UniFor Presents MTM and Giuditta at Paris Design Week 2026
The two product families, developed with Herzog & de Meuron, explore adaptable furniture systems through a shared architectural approach to design.
As part of Paris Design Week, taking place from 10 to 19 September 2026, UniFor is presenting MTM – Made to Measure and Giuditta, two furniture families developed in collaboration with Herzog & de Meuron and first unveiled during Milan Design Week 2026.
The collaboration reflects a shared approach between UniFor and Herzog & de Meuron, viewing design as the measured construction of space. This philosophy is expressed through two collections that differ in function and character while remaining connected by a common design language.
Giuditta: Reinterpreting the Classic Chair
Originally created for the bistro at Villa Roccabruna, now part of Mandarin Oriental, Lake Como, Giuditta reinterprets the traditional chair through a contemporary architectural perspective.
The collection includes indoor and outdoor seating designed to combine comfort, understated elegance and structural clarity. The indoor models feature a solid wood structure with a distinctive curved armrest that creates a continuous visual line between the seat and backrest.
Available as both a dining chair and armchair, the indoor version combines detailed craftsmanship with generous upholstery. The outdoor collection features a polished tubular steel frame designed for durability and stackability, alongside a two-seater outdoor sofa that extends the collection into hospitality and outdoor settings.
MTM – Made to Measure: A Scalable Furniture System
Designed by Herzog & de Meuron, MTM – Made to Measure is based on a scalable construction principle governed by a consistent 12° geometry. This geometry appears in the legs and bevelled tabletop edges, creating structural stability while maintaining a coherent visual identity.
The system can be adapted into a range of furniture formats, including tables in different sizes, benches, single- and double-sided sofas, coffee tables and a table tennis table.
Its supporting structure consists of four solid wood beams interlocked three-dimensionally, offering a contemporary interpretation of the traditional castle joint. Hidden metal tension rods are incorporated within the beams to enable longer spans while maintaining the system’s visual lightness.
The collection retains its proportions and recognisable identity across different scales. Tabletops are available in wood, with optional inserts in coloured glass, natural travertine or Red Lepanto marble. A table made entirely from mirror-polished stainless steel further translates the construction principle into a monomaterial expression.
The upholstered benches and sofas are finished in cork fabric, selected for its cellular structure, lightness, elasticity, resistance to wear and dimensional stability.
“The strength of MTM lies in its versatility. It is not conceived for a single context, but to be, as the name suggests, truly ‘made to measure’ in its use, dimensions and material quality. From the large communal table to more compact configurations, through to the table tennis version, the constructive principle remains unchanged. It is a system designed to adapt and to encourage interaction.” Ascan Mergenthaler, Senior Partner, Herzog & de Meuron
UniFor Showcases the Collections in Paris
For Paris Design Week, UniFor’s showroom has been transformed into an installation dedicated to MTM – Made to Measure and Giuditta.
The presentation opens with the MTM table tennis table alongside Giuditta seating in mirror-polished, natural-finish and pink stainless steel. The installation also incorporates the architectural wall system originally developed by Herzog & de Meuron for Spazio UniFor in Milan, reinterpreted here in natural and pink aluminium finishes.
Throughout the showroom, visitors can discover MTM tables, cork-upholstered double-sided sofas and Giuditta seating in wood and steel, demonstrating the adaptability of both collections across different applications and environments.
For UniFor, the relationship between design, research and production remains central to its approach. Developed with Herzog & de Meuron, MTM and Giuditta demonstrate this philosophy through two complementary collections united by a shared construction principle, spatial language and visual identity.
“The work we are presenting is the result of a shared journey, in which design, production and curatorial vision intertwine organically. Every detail, from the construction system to the installation, arises from a collective process that reflects our way of understanding design.” Carlo Molteni, UniFor CEO
