About A Chair AAC 121 swivel chair by Hee Welling

HAY describes the AAC 121 as adopting “a slightly more formal expression than the other variants in the series,” while retaining “the high backrest and generous seat that characterize the series,” on “a functional base with legs that splay out from the center.” It is the largest of the swivel chairs: 86 cm high, 62 cm wide, 59.5 cm deep.

The upholstered shell, and what the textiles are

The shell is the same as on the naked shell models, a molded recycled polypropylene—that is what the HAY product sheet says—but here it is covered over its entire surface. Foam is placed on the shell and then dressed in the chosen upholstery: the feel is softer and noise is better dampened in high-traffic rooms. In return, upholstery must be cleaned by dabbing, not by spraying.

The covers offered here: Sense, HAY's aniline leather, dyed through: it shows the grain and develops a patina with use; Hallingdal 65, Kvadrat wool fabric (70% wool, 30% viscose), the company's classic, very durable; Sierra, protected Ca-Mo leather with a pigmented finish, uniform and easy to live with; Bolgheri, HAY fabric with a rich blend (viscose, wool, polyamide, silk, linen). The so-called quilted variants: HAY uses the term quilted: feature topstitching that compartments the padding: the padding does not shift over time, and the relief breaks up the uniform surface.

The swivel base: cast aluminum, polished or powder-coated

The base is a piece of cast aluminum: HAY writes cast aluminium swivel base: whose four legs splay out from a single center. The shell swivels on this base. The glides are standard glides, not casters: the chair rotates on itself but does not move on its own, which is better suited for a meeting or dining table than for a workstation.

Two finishes. The polished aluminum is bare, shiny metal whose luster comes from mechanical polishing: it shows fingerprints a little and can be revived with a soft cloth. The black powder-coated aluminum receives a kiln-baked powder: a thick, matte layer, more resistant to impact. HAY presents this base as “a more formal expression” than that of the models with wooden legs.