1924-1927 apprenticeship as silversmith at the Kunstgewerbeschule in Zurich. 1927-1928 study at the Bauhaus in Dessau. From 1929 occupation as architect, later also as graphic artist, sculptor and painter.

In 1936 definition of the term of concrete art in an exhibition catalog of the Kunsthaus Zürich and promotion of the art movement concrete art (part of the grouping „Zürcher Schule der Konkreten“ and the „Allianz“).

1938 member of the „Congrès Inernationale d’Architecture Moderne“. 1944-1951 lecturer at the Zürcher Kunstgewerbeschule. In 1953 foundation of the Hochschule für Gestaltung Ulm together with Inge Aicher-Scholl and Otl Aicher, among others. There, in 1955, resignation from the duties of the principal as a consequence of a shift in direction in the pedagogical structure and the courses.

1967-1974 lectureship at the Hochschule für Bildende Künste Hamburg. 1976 member of the Akademie der Künste in Berlin.

Participation at the first documenta, documenta 2, and documenta 3.