A selection of iconic Alias chairs at the centre of the “La sedia infinita” exhibition

The iconic Spaghetti (1979, Giandomenico Belotti), Laleggera (1996, Riccardo Blumer) and Bigframe (1998, Alberto Meda) chairs are the stars of La sedia infinita (The Infinite Chair), the exhibition hosted by Rimini Fiera for the 2024 edition of TTG – INOUT, the most important Italian tourism and hospitality marketplace organised by the Italian Exhibition Group. Organised by the ADI Design Museum and curated by architect Maite Gracia Sanchis, the exhibition explores the themes that have guided the chair’s evolution over the last 70 years, including chairs of different types to offer a comprehensive overview of the research and development of this fundamental element of everyday life and industrial design. La sedia Infinita (The Infinite Chair) celebrates the originality of design, highlighting how the chair, an everyday object, has become a symbol of innovation, functionality and beauty; the exhibition explores “Veritas”, the theme chosen by TTG – INOUT for this edition, which invites the public to reflect on truth and authenticity in design and hospitality. 

40 seats arranged in pairs or small groups recount experiences of innovation, research and transformation, reflecting the social, economic and technological developments of the last 70 years, in parallel with the Compasso d’Oro award. Each seat is associated with a short sentence that contextualises its value in the overall narrative, creating small themed groups. You can admire three of the brand’s iconic designs in the exhibition. Spaghetti chair,  a symbol in design history, is the first of the Alias chairs, featured in the collection since 1979. Designed by Giandomenico Belotti, the structure is made of tubular steel while the seats and backrests are produced in the signature woven PVC cord, offering unexpected tactile and visual experiences. Laleggera designed by Riccardo Blumer, is the ultimate expression of technology applied to design. Winner of the 1998 Compasso d’Oro ADI award, this stackable chair is the result of the combination of a solid traditional material, solid wood, and the more contemporary, 

lightweight polyurethane foam used to fill the structure. It can be construed as a reinterpretation of the modernist motto “fidelity to materials”: without openly proclaiming the technique with which it is made or attempting to camouflage it, Laleggera suggests comfort by combining the old and the new, without forcing the user to consciously notice it. To make it easier to understand the project, Laleggera is presented in the exhibition in a pair with its disassembled version, highlighting the methods, processes and creativity that led to the design of this iconic chair. Designed by Alberto Meda for Alias since 1991, Frame is a successful collection that boasts a light, elegant look, embodied in comfortable seating with an understated, informal style. The stackable Bigframe chair, like the products in the collection, features PVC-coated polyester mesh on an extruded aluminium profile structure and die-cast elements presented in the chrome version. 

Over the years, this highly successful seat has become an icon for other productions. La sedia infinita is not just an exhibition, but a journey through the stories and innovations that have transformed the object into a symbol of design and functionality. It offers a unique opportunity for professionals in the hospitality and hotel industry to better understand the potential of design and how it can enhance the experience. In this context, Alias, through three iconic Made in Italy products, demonstrates that design quality goes beyond the design itself and its form, involving materials, production technologies and technical solutions in a profound and complex way.