primarily defined by its structural clarity, designed to interact with various environments and evolve with continuous interaction. As Ascan Mergenthaler, Senior Partner at Herzog & de Meuron, observes, MTM's strength lies in its adaptability, conceptualized not for a single context but to be truly 'made to measure' in its function, dimensions, and material characteristics.
\