IN BETWEEN CHAIR SK1

Design Sami Kallio for And Tradition, 2013.

The interplay between positive and negative space is central to In Between, Sami Kallio’s new chair for &Tradition.

Its back and side panels provide a concrete shape and support, but forms are created equally by the gaps in between them. In Between has a low-swung, crescent back- and armrest and a very slightly pitched seat pan.

Both are balanced by the dynamically angled legs, resulting in an equilibrium of forms that makes In Between a contemporary design classic.

Kallio’s expertise in traditional woodworking craftsmanship is evident in his new chair. In Between is produced using two classical techniques; compression moulding (making it light and thin, yet strong) and woodturning (a technique that uses a lathe to achieve greater detail). The materials are ash and oak, both of which respond particularly well to the techniques used. The production of In Between involves modern industrial manufacturing processes and certain interventions by the human hand; a harmony of innovation and tradition.

To admirers of mid-century Danish design, In Between’s lightness and semicircular top rail may echo the work of Hans Wegner (1914-2007), a designer whose work Kallio cites as a subconscious inspiration. In contrast to Wegner’s 1949 Wishbone Chair (also known as the Y Chair), In Between has a more daring pitch, and a more graphic, modular character. In form and technique alike, In Between gives a respectful nod to the past, but ultimately looks forward.

Materials:

Solid wood and formpressed veneer

Dimensions:

H: 770 mm, W: 580 mm, D: 540 mm

Armrest height: 700 mm, seating height: 450 mm

Colours:

White oiled oak, smoked oiled oak or black stained ash

Seat:

Upholstered or veneer.

The upholstered model can be custom-made in fabric or leather.