imm cologne

Who says modern everyday life and sensuousness have to be at odds with one another? The “Das Haus – Interiors on Stage” installation by Doshi Levien at the imm cologne 2012 aims to furnish evidence to the contrary. In an installation that is visionary not just at architectural level but in creative terms as well, the design experiment is developing into a fascinating study on modern ways of living.

“‘Das Haus’ combines the best of some very different worlds. It could be located anywhere on the planet.” Designer Nipa Doshi is alluding to an encounter between modern architecture and a world of contemporary forms on the one hand and the traditionally colourful aesthetics of Asia, the chaotic-seeming building tradition of Indian or Far Eastern megacities and the open, inward-facing interior culture of Morocco on the other. According to the plans of London design team Doshi Levien, many of these elements will be brought together in their installation in such a way that something totally new emerges: “It combines unconditional modernity with a sensuous lifestyle,” says Jonathan Levien of the blueprint for the imm cologne’s new design format: “Das Haus – Interiors on Stage”. His wife Nipa Doshi adds: “That’s precisely why we designed ‘Das Haus’ this way – because it doesn’t exist in this form. Only parts of it do.” weiterlesen…

Most of the cubes are already standing, the structure that will be shaping Pure Village 2012 is already discernible. A big open space in the middle of Hall 3.2 is the only indication that there’s still something special in the offing. And this is exactly where the foundation stone for koelnmesse’s new design event “Das Haus – Interiors on Stage” is to be laid. A few days before Christmas Eve, the imm cologne’s Creative Director Dick Spierenburg came by to see how things were progressing for himself and clarify the final details with the construction manager. weiterlesen…

The countdown has started: in just a little more than a month from now, the next imm cologne will be opening its doors. From 16th to 22nd January 2012, everybody who’s anybody will be presenting themselves in Cologne again. From international basics in living room and bedroom furniture to young lifestyles and the self-assembly segment, mattresses and sleeping systems, upholstered furniture, modern living-room, bathroom and solid wood furniture, furniture for kids and sophisticated interior design concepts, all the way to the premium and high-end segment – all of it will be on show in Cologne. For the first time, the extensive range of products covered by the “biggest furniture store in the world” will be extended even further, thanks to the numerous providers from the bathroom, flooring, wall coverings and lighting segments who will be exhibiting at the new parallel event LivingInteriors. weiterlesen…

No architecture, no interiors: time and time again, it is outstanding architectural works that have a decisive influence on innovative interior concepts. For as preferences with regard to contemporary buildings change, our interior design tastes naturally change as well. A look at building styles in the private sector shows that changes in certain conditions can result in entire room concepts changing.

Whereas there used to be a very clear separation between the living room, dining room and kitchen, for instance, the desire for spacious, loft-like layouts has led to the current “live-in kitchen” megatrend. As a global trend barometer for modern living, the imm cologne 2012 will therefore be offering visitors various “Architektouren” in and around Cologne in addition to the wide range of products on show in the halls of the exhibition centre.

Koelnmesse’s idea of organising excursions to the architectural masterpieces of various epochs all the way to the modern era got off to a very successful start at the imm cologne 2011. In fact, the concept was so successful that the tour programme for 2012 is even more extensive. For when it comes to internationally renowned architecture, Cologne certainly has plenty to offer.

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In January, Cologne will once again become the temporary design capital of Europe. But the design highlights aren’t restricted to the booked-out exhibition grounds – throughout the city, the trade visitors and design aficionadas who flock to Cologne from all over the world can look forward to a host of fascinating product presentations and exhibitions from the international design scene.

One of the biggest solo exhibitors is lifestyle label Esprit, which will be presenting its latest Home Collection at Cologne’s new event location “The New Yorker Dock.One” to coincide with the imm cologne. As in previous years, the MAKK (Museum of Applied Art), one of the city’s biggest design institutions, will also be showing an exhibition during the imm cologne, this time about exclusive furniture designed by architects over the last 100 years: “From Aalto to Zumthor”. And at another event that traditionally takes place in the cathedral city at the start of the imm cologne and can almost be considered an institution in its own right, renowned interior design and architecture magazine “Architektur & Wohnen” will be honouring an influential designer personality with its “Designer of the Year” award. weiterlesen…

300 designer brands, a fifth of them from Italy, meet their business partners at the imm cologne fair. These range from interior designers to architects as well as a critical trade audience from all over the world. Here in Cologne cameras are as important as order books, as tomorrow’s trends are discussed and today’s winning trends are decided. Italy, the design nation with its leading lifestyle brands, is once again present in full force at the imm cologne. More than 60 Italian exhibitors, including top brands such as B&B Italia, Cassina, Poltrona Frau and Capellini, Cierre, Desalto, Driade, Kartell, Living Divani, MDF Italia, Poliform and Porro will present their ranges and innovations at the fair in January. weiterlesen…

Dick Spierenburg is Creative Director of the imm cologne’s new design highlight: “Das Haus – Interiors on Stage”. For the first installation, he has invited London design studio Doshi Levien to build a sort of turnkey vision of what living in one’s own four walls can be like in the midst of the Pure Village hall.

Which interior design trends do you think will dominate the next few years?
A lot of developments are apparent right now, but I think trying to infer trends from them is going a bit too far. The complexity of the developments made it difficult to focus on the four trends we depicted in the annual Trend Book. There are always several directions that remain constant as well: quieter ones that aim for simplicity and livelier ones that use lots of colour and materials. That won’t ever change, because there are so many different people out there, so many different clients and interior designers. But it isn’t possible to name totally new and completely different trends every year.

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People spend a considerable amount of time in their lives waiting. And especially waiting in traffic – for the train to pass, the traffic jam to break up or the red light to change.

Back in 2007, this waiting at traffic lights inspired office furniture specialists Vitra to launch a series of exhibitions. For a period of three weeks, six renowned architectural firms are invited to use the Frankfurt showroom to stage experimental installations in a space-consuming scenography inspired by the following question: How can dynamism, standstill and motion be translated into striking form? And while the traffic lights on the busy Gutleutstrasse thoroughfare are red, passing motorists are meant to become participants in the exhibition, at least for a brief moment. weiterlesen…

Following the end of the early booking period, Koelnmesse is looking ahead to imm cologne 2012 with optimism. Already, more than 200 days before the event, the rental situation is 18 percent above the figures for the same period for the last imm cologne. Overall, over 70 percent of the hall space has been hired out.

“This result marks a seamless transition from the outstanding imm cologne 2011″, remarks Gerald Böse, CEO of Koelnmesse, with regard to the registration figures. “Developments in relation to international participation are particularly pleasing. As well as huge demand from Germany, we have seen increased desire for space from Italy, France and Spain”, continues the CEO.

Frank Haubold, director of imm cologne, had the following to say: “The current developments confirm imm cologne as an important international business event. Anyone wanting to earn money through furniture turns to Germany and thus to imm cologne as the biggest event in this market.” LivingInteriors, the new trade fair format for halls 4 and 5, is also awaited with great excitement. Here, everything will revolve around the topics of bathrooms, floors, walls and light.

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Just a few weeks to go now until interzum 2011 opens its doors at Cologne Exhibition Centre from 25th to 28th May. Around 1,400 exhibitors will be presenting their latest innovations to visitors from all over the world. But interzum has far more to offer than the pure product exhibitions – a whole series of special presentations, piazzas and thematic focal points spread throughout the fair are guaranteed to make the trade show even more attractive and encourage a lively exchange of ideas.

Light and materials at the innovation of interior forum
For the second time, Hall 4.2 will be hosting the innovation of interior forum, the new attraction for architects, designers and product developers with a special focus on light and materials. In addition there is an information area, a lounge, speech and meeting zone and compact, pre-specified presentation spaces for prestigious companies that form a perfect unit both visually and thematically. The declared aim of innovation of interior is to encourage eye-level communication at state-of-the-art level with partners who share the same aims and values.

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