Max Ernst Haefeli (1901-1976) – Swiss Architect and Designer

This article forms part of the Decorative and Applied Arts Encyclopedia, a master reference hub providing a structured overview of design history, materials, movements, and practitioners.

Haefeli chairs 1926 by Max Ernst Haefeli
Haefeli chairs 1926 by Max Ernst Haefeli

Max Ernst Haefeli (1901-1976) was a Swiss architect and furniture designer born in Zurich.

Biography

He worked in the Otto Bartning studio in Berlin between 1923-24.

1924— 25, joined his father’s architecture office, Pfleghard und Haefeli.

In 1925, he established his architectural firm.

In 1926, he designed the library’s refurbishment in Girsberger, Zurich, including the interior chairs and table.

In 1927, he was appointed head of the Swiss architects’ collective group.

Morris Chair 1927 by Max Ernst Haefeli
Morris Chair 1927 by Max Ernst Haefeli

He designed the Rotachhauser building, Wasserwerkstrasse, Zürich, in 1927—28, an early example of Switzerland’s Modern ‘Neues Bauen’ style and a breakthrough in Zürich architecture.

In the late 1920s, he worked closely with Ernst Kadler-Végeli and Swiss manufacturer Horgen-Glarus.

From 1928 to 1931, he was a planning team member for the 1931 Siedlung Neubühl in Zürich.

He was a teacher at the artisan school in Zürich and the Juventus Abendtechnikum.

1937 he co-founded the architectural firm Haefeli, Moser, and Steiger (HMS). HMS designed the Kongresshaus and the cantonal hospital in Zürich from 1942 to 1951. Haefeli was responsible for the hospital’s outer skin and interior spatial layout. Later projects included designing and constructing swimming pools, cemeteries, zoos, and commercial buildings.

Modernist living room designed by Max Ernst Haefeli featuring minimalist furniture, wood cabinetry, and natural light
Modernist living room interior by Swiss architect Max Ernst Haefeli, showcasing functional design, natural materials, and restrained aesthetics.

Exhibitions

Work is shown in the ‘Form ohne Ornament’ exhibition of c1927 (chair and table models for Girsberger bookstore).

Modern Architecture International Exhibition – February to March 1932

(Furniture) put in the store for production at ‘Das Neue Heim’ c1931 exhibition, Wohnbedarf Shop, Zürich.

Head of the Schweizer Architekten Collective, the ‘Weissenhof-Siedlung’ in Stuttgart, 1927 (mobilisation and accessories for several apartments, by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe).

Sources

Byars, M., & Riley, T. (2004). The design encyclopedia. Laurence King Publishing.

Hoffmann, H. (1930). Modern Interiors in Europe and America: With 292 Illustrations. United Kingdom: Studio limited.

Bauhaus 1919–1933 book cover by Magdalena Droste
Bauhaus 1919–1933 (Taschen)

Essential Reading: Bauhaus 1919–1933

This authoritative volume by Magdalena Droste offers a comprehensive overview of the Bauhaus movement, tracing its evolution from Weimar to Dessau and Berlin. Richly illustrated and rigorously researched, it provides critical insight into the integration of architecture, furniture design, and industrial production that shaped modern design thinking.

For readers exploring the work of Max Ernst Haefeli, this book contextualises Swiss modernism within the broader European movement, highlighting the principles of functionalism, material innovation, and the synthesis of art, craft, and industry.

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