About A Chair AAC 17 chair by Hee Welling

Same design as the AAC 16, thin and symmetrical legs, minimalist silhouette, same dimensions, but the shell is fully upholstered here.

This model is stackable. HAY states it explicitly: the four legs are positioned under the seat at a rounded angle that frames the shell "for optimal comfort and stackability." This is what distinguishes the AAC 16 and 17 from the rest of the steel-based family, and what makes them suitable for use in meeting rooms or communal spaces.

The upholstered shell, and what the textiles are

The shell is the same as on the non-upholstered models, a molded recycled polypropylene, according to the HAY product sheet, but here it is fully covered. Foam is placed over the shell and then dressed in the chosen upholstery: the feel is softer and sound is better dampened in high-traffic rooms. Conversely, upholstery must be cleaned by dabbing rather than spraying.

The upholstery options offered here: Steelcut, Kvadrat wool with a dense, slightly grainy surface (90% wool, 10% nylon); Sierra, Ca-Mo protected leather with a pigmented, uniform, and easy-care finish; Hallingdal 65, Kvadrat wool (70% wool, 30% viscose), the company's classic, highly durable fabric.

The base: steel tubing, and what chrome changes

The base is made of bent steel tubing, with a powder-coated or chrome finish. Powder coating is a baked-on powder: the layer is thick, matte, and withstands table-leg impacts better. Chrome is a shiny electrolytic plating, harder and fingerprint-resistant, but which shows marks visibly if scratched. Both can be cleaned with soapy water; neither likes abrasive products.