Design Redux: HAY Relaunches the Iconic X-Line Chair by Niels Jørgen Haugesen

Originally designed in the late 1970s by Danish designer Niels Jørgen Haugesen, the X-Line Chair has returned to the spotlight as part of HAY’s carefully curated collection of timeless furniture. With its sharp industrial edge and minimalist construction, the chair stands as a rare and intelligent example of Denmark’s high-tech design movement, which emerged in the wake of the country’s post-Golden Age design era. Be inspired with Inova Contratcs.

Fresh New Colourways

The relaunch of the X-Line Chair is more than a revival—it’s a recontextualisation. Now available in new colours and finishes selected by HAY, the chair is suited for both indoor and outdoor use, depending on the variant. Its design reflects Haugesen’s commitment to precision and structural honesty, making it an enduring statement of both function and form.

Made from thin metal wire, the X-Line Chair is lightweight yet strong. Its distinctive “X” configuration not only defines its aesthetic but enhances its stability. The chair exemplifies the kind of transparency and stripped-back logic that defined the 1970s high-tech era. This is a stark contrast to the softer lines of the Danish Modern movement that preceded it.

“The X-Line Chair is one of the few high-tech objects that came out of Denmark,” says Rolf Hay, co-founder of HAY. “But in many ways, it’s one of the most intelligent designs to come out of our country. So minimal and so well-thought.”

Accessible Design

Haugesen, who worked with Arne Jacobsen in the 1960s, embraced a shift in design thinking that prioritised engineering and logic over decoration. That approach is evident in the X-Line Chair’s efficient use of materials. These qualities resonate with HAY’s mission to create accessible, sustainable design. As Hay notes, “Due to its very low use of material, it’s a chair with a very low carbon footprint.”

Beyond its sustainability and aesthetics, the X-Line Chair is also highly stackable. It offers practical appeal for both commercial and residential environments. Optional leather seat pads and cushions add comfort without compromising the clean visual identity.

The chair’s reintroduction aligns with HAY’s broader ethos of reimagining iconic pieces for today’s design-savvy consumer. “To Niels Jørgen Haugesen, it was all about design. He had a fantastic eye,” Hay reflects. “It’s a very minimal and transparent chair, and it shows exactly how it’s constructed.”

About Niels Jørgen Haugesen

Niels Jørgen Haugesen (1936–2013) was a leading figure in Danish design. After graduating from the Danish School of Arts, Crafts and Design, he began his career under the mentorship of Arne Jacobsen. His meticulous attention to detail and focus on craftsmanship had a lasting influence on Haugesen’s own design philosophy. Known for his minimalist sensibility and structural clarity, Haugesen prioritised functionality and purpose over recognition. He subsequently created objects that were honest, humble, and enduring. His most iconic contribution, the X-Line Chair, was first designed in 1977 and remains a testament to his refined, engineering-based approach to furniture design.

Niels Jørgen Haugesen

Hay is locally available through Inova Contracts, a local stockist of design-led furniture for discerning South African buyers.

Representing top names in the furniture world, such as Hay, Pedralli, and Knoll, Inova Contracts is the go-to for unique, functional and appealing designer pieces.

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