The creative power of Alfredo Häberli

Special Guest at the most recent edition of Domotex in Hannover, well-known designer Alfredo Häberli provided further proof of his creativity with a range of highly original yet functional solutions in the rugs and flooring sector. Protagonist at the press conference of 14 January 2017 held as part of Innovations@DOMOTEX Dialogues at Domotex, the designer unveiled the new products he has created in collaboration with leading companies in the sector. We asked Alfredo Häberli a few questions about these new products and about the project in general. Firstly, what did it mean to be involved as a Special Guest at Domotex 2017 and what is the “secret” to creating such original floorings, so completely different to the most regular types? “I attempt to innovate in every project, trying to look at a theme or topic in a different way, working with materials associated with a healthy lifestyle”, he explains. “As regards Domotex it was the first time I had visited the show and I was immensely proud to be invited as a Special Guest. For me it was a very interesting experience to focus on the flooring and “surroundings” project, which I also spoke about during my talk at the press conference on 14 January. I came up with various different creations linked with the flooring theme, ranging from the work done for Parador and Casa Ensemble designed for Baufritz, to the Kvadrat textiles and the Ruckstuhl rugs, and through to the design projects for Hotel 25hours in Zurich.” In fact, Häberli’s design work encompasses numerous furnishing areas and beyond: he has collaborated with brands such as Alias, Camper, Luceplan, Moroso and Vitra, and carried out interior design projects for restaurants, shops and hotels. For the spaces of city design hotel 25hours Zürich West he created over 60 different objects, ranging from a bathroom hook to decorative rugs, introducing elements inspired by the city of Zurich in every room. As a result, what shines through is Häberli’s all-round expertise in the realm of design, a world he approaches with his homeland of Argentina never far from his thoughts. “My childhood in Argentina shaped me and I still benefit from it today, it often inspires me”, he continues. “As a designer I have always been interested in the here and now.”  A pragmatic and creative approach that comes through in all of Häberli’s products, and also in the concept for the new porcelaHäberli combines various samples from the Parador collectionin service designed for Fürstenberg and presented at Maison&Object 2017. About which he says, “I have always sought to create with as little design as possible, and with very smooth, extremely fluid lines”.