Our latest addition: the Layout by HAY
Every month, new products arrive at the Alvero warehouse. Some immediately catch the eye—because they’re different, because they’re beautiful, or because there’s a clever idea behind them.
This time, we asked Erik Wennekes, a buyer at Alvero, what stands out to him about one of the newest additions: the Layout by HAY.
But before we got to the chair, we asked him another question.
Which chair would you actually choose for yourself?
Erik laughs.
“I always find that a tough question,” he says. “Not because I don’t have a preference. On the contrary. I spend all day surrounded by beautiful products. But the very best chair? I don’t think there is such a thing. It really depends on how you use it.” And it’s precisely that usage that he sees changing.
“Back in the day, you had a conference chair that sat in a conference room. These days, everything’s much more intertwined. People hold discussions, keep working for a bit, pull up a chair somewhere for a Teams call, or settle into an open spot in between tasks. Then you automatically start looking for different kinds of chairs."
Maybe that’s also why he’s so enthusiastic about HAY’s new Layout.
“When I first saw it, I immediately thought: we’re going to be seeing a lot of this.”
The chair, designed by Julien Renault, has an open backrest and a understated look, which, according to Erik, makes it feel right at home anywhere—at a conference table, in a project room, or at a flexible workspace.
"“The shell of the HAY Layout is made of at least 96 percent recycled plastic, and the chair can be completely disassembled.”"
But what appeals to him most is what’s on the back of the design.
“What I find interesting is how that chair is constructed. The shell is made of at least 96 percent recycled plastic, and the chair can be completely disassembled. You can replace parts. That might sound technical, but I think that’s exactly what’s important. A chair shouldn’t just be smart today. You should still be able to use it in five or ten years.”
The chairs that keep coming back
It’s not just new products that catch his eye. Some favorites have been in the warehouse for years. “I’ve noticed that some chairs just keep coming back. They might not be the most eye-catching, but people keep choosing them over and over again. Ultimately, that says something.”
He mentions the Swing and the Alvero Fan. “These aren’t chairs that demand the spotlight. They just do what they’re supposed to do: provide comfortable seating, are easy to move around, and fit into almost any environment. And often, those are ultimately the products that last the longest.”
Erik is also seeing more and more organizations looking for chairs that can do more than just support meetings. “These days, a meeting can easily turn into an hour of work or a Teams meeting. That naturally leads you to other models.” According to him, the Circo, the Noma, the WELL Chair, and the Turn are great examples of this.
Erik Wennekes, buyer""You don't have to choose the perfect chair right away. You have to try it out first.""
Try it first, then choose
When asked what his most important piece of advice is, Erik doesn’t have to think long. “I’m never a big fan of choosing based on a photo or from a brochure. You only really notice the difference once people actually start using a chair.”
- Which chair do people keep choosing?
- Which chair does someone sit in unnoticed all morning?
- Which chair suddenly becomes the favorite during meetings?
“You only discover those kinds of things later on. And to be honest, I think that’s the fun part of our profession. Sometimes you think a certain chair will be a runaway hit, and it turns out completely differently. And the opposite happens, too.”
His conclusion is therefore surprisingly simple. “You don’t have to choose the perfect chair right away. You have to experience it first.” And perhaps that’s exactly why the new HAY Layout fits so well with the times.
Would you like to try out a chair first, too?
Please contact Riliënka, and she'll be happy to discuss the options with you.
