Six questions for Marco Dessí

With the 521 model, you have added a swivel chair to the 520 range. Why did you feel that a swivel armchair was the next logical addition?

The 521 was the obvious next step in the development of the 520 range. With its swivel base, it is the perfect piece for workspaces and communication areas where flexibility and movement are key. For Thonet, the semi-public, public and contract sectors are all highly important, and they are markets that are continuing to grow. The sales team had identified a gap in the Thonet portfolio, based on their experiences and client feedback. 

Aesthetically, the 520 and the 521 are clearly a match made in heaven. Which features of the original design were particularly important to you in your design process?

For me, the key thing was to retain the basic concept of the design: comfort, lightness, an inviting appeal and, above all, that distinctive, statement look that characterises so many Thonet designs. The 521 takes the characteristic design language of the 520 and adapts it to a new, functional context. 

Something I found fascinating was that the 521 can do without the typical bentwood frame at the back. It was a real pleasure to see that just the shape and lines can convey the iconic Thonet look.

The fully upholstered shell looks inviting and comfortable, whilst the design retains a sense of lightness. How were you able to reconcile these two qualities?

Comfort does not necessarily rely on volume, nor does it have to appear heavy – it’s actually all about proportions and precision. We really focused on the right technology and precision ergonomics. This enabled us to create something very comfortable with relatively little upholstery.

The design just screams comfort. At the same time, the cut-out feature in the chair’s back creates a sense of visual lightness. This detail is a nod to Thonet’s classic coffee-house chairs and gives the design its open, light appearance – a characteristic feature already found in the 520 model and one that we have taken further, not least to preserve this link to tradition. 

A particularly distinctive feature of the 521 is the wooden saddle beneath the upholstered seat. What role does this element play in the design of the armchair?

The wooden support panel creates a structural and aesthetic link between the softly upholstered shell and the frame. It makes the structure easy to understand, whilst grounding the design in Thonet’s tradition of quality materials and craftsmanship. This creates a balance between warmth, precision and technical clarity – as well as a touch of that traditional craftsmanship that continues to characterise this company to this day.

The boundaries between work, home and hospitality have been becoming increasingly blurred over the past few years. How do you see this development, and what contribution can designs such as the 521 make to it?

The 521 stands for versatility, comfort and communication. It helps to break down hierarchies and make spaces more open and welcoming. With the 521, we are demonstrating that workspaces are increasingly taking on qualities that we used to associate more with our homes or hospitality venues. At the same time, a great deal of contract furniture is finding its way into private homes. For me, this isn’t a new trend, but rather a sign of the quality of a design. Timeless designs work in different contexts because they are defined by an idea rather than a specific purpose. This is why the 521 works so well in a wide variety of settings: it was not designed for a single purpose, but rather to meet fundamental needs such as comfort, communication and quality. It has a certain naturalness about it and feels familiar without being arbitrary. Its design language does not adhere to the traditional definitions of the contract sector. The 521 exudes a sense of wellbeing, not hierarchy or power.

Based around the theme ‘From rooms to relationships: designing spaces in an ever-changing world’, ORGATEC 2026 focuses on people and their relationships within spaces. What role can furniture play in fostering encounters and dialogue?

Furniture influences our behaviour more than we generally realise. It can facilitate interactions, encourage conversation and help to structure spaces. Particularly today, when work, communication and leisure areas are increasingly merging, furniture plays an important role as a bridge between people and space. Good furniture is more than functional; done well, it creates an atmosphere in which conversation and social interaction become second nature. It makes it easier for people to come together and it promotes communication. And it also makes us better listeners. Wherever people come together – whether for a short or a long time – the aim is to enable, facilitate and enhance this interaction. So furniture has a key role to play in the world of work.