Vitra HAL RE Stool Medium Chair, Recycled plastic Black

Vitra HAL RE Stool Medium – counter stool by Jasper Morrison

The HAL RE Stool Medium belongs to the HAL family that Jasper Morrison designed for Vitra; Vitra gives the years 2010 and 2014. HAL is Morrison's interpretation of the shell chair in the tradition of the Plastic Chair by Charles and Ray Eames. The seat shell of the RE version is made of through-dyed polypropylene recycled from household waste collected in the German Gelber Sack, the yellow recycling bag. Because of the recycled material, the colours show tiny pigment specks. The tubular steel base has four legs, and the medium height is designed for tables and counters of 90 cm.

HAL RE Stool Medium counter stool in black plastic with table

The HAL RE Stool Medium on offer here has a black seat shell made of recycled plastic and comes together with a table. The medium seat height suits kitchen counters and other counters that are lower than a bar. The shell is easy to wipe clean, and according to Vitra, the four-legged base is very stable. This makes the combination well suited to a kitchen, an office or a small meeting area. It is one of a kind.

Seating comfort and space

The shell is unupholstered and firm, and its shape wraps around your back to support it. With a seat height of 66 cm, the stool suits tables and counters of around 90 cm, as Vitra intends. This leaves room for your thighs between the seat and the top. At a counter, allow about 60 cm of width per stool. Leave enough space behind it to push the stool back when you get up.

Elements and additions

The HAL family includes chairs with tubular steel or wooden bases, shells in plastic or plywood, and an upholstered Soft version. There is also a chair with armrests, stools in several heights and a swivelling, height-adjustable bar stool. For the Stool Medium, Vitra offers a seat pad that is screwed onto the shell, for example with a Hopsak cover. Vitra still has the HAL RE Stool Medium in its range.

Caring for plastic and steel

Wipe the through-dyed plastic shell with a damp cloth and a little mild soapy water. Avoid abrasives, hard sponges and solvents, as they dull the surface. Clean the steel base with a soft, slightly damp cloth and rub it dry. According to Vitra, only the unupholstered version with a powder-coated base is suitable for outdoor use, and only temporarily.

Why buy a pre-owned Vitra HAL RE Stool Medium?

Vitra describes the recycled plastic shells as robust and easy to clean, and the four-legged base as very stable. Because the shell is dyed right through, small scratches do not reveal a different colour underneath. As Vitra still offers the HAL family, a pre-owned stool can be combined with new HAL chairs at the same table. The stool and table have been inspected in eight stations.