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The grace of steel

Anna Moldenhauer: How did the collaboration with Plank come about?

Björn Dahlström: In 1994, I had the fortunate opportunity to exhibit at the Salone del Mobile in Milan. At that point, the SaloneSatellite still didn’t exist, but my work had already advanced enough to be accepted so that I could exhibit as a designer side-by-side with the furniture companies at the fair. There I met Biagio Cisotti, who works as an art director, including for Plank. We chatted a bit, and a few years later, in 1999, we came up with our first project – a swivel chair for use in an office at home, which was pretty futuristic at the time. Those early days are now a good 25 years ago, and since then I’ve always felt a strong connection to Plank as a company and the people who work there.

The design for the “Velit” collection is linear, but the dynamic curves mean it doesn’t seem rigid. What did you aim to convey with the design?

Björn Dahlström: “Velit” is not my first piece of furniture made of steel, but the collection is pretty special to me. Before I got involved in industrial design, I was a graphic designer, so it’s important to me that my design has a communicative element. With their gentle curves, the fine lines of the powder-coated steel wire used for the “Velit” chairs are like a pen-and-ink drawing and offer a certain grace – they have both a two- and a three-dimensional feel to them. At the same time, it was important to use these elegant, stringent lines to achieve a level of comfort that is guaranteed even without seat cushions.

What inspired you in the technical development of “Velit”?

Björn Dahlström: Each phase of the development work brought its own challenges – including with regard to welding the wires. No wire is the same as another, and too much heat would impact too strongly on the bending process. Finding the right technique to achieve an even progression is very tricky. Plank is the perfect partner for this challenge, because they work with a high degree of precision and have bright ideas for realizing even very demanding processes. To maintain the shape of the wires during welding, for example, the team actually purpose-developed an intermittent cooling process.

Your wife Anna von Schewen is also a designer – are any of the details in “Velit” the result of discussions with her?

Björn Dahlström: My wife and I are always talking about design and commenting on the other’s work, which is both helpful and annoying (laughs). It’s really nice knowing you have someone by your side who stands by you and with whom you can have open, honest conversations about the work. She works as an interior designer, while I am an industrial designer, and the different perspectives from our specialist areas are of great benefit to both of us.

You place great emphasis on the interaction of space, furniture, and people – what effect were you aiming for with the “Velit” collection?

Björn Dahlström: “Velit” is intended to function in any context, both in private homes and in hotels or hospitality. The comfort of the structure should be great enough that you are happy to sit on the chair even when there aren’t any cushions. All the chairs in the “Velit” collection have a backrest angle designed for relaxed sitting. It’s also important that the design isn’t too obtrusive, almost self-contained, so that lots of models from the collection can be in one space together and the overall look is harmonious. Thanks to the fine lines, the design is transparent in places and appears airy, so it’s ideal for integration in an established setting.

Talk us through the choice of six colors (ocean blue, moss green, olive green, concrete gray, white, and black).

Björn Dahlström: The colors are not that different from Plank’s existing palette. However, here it was more about fine-tuning, about the right nuances.

The cushion covers also perfectly match the coating of the steel structure.

Björn Dahlström: The colours of the textiles were mainly chosen by the team at Plank. I was so happy with their choice that we didn't discuss it for long afterwards. The covers for the seat cushions are also made of water-repellant fabric – the textiles are UV-resistant and mold- and dirt-repellant. This means that “Velit” is suitable for both indoor and outdoor areas.

Plank is different to other companies – both its image and its design are restrained and always of high quality. What else would you like to design for Plank?

Björn Dahlström: I would like to keep developing the “Velit” concept, perhaps with a stool or additional table models. I’d also be excited going forward to work on a project with a material such as wood. I appreciate their very considered way of working, which ultimately means their range is timeless, it’s fantastic. This prudent, sustainable kind of production with lots of bright ideas and passion for flawless execution is exemplary of how a company should work these days. This is the way we need to go.