Alias continues to celebrate the 45th anniversary of its founding with a special tribute to the Spaghetti Chair, the company’s first creation and a symbol of its history. Designed by Giandomenico Belotti, this chair is at the center of a new editorial project by photographer Delfino Sisto Legnani. With an ironic yet profound approach, Legnani explores the power of simplicity—a key element that has allowed the Spaghetti Chair to make its mark in contemporary design.
The Challenge of Giandomenico Belotti
The Spaghetti Chair is a true cult object in the world of industrial design. It stands out for its minimalist steel structure and a PVC seat that seems to stretch infinitely. This simplicity posed the greatest challenge for Belotti: creating a functional object without excesses or artifices, precisely responding to cultural demands and the everyday needs of the public. As detailed in the biography by Claudio Bagatti and Mariavittoria Schinetti, Belotti sought to offer simple and practical solutions without succumbing to trends or creating an artwork for art’s sake.
Thanks to its immediacy and formal perfection, the Spaghetti Chair found a place both in homes and in the most prestigious museums around the world, including the MoMA in New York, the Vitra Design Museum in Germany, and the Triennale in Milan. Behind its playful name, the chair embodies Belotti’s Italian rationalism, combining artisanal tradition with structural innovation. It is one of the objects that has shaped design history, representing both an evolution and interpretation of simplicity.
Delfino Sisto Legnani’s Project
Alias pays homage to this historic chair through the lens of photographer Delfino Sisto Legnani, who has reinterpreted the Spaghetti Chair in a series of new images. With great creative freedom, Legnani disassembles the chair from its original function and makes it interact with unusual objects and human figures that evoke childhood. The result is an ironic and affectionate interpretation that highlights the chair’s innovative structure, bringing out the lightness of its design.
The History of the Spaghetti Chair
The history of the Spaghetti Chair begins in 1962 when Belotti designed a chair for the Marina Hotel in Marina di Massa, initially calling it Odessa. This collaboration with Enrico Baleri—the future founder of Alias—marked the start of a series of design improvements that culminated in the launch of the Spaghetti Chair in 1979. From that moment on, the chair was perfected in detail, such as the addition of rubber caps and material optimization, becoming a true emblem of industrial design.
The Spaghetti Family
The Spaghetti Chair gave rise to a family of products, including stools and armchairs, and eventually the Spaghetti Gemini, characterized by slanted rear legs. This continuous evolution demonstrates Belotti’s ability to reinterpret tradition with humility and innovation, maintaining a concept of simplicity that remains timeless. The chair has been the subject of numerous reinterpretations and tributes, including the large-scale version of the Spaghetti Gemini displayed in various cities, and seven limited editions created by designer Alfredo Häberli in 2015 to celebrate 20 years of collaboration with Alias.
Last year, in 2023, Alias launched a new version of the Spaghetti Chair, upholstered in leather and enriched with brass finishes, once again confirming its ability to combine practicality and elegance. This new chapter in the history of the Spaghetti Chair is further proof of its enduring relevance and continued inspiration, representing a masterpiece of essentiality that transcends trends and time.
