One area of imm cologne that stands for inspiration en masse is the Pure Village. Its architecture is what makes it so special: it has an open structure like that of a piazza. Although its exhibitors concentrate on just a few products, they are presented as if they were in an art gallery. The result is a living symphony of brands and product that invites visitors to explore. In the run-up to imm cologne, a number of Pure Village exhibitors have spoken about what they intend to exhibit in January.

For imm cologne Thonet has interesting new products on offer including the “580″ chair by Claudio Bellini, the “130″ chair and “1130/1131″ table by Naoto Fukasawa and the “7000″ shelf system by f/p design. The Frankenberg-based company sees “natural materials” and “sustainability” as the current top trends.

Finite Elements’ launch of its Mirror 62 sound mirror is certain to be a highlight during the week-long trade fair. The topic of “sound integration” runs right through the product range of the Brilon-based company, for example its “Hohrizontal 51″ sound shelf augmented by the “Solo 51″ shelf system or “Hohrizontal 51 Plus”, the long version of the brilliant iPod dock with additional subwoofer output. Bernd Brockhoff, Managing Director of Finite Elements, sees the integration of music in furniture as a future trend in the industry, with plenty of potential still untapped.

“Cristal Box” is the name of the highly sophisticated product from outdoor furniture specialists Gandia Blasco for the imm cologne 2012 – if we leave aside the new outdoor collection from a German designer. The Spaniards see Pure Village as an experiment and new experience, and highly promising due to the outstanding mix of various products from a wide range of segments. “We expect the event to produce many new and interesting contacts which we hope will lead to new business relationships develop,” says Santiago Revert Pla, Export Director of Gandia Blasco.

Grohe already has experience with Pure Village after exhibiting there for the first time in 2011 with Kaldewei. Its appearance at the trade show is devoted to the “Your Home Spa” them with individually tailored shower solutions and the “Digital Collection” of fixtures and showerheads wirelessly controlled by digital controllers. “As an international meeting place for the world of interior design, we see the imm cologne as a fantastic opportunity to exchange views, forge contacts and gather inspiration. It is the perfect start to each year, giving us the opportunity to present our latest products and sound out the reactions of Germans and visitors from all over the world,” says the company of the trade show. “The imm cologne puts designer solutions for unique living worlds in the foreground. Everyone one can see what the ‘state of the art’ in the coming year of interiors will be. The Grohe brand is by and large defined by its innovative design. As a result, this is a set date in our event calendar, a time for us to present our latest product solutions to an international specialist audience,” says Paul Flowers, Senior Vice President Design of Grohe AG.

After a good showing in January 2011, Kaldewei has decided to exhibit yet again in the pulsating city on the Rhine in 2012. Centre stage in the presentation will be two integrated sunken “Conoflat” shower tubs plus five new shades in the “Coordinated Colours Collection”. “A very special world of showers awaits you: the warm hues of ‘Indian Summer’ in sublime harmony with the perfect material – Kaldewei 3.5-millimetre steel enamel produced from fine, natural materials. The 12 shades in the “Coordinated Colours Collection” radiate sensuality, individuality and high quality. Leave the mediocre behind and savour the timeless and relaxing aesthetics in a world of colours inspired entirely by nature,” says Nicole Roesler, Head of Marketing at Kaldewei.

Interstuhl will definitely be among the newcomers too. The company explains its first appearance at the trade show with the march of time: “We realise that barriers have lost their importance in many areas of life, society and politics, and divisions often come over as outdated. Living and working has largely become fused while at the same time people place growing value on the quality of their environments. People who work conscientiously need suitable tools and furniture – appurtenances that live up to their high demands. This is true in the office and increasingly in the home, too, as a growing number of people work in their own four walls either some or all of the time, and they require the same professional standards as at their company workplace. This makes our presence at the imm a logical conclusion,” says the office furnisher from Messstetten-Tieringen. The number-one attraction at the Interstuhl stand is bound to be “Volume 8″, an office chair that ideally fulfils the professional requirements in the office and yet exudes individuality and distinctiveness.

Carpet Concept, for one, will presents its new collections “Eco Pur” and “CAS” which form the “Carpet Concept Acoustic System”. “We look forward to the industry making an emotive statement on the respectful use of natural resources as well as product development with a human dimension,” explains Thomas Trenkamp, Managing Partner of Carpet Concept. The most important trend in this area for his company, according to Trenkamp: offers for sustainable architecture and solutions for acoustic problems in office furnishing.

Bauholz design a.r.t. will be attending imm cologne for the first time. Due to heavy demand for the company’s products, the range was extended last year by a great many new pieces for living zones. The Münster-based designers will be presenting these new models to a broad public in Cologne. The highlight of the exhibition looks likely to be furniture made of a mix of timber and glass, and outdoor pieces with weatherproof overlays. “We see the imm cologne as an international trend barometer for living and furnishings. Internationality, design expertise and innovations add up to an irresistible setting,” says Bernd Schuster, Managing Director of Bauholz design a.r.t.

Burgbad is a regular exhibitor at the Cologne trade show and registered way back last year for a stand in the Pure Village. “The success of previous years confirms that we should return – in a setting that fuels new ideas and creative suggestions for the world of bathroom furnishings and the seamless passage to the adjoining living zone,” insists Sabine Meissner, Head of Communications at Burgbad. The absolute hit in the bathroom segment are customised solutions tailored to individual wishes, besides bathroom design as a space to spend time and relax, not even mentioning pure functionality.

E15 will be travelling to Cologne in January with many innovations never seen before. For example there is one-off made of nutwood, a table made of a single, three-and-a-half-metre long piece of timber. And then there are the occasional table in marble and oak – the latter also made of one piece. The new oiled dining table of European oak will also be unveiled for the first time. Alongside the presentation on the company’s stand, selected pieces from the E15 collection will also feature in the special exhibition “The House”.

LG Hausys and its highly expressive and versatile “Hi-Macs” acrylic stone is aimed mainly at architects, designers and original manufacturers. The producer is determined to show the public in Cologne the quality of designs possible with “Hi-Macs”. Its many positive qualities ensure that the material is universally applicable and highly individual, no matter whether used in a six-sided table with integrated lighting or thermally formed seating groups. “The imm cologne is the perfect opportunity for us to demonstrate our material’s unique features and its use in furniture and furnishings” says Swiss company LG Hausys Europe.

Klaus Kettenburg and Peter Bernahrndt, the creative forces behind Holzwerk Feine Möbel, would like to meet people who speak the same language in Cologne. Their trade show highlight will be the “Chairbert” couch, winner of the Interior Innovation Award 2011 and with a look specially designed for the trade fair. Next to is the bark cloth couch “Chaise Berta”. Besides keeping up with old contacts, the company aims to use the trade show to strengthen and boost the brand. Expanding sales channels is another goal. “The diversity of accessible content and genres on display at Pure Village makes it very open to experiments and a public who are not only focused on the mainstream,” is how the two master carpenters describe the setting in Cologne.

International Graphics is appearing under the motto “Walls need new pictures”. The company, based in Eggenstein, is championing the cause of active furnishing support with its planner called “Illustrate Your Home” (in German, “Bebildere Deine Wohnung”). It hopes to tap into new target groups at the event in January and its presentation in the Pure Village should also serve to strength its positioning among up-market retailers. One current trend in wall graphics is a print-on-demand service for Plexiglas. “The imm cologne is the trend show for the up-market furniture business. And this is why we are also exhibiting our youthful and fresh images in the Pure Village,” says Lawrence Walmsley, Managing Director of International Graphics.

Interior Crafts has already appeared several times at the imm cologne, latterly in 2003. It has now decided to return: “We are very excited about our appearance in the Pure Village, this new concept in innovative ideas and design. Against the backdrop of other inspiring and trend-setting manufacturers, we want to exhibit our products that combine design with the very latest materials and a high level of workmanship.” Above all, Interior Crafts wants to forge new paths in materials. Because the market in PE-woven furniture is absolutely saturated, the company aims to gain a name for itself in soft “webware”, which represents a intermediate stage between knitwear and wickerwork. The outdoor “Cabaret” programme is made of this material as is the indoor “Rapunzel” collection.

NCS Colour of Sweden is involved in the Pure Village in a very special way in the design project “The House”. In collaboration with partners Global Colour Research and Mix Publications, they have not only produced an agreeable colour concept for a model home, but are also predicting the trends in colour in the coming year. NCS Colour aims to instil in visitors a special understanding of colour and to familiarise them with the various materials it uses. A special highlight on its stand will be a new product for use in specifying various degrees of gloss.

Another company impressed by the response in January 2011 and now returning in 2012 is tradition-steeped Rukotvorine of Bosnia. As last year, “Manulution”, the manufacturer’s very special design and product philosophy, will again take centre stage. It refers to the abstraction and transformation of traditional handicrafts into products with a modern design fashioned from Bosnian deciduous woods. The result is unique and authentic furniture that still scores points through its universal appeal. Adem Niksic, Managing Director of Rukotvorine, hopes that Cologne will produce new business partners who can market the company’s sophisticated products on a broader basis in Europe. His statement on the furnishing event: “The imm cologne is not only a marketplace but a driver of change in interior design.”

Upholsterer Schön Wohnen of Murnau am Staffelsee intends to present individually produced stools and benches covered in a wide range of materials such as leather and loden. Seating elements in various combinations, for example hide with mature wood, produce a great deal of excitement and are finding more and more favour in offices, hotels and in private households. Owner Jakob Lang aims to refresh personal contacts to customers in Cologne, exchange views with retailers and seek dialogue with interior designers who are looking for new impressions and a flexible partner to realise their visions. Lang chose Pure Village because of its “fantastic atmosphere and the design-focused environment. A platform with a special flair that invites you to spend time and forge contacts.”

For Swiss manufacturer Lehni, the personal presentation of its latest product – a table designed by Hanspeter Weidmann in 2011 – is very important.

What is clear in any case is that the Pure Village area lives through the successful interplay of a huge diversity of products that all have one thing in common: outstanding design. The open structures and centrally converging routes promote neighbourliness between the individual exhibitors and open up new perspectives. Pure Village is thus once again sure to be a magnet and major meeting place at imm cologne.

Nipa Doshi und Jonathan Levien gestalten eine große Wohn-Installation auf der imm cologne 2012.

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.”

In fact, a great many more worlds will be coming together in the installation: “Das Haus” experiments with colours and materials, integrates water and nature into the living area and puts technologies old and new to the test as a model for a sustainable household. In Doshi Levien’s “Haus”, furniture and multimedia, bathroom fixtures and kitchen design, solid, open-work and transparent walls, living space and garden, work and life complement one another to form a harmonious whole. Known for their unconventional choice of forms and colours, the designers also see the project as a collection of ideas for various ways of using materials to design a space, especially when it comes to wall surfaces. Even artistic elements seem like an integral part of the architecture; a multilayered glass wall by London graphic design studio Pony, for instance, doubles as privacy screening for the kitchen and a projection surface for overlapping pictures of the house, symbols and reminiscences of domestic life.

Premiere of a new format for depicting interior design trends
Koelnmesse sees the “Das Haus – Interiors on Stage” format launched for the imm cologne 2012 as part designer portrait, part living laboratory, where the current trends in interior design can be depicted in three dimensions and the guest designer can formulate a statement on his own very personal idea of a perfect home. As a result, the big format that fills a 180 m² stage in the midst of “Pure Village” (Hall 3.2) with architecture, furnishings, lighting installations etc. in accordance with the designer’s plans nevertheless remains on a human and utterly intimate scale. “We’re interested in interior design that’s ahead of our time, but not so far ahead that nobody understands it. That’s particularly important to us,” says Katharina C. Hamma, Chief Operating Officer of Koelnmesse, of her expectations of the project.
Doshi Levien solved the challenge of creating a very personal living space scenography with visionary character in the midst of the trade fair by coming up with “a culmination of spaces from all over the world – some of them taken from memory, some of them from dreams”. The prominent London duo’s constructed dream is widely regarded as one of the highlights of the next international interior design fair that will be taking place in Cologne from 16th to 22nd January.

Broad-based support from international design brands
The blueprint is gradually taking on concrete shape: the construction of the installation got underway on 19.12. It will be furnished entirely with the help of partners and sponsors from a wide variety of interior design segments. Doshi Levien have been able to realise their innovative colour concept for “Das Haus” with the support of RAL: the company provided them with an unconventional, fascinating material for the windows and tiles in the form of the new RAL Plastics colour samples. On the other hand, with the NCS Natural Colour System, it was possible to translate all the colours used in “Das Haus” into handy colour samples that will be available as giveaway items at the exit, thus constituting something like a trend barometer of the most popular colours.
Lichtfabrik Erco will be showing “Das Haus” off to full advantage with an ingenious system of spotlights and floodlights. Besides the Ananda spa by Glass, the installation will of course mainly be featuring furniture designed by Doshi Levien for companies like Moroso, Cappellini, Richard Lampert and Authentics. But there will also be many products by other designers that Nipa Doshi and Jonathan Levien would be happy to surround themselves with, from classics by Eileen Grey (ClassiCon) or Alvar Aalto (Artek) all the way to the “Vigna” chair by Martino Gamper (Magis) or the “Pico” tiles by Erwan and Ronan Bouroullec (Mutina). The project thus enjoys the support of a number of brands from the international design scene, including Cassina, E15, Established & Sons, Foscarini, Mattiazzi, Thonet and Vitra.

New ways of organising life at its focal point – the home
Because the different activities are located within an open sequence of spaces, there seem to be close links between the private living quarters, family and working life and the more public areas. “Das Haus” is an urban place, inspired by cities like Tokyo or Mumbai where life itself is at home rather than being split into purely residential neighbourhoods and downtown areas. In Doshi Levien’s interpretation of “Das Haus”, the links between the street and the living space are symbolised by a work room that could also be used as a shop: “‘Das Haus’ is also a study about how we can enjoy the time we spend on routines and translate it into rituals,” says Nipa Doshi of the cultural significance of her proposal for a perfect home. “That’s exactly what the workshop symbolises – a place where the family can get together to do activities.”
The central idea behind “Das Haus” is the redefinition of spaces and their activity-based relationships to one another. Living in (physically) networked spaces is meant to help use time in a more multi-faceted and intense way. Here, every space is a living room. The special importance of the transitions between the individual functional zones is illustrated by furniture that creates connections rather than boundaries; to this end, Doshi Levien have designed prototypes of cabinets and tables that are being produced in collaboration with BD Barcelona and the Stilwerk Design Gallery. “For us it’s important to challenge the cliché notions of what is a bedroom, what is a kitchen, what is a bathroom. Every part of the house is connected with the other areas, thus redefining interior living in a new and exciting way,” says Jonathan Levien of the project.

(Photo: smowblog)

Alu-Style is one of the new providers who will be joining the furniture fair for the first time; accordingly, the Hungarians are coming to Cologne with high expectations. Up until now, Alu-Style has been better known as a player from the supplier industry and has been attending the furniture for many years as a visitor. Now the company wants to establish itself in the international furniture industry with its tried and tested systems for sliding doors, shelving, tables and walls. The company’s trade fair presentation will focus on its sliding doors – including the new “Albatros” line. Alu-Style cites flexibility as the crucial trend of the future: the declared basis of all Alu-Style’s products.

The new products from Wössner are designed for function, added value and comfort. In particular, new developments can be expected from the “Dining Collection” – such as three new bench collections that provide the same degree of seating comfort as a sofa. Wössner will of course be presenting matching occasional furniture again too. The Baden-Württemberg firm currently sees a very definite trend towards dining benches in leather and faux leather. The company, which looks back on more than a hundred years of history, also sees an increase in the share of solid wood furniture with individual surface accents such as split wood, faux stone and textured finishes. “The imm cologne has definitely gained significance again; in our eyes, it is the trend barometer for the national and international furniture industry. As the biggest international furniture fair of all, the imm is extremely important to us. Like no other trade show, it gives us the opportunity to get close to our customers, partners and competitors. Nobody can afford to miss the imm – it’s where the course for 2012 will be set,” says Wössner’s head of sales Oliver Gutekunst.

Buroart Mobilya from Turkey is another of the first-time exhibitors. The modern office furniture producer chose the imm cologne as the ideal platform for gaining a stronger foothold in Europe. Buroart is hoping for the highest possible customer circulation within the hall, so that it can benefit from its placement in the prime segment by introducing as many visitors as possible to its new furniture.

Corpus is also celebrating its debut in Cologne. “We believe the imm cologne is a very respected international furniture show – that’s why we’ve decided to exhibit there,” says the Greek company. Corpus numbers amongst the wardrobe specialists in its native Mediterranean territory and offers a wide variety of different designs and dimensions. The imm cologne is an important part of the new international marketing strategy Corpus is pursuing.

Dolmenler is particularly keen to introduce visitors to the Rhine metropolis to its new chair “Charlie”. The Turkish firm is hoping for new buyers, dealers and business partners from all over the world so as to market its high-quality products even more efficiently. The Izmir-based manufacturer compares modern furniture creations designed to satisfy the modern demand for style in combination with ergonomics and comfort to the abstract work of artists. Dolmenler very much appreciates the fact that the imm cologne is so well organised, which gives manufacturers and buyers “the opportunity to share ideas and do business with one another.”

Edelberg is another of the names that will be featuring in the imm cologne’s exhibition catalogue for the first time. The registered trademark for top-quality acrylic furniture was launched as recently as summer 2011 and stands for timeless, modern and elegant design with the highest standards of quality and workmanship. Similarly to Corpus, its presentation at the furniture fair is an important strategic step towards introducing Edelber to a broader audience. “It was the positive transformation the imm cologne has undergone that prompted us to show the Edelber brand there in 2012. We very much hope our expectations will be confirmed,” says Lisa Krempel, head of marketing at Edelber. The characteristic features of the acrylic furniture: the possibility of customisation and a wide variety of material and colour combinations.

The booth of Elite Strom – yet another first-time exhibitor – will revolve around beds and mattresses. “The imm cologne is the central meeting point for exhibitors and decision-makers from all the world’s major markets. We are delighted to be taking part in the 2012 event and look forward to sharing our passion for sleep products with the international visitors,” says the Athens-based company.

In contrast to the many newcomers in the prime segment, Geha Möbelwerke from Hövelhof has been participating in the trade fair for many years. One of the interesting new products the Westphalian company has announced is an innovative folding door solution that looks certain to appeal not just to technology fans but to a wider audience as well. The innovative cabinet system enables the simultaneous opening and closing of two pairs of folding doors, either mechanically or electrically. The synchronised opening mechanism is an in-house development by Geha Möbelwerke. “Hall 5.1 has evolved into a competence centre for bedroom producers. The themes represented are highly attractive and therefore an ‘absolute must’ for bedroom furniture buyers,” says Gerd Körber, head of sales at Geha. “We see the imm 2012 as a platform for a broad international public that we want to make aware of our diversity and competency when it comes to attractive and individual bedroom furnishings.”

Lenio is a young, up-and-coming company from Unterstadion in Baden-Württemberg. The highlight of its presentation at the trade fair will be the furniture created by 22-year-old designer Simon Hatzing, which includes a highly unusual coffee table. The young designer is very definitely not a fan of major trends: “I don’t want to go with the mainstream. That’s why I don’t take my cues from the major trends, which most people tire of pretty quickly anyway,” says Hatzing. “I’m already familiar with the imm cologne as a visitor. My motivation for becoming an exhibitor is the big, multilayered clientele – no other trade fair attracts such a broad spectrum of different people.”

Malagic & Divani from Bosnia Herzegovina, founded in 2006 as part of the Malagic Group, is another first-time exhibitor. It too hopes its presentation at the imm cologne will generate contacts in Germany and its neighbouring markets. Besides upholstered beds, the company’s range mainly consists of sectional sofas and upholstered chairs. “Merlin Magic” will be making its debut in Cologne. Besides generating new custom, Malagic & Divani is looking forward to checking out its fellow market players. “It will be interesting to see what new products other companies will be bringing to the fair – that’s the only way to find out where your own company stands,” explains Fatmir Malagic, owner of Malagic & Divani.

Belgian company Mobitec is coming to the imm cologne 2012 with some very concrete objectives. “We want to expand our business connections in the furniture trade at international level, especially in the Benelux countries, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Norway and England, and it would also be great if we could gain a foothold in England, Norway, Denmark and Sweden. We’re particularly interested in these markets in terms of furniture retailers, but also with regard to the contract business. In Cologne, we’re intending to demonstrate our competitiveness at a broad international level,” says Ralf Lötfering, Mobitec’s head of sales for the DACH countries. The highlights of the Eupen-based company’s trade fair presentation will be its innovative chair families that are suitable for both areas of its business, and of course its joint brand presentations with JAB-Anstoetz and Kvadrat Fabric Collections. The keyword for Mobitec’s new developments is “Cocooning” – for a snug and cosy home. “The entire Mobitec team is looking forward to its first imm cologne. Our European sales team is curious about our international appearance and the response it will generate. It is the first time we will be presenting ourselves to our large clientele in Germany. We’ve been doing some lateral thinking and come up with an interesting collection for specialist dealers and the contract business,” says Lötfering.

Italian company Natisa is renowned for its contemporary tables and chairs. In future, however, the producer also wants to market modular libraries and has decided to make its debut presentation at the imm cologne. Even though the Southern Europeans would have preferred Hall 10 or 11 to 5.2, the company from Moimacco in Udine is hoping for a considerable image boost from its trade fair appearance. All Natisa’s furniture designs are based on a high degree of eco-compatibility and combinations of top-quality natural materials.

“We would like to see the imm become more of an order-taking show again in the next few years,” says the Paidi company from Hafenlohr. Right now, there’s no escaping white furniture for children and youngsters – that’s the biggest trend apparent at the moment. For the imm cologne 2012, the old established manufacturer is planning to present a new teen bedroom as well as a new range of play, loft and bunk beds – hopefully, says the Lower Franconian firm, in a setting within the prime segment where there will be other companies showing the same product group.

The Rumanian company Rus-Savitar sees the decisive trends in its segment as modularity and minimalistically designed furniture – as a way of restoring a little calm to consumers’ everyday lives. According to the manufacturer from Dudestii Noi, naturalness is another very important aspect. “The imm cologne is the biggest furniture fair in Europe; it has a crucial influence on future trends and what furniture looks like,” says Christian Alin Rusu, CEO of Rus-Savitar.

“The imm cologne is the one platform where you really ought to present yourself – and where you should keep an eye open for the design of tomorrow,” says Eugénio Trigo, head of design at Trigodesignstudio. The Lisbon-based studio has made it its business to design small editions of between 10 and 500 pieces that present a product in a new light. For the trade fair, Trigo has set itself the task of reinterpreting timekeeping and will be bringing an innovative electronic clock to Cologne for its international debut.

Trüggelmann’s approach is classic rather than unconventional. The Bielefeld company’s interesting new product launch for January goes by the name of “Logo classic”, an elegant programme for cabinets, dressing rooms and walk-in wardrobes. The style of the furniture can be adapted to individual customer requirements: a multitude of fluted pilasters, cornices, plinths and panel elements ensures variety. But Trüggelmann won’t be coming to Cologne on its own: “The joint appearance of Trüggelmann and Wehrsdorfer at the imm cologne 2012 represents a very special time in our furniture life. We’re looking forward to some beautiful, new, design-savvy furniture ideas,” says Regina Spatz, head of marketing at the Westphalian company. Wehrsdorfer will be presenting new products too, of course: “Maison”, a classically elegant, sometimes even romantically inclined living room range with a passion for detail is intended to generate new business.

VM-Möbel-Design is counting both on its tried and tested products and new ideas. The TV and tea cabinets, for instance, have a permanent place at the Haßmersheim company’s booth. The manufacturer has also announced an Audio Design Wall to suit any tastes that can also be integrated into wellness areas, auditoriums or shops. VM-Möbel-Design’s biggest hope is that the Cologne event will generate new customers. “At the end of the day,” says the firm’s headquarters, “every new design has to sell.” The finished pieces are made of exquisite and top-quality materials – with its retro look and, above all, the integration of up-to-the-minute technology, VM-Möbel-Design is very much in tune with the times. Interior architects have already realised just how universally usable products like the Audio Design Wall are. Now the company wants to strengthen awareness of its products amongst dealers and consumers as well.

That is exactly what Evergrowth, La Forme, Riviera and Venjakob are doing as well: by taking part in the Cologne trade fair, the companies are making an active contribution to their own success in 2012. And of course everybody is hoping for high visitor levels and as many concrete orders as possible. The trade fair looks set to be a resounding success.

Functionality is the most important requirement of all modern furniture. As a result, most furnishing items are getting smaller again, enabling all sorts of things to be done with them. Easily adjustable sofas that conjure up a bigger seating area in the blink of an eye, tables that can be extended with just a few easy moves when friends come round for dinner, flatscreens that can be made to disappear into the sideboard via remote control. And as technology gets smaller and smaller, even desks don’t need such a big work surface any more. These are just a few of the latest trends that have already been revealed by exhibitors.

The Poltrona Frau Group and its various brands is ready and waiting for the imm cologne 2012. “Cassina will be showing new products by the designers Charlotte Perriand, Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret and Gerrit T. Rietveld. In many respects, the focus is on the naturalness of the materials. Cappellini will be concentrating on its latest new products such as “Dinah” and Poltrona Frau will also be travelling to Cologne with some up-to-the-minute developments. A sofa bed with an innovative filling, for instance,” promises the successful Meda-based group from Italy. For the Poltrona Frau Group too, the trade fair is an important event where it can meet its existing dealers – mainly from Germany and Northern Europe – and forge new contacts.

A genuine first in the history of the de Sede Group is planned for the coming January, when it will be presenting the two Swiss manufacturers de Sede and team by wellis at a joint booth for the first time. The result promises to be an extremely atmospheric and consistent exhibit that covers all areas of the home. And it goes without saying that both premium brands will be featuring product innovations as well: team by wellis, for instance, will be showing a multifunctional, very unusual storage furniture system that can be used to break up, zone and extend any space; de Sede will be presenting a new and innovative armchair concept. When it comes to trends, the de Sede Group believes in a play of contrasts between soft, organic lines and volumes on the one hand and strict, clear shapes on the other, as well as an even stronger emphasis on exclusive materials and processing techniques without looking showy.

Willisau Switzerland stresses that, as the premium manufacturer of a convincing collection of tables, chairs and sideboards, it considers the exhibition environment extremely important. Because the dealers who come to the fair rarely have time to have a really good look at the collections, Willisau prefers to have successful, well-known and highly reputed fellow exhibitors with a similar sales approach in its immediate vicinity – exactly the kind of environment the Swiss producer will find in Hall 11. Right now, the premium provider does not see any one dominant trend; instead, it believes that current developments are being influenced by innovative design that merges form and function. In addition, says Willisau, top-quality materials and sumptuous workmanship with sophisticated details are indispensable for creating genuine added value. In January, the spotlight at Willisau’s booth will be on its lightweight construction line “Leggera” and a brand new line of chairs by the name of “Estetica”, which will be presented in Cologne for the very first time.

Girsberger has been putting its faith in the imm cologne for a long time and is hoping not only for an answer as to whether the latest product developments are in line with the zeitgeist, but for honesty from all those involved with regard to seriously meant sustainability concepts of the type Girsberger has been cultivating and implementing ever since the company was founded. At the centre of the booth there will be a table that is a genuine piece of European history. It was made from a 600-year-old common oak from southern France. In addition, with “Adesso” by Kurt Müller, the upholstered bench will be finding its way into the dining area in extremely understated form. “Diago”, a filigree solid wood table by designer Dieter Stierli, is unique. The table can be extended from 220 cm to 320 cm, and yet the grain of the longitudinally glued solid wood runs the entire length of the table. “We’ll be taking the momentum and some very good memories of the imm cologne and LivingKitchen 2011 along with us – Cologne is definitely the meeting point for the international furniture world. We’re very much looking forward to the 2012 event,” says Philippe Walther, head of the Home division.

Leolux considers itself a genuine trendsetter. Modern design and up-to-the-minute materials are the order of the day at the Dutch company. Which is why the Venlo-based firm will be showing several award-winning models in Cologne – including “Mundo”, “Sella” and “Arabella” – as well as some totally new furniture designs intended to form a perfect unit with the impressive booth. “For us, the imm cologne is always the start of a new business year, the beginning of a new season,” says Markus Hintzen, advertising manager at Leolux.
Erba is one of the new exhibitors who will be joining the top brands in the “pure” segment. “We hope we’ll be able to give people a good idea of the uniqueness of our style in Cologne and would be delighted to encounter visitors who appreciate the originality and top quality of our furniture,” comments the company headquarters in Biassono. Erba wants to show two totally new models in Cologne and enter into talks with the buyers and owners of top German and European stores. The Italians are also hoping to reach architects and interior designers.

Danish furniture manufacturer ABC Reoler, who has been exhibiting in Cologne for many years, still sees individuality and personality as the biggest enduring trend. The new product it will be launching at the trade fair is a good reflection of this tendency: the innovative new shelving system offers an almost infinite range of possibilities, the manufacturer plays with various depths and colours – without compromising its previous shelving lines. According to Sören Iversen, Managing Director of the Aulum-based company, the imm cologne’s most important function for ABC Reoler is “its significance as a window to the international markets.”

There will be some truly top-class design on show at Artek’s booth: the company has been the licensee for the unique seating furniture by Finnish interior architect and designer Ilmari Tapiovaara since 2010. Artek has already managed to attract a great many customers with its collection of lights and furniture by Alvar Aalto, and the Nordic company is now rounding off its assortment with the Tapiovaara designs. The focus of its presentation at the imm cologne will for instance be the multifunctional “Domus Chair” and the “Domus Lounge Chair”. “For us, the imm cologne is a very important event and showcases the entire world of interior design. Thanks to the positive way the fair has been developing in recent years, the event seems a lot fresher and new elements like ‘pure village’ are extremely appealing. For us, the imm cologne is one event that we definitely can’t afford to miss!”explains Mirkku Kullberg, Managing Director of Artek.

Artmodul has recently been paying a great deal of attention to the look of its products and will be presenting a new world of colour at the January trade fair. Whilst its furniture systems continue to be dominated by subtle hues, contrasting bright shades will be adding a vivacious touch. And the basic idea behind Artmodul’s modular furniture ranges is also totally in line with the prevailing trend towards individuality. The imm cologne is at the very top of the Swiss firm’s list of priorities: “For us, the imm cologne is one of the most important shows of all. This is where trends are born and international contacts are made. We’re very much looking forward to the next imm cologne in 2012,” says Markus Biland, co-proprietor and board member of Artmodul.

Bocci, who will be making a vibrant appearance in Cologne with, amongst other things, its new “28″ lighting collection, is hoping for good-quality visitors. Besides a high level of interest at its own booth, the Canadian firm would also like an environment that features plenty of new products staged in an effective and exciting way, thus ensuring that Hall 11 is once again a major attraction. Year after year, Bocci travels to the imm cologne with the very highest expectations.

Steamed oak will be the major theme at Ethnicraft’s booth. A new collection with this finish is intended to delight both existing and future customers, for the look of the wood bears a strong resemblance to the interesting appearance of tropical woods. The manufacturer believes there is currently a huge demand for real wood in all its many forms. “For us, the imm cologne is an international and professional trade fair – just the way it ought to be. A meeting point for people with a proper understanding of the furniture industry,” says Tom Geluykens, sales director at Ethnicraft.

Arno Ruijzenaars, CEO of Flux Furniture, is equally enthusiastic: “The best moment for showing the world what we’ve designed and developed is the imm cologne. A place where trends and business meet.” For Flux, its presence at the fair will hinge on the presentation of “Flux Junior”, an identical mini-edition of its highly successful “Flux Chair”. As the name suggests, the product is a child’s chair with the same look as the original design developed by Delft University of Technology.

Fraubrunnen looks set to celebrate its anniversary year 2012 in style. The company has exhibited at the imm cologne several times, and the Swiss furniture makers have felt very much home in Hall 11since 2010. The focus in January will be on individual further developments of the Art collections and, in particular, several innovations in honour of the anniversary. Fraubrunnen hopes its presence at the trade fair will establish and extend its prominence as a brand-name manufacturer at international level and help it exploit the available market potential to the full. “For us, the imm cologne is an important platform for cultivating existing contacts and making new ones, as well as for building up our market position,” explains Head of Marketing & Sales and board member Silvia Bürki. “Especially in our centenary year, we want to take advantage of Cologne as a central international meeting point and present our innovations in an environment dominated by renowned visitors.”

Although Christmas will only just be over by the time the imm cologne 2012 gets underway, first-time exhibitor Keilbach is planning to stage a big entrance for a Christmas tree stand which, it says, is nothing short of revolutionary. Up until now, Keilbach has been active at other trade fair venues where the focus was on its accessories division. With its attendance at the Cologne furniture fair, the Dörzbach company wants to highlight its competency for small items of furniture. “The entire team is looking forward to this trade fair and we’ve been enthusiastically developing some new products that will be on show in Cologne for the very first time. We borrowed our trade fair motto from Bertolt Brecht: ‘Change the world – it needs it’,” says designer and company founder Peter Keilbach.

Being embedded in an environment where high-end design is an overriding principle that governs not just the products on show but the booth design and visitor milieu as well – that is what Kymo expects from the imm cologne. “For Kymo, the imm cologne continues to be the most important exhibition platform of all. It gives us the opportunity to present ourselves in an absolutely top-level setting which, thanks to the combination of internationality and the level-headedness so typical of the Rhineland, is unique throughout Europe. On top of that, we feel extremely comfortable at the trade fair, it’s always a bit like a homecoming,” says Ann Zuber, PR manager at Kymo. The product Kymo is planning to cause a sensation with is old and yet totally new: a reinvention of the classic oriental carpet with 21st-century means.

Müller Möbelwerkstätten from Bockhorn was extremely satisfied with how the 2011 trade fair went and the post-show business it generated. Having taken part in the “Passagen” programme in previous years, the North German producer is in a good position to draw comparisons – and has decided in favour of a presence at the trade fair. Müller’s new ultra-flat bureau “Flatmate” will be making its debut at the fair. When closed, it has a footprint of just 0.09 square metres – and is thus probably one of the smallest fully equipped bureaus in the world. Without making itself conspicuous, it can turn long corridors in old apartments into a home office in the blink of an eye. The manufacturer is thus totally in line with what it regards as the dominant trend: furniture that permits both conventional and totally new types of usage and features integrated lighting and technology. “We’re looking forward to the coming furniture fair in Cologne because it’s the ideal platform for entering into a dialogue with customers, designers, the press and competitors. For us, the Cologne furniture fair is the top event of the year,” explains Jochen Müller, managing director of Müller Möbelwerkstätten GmbH.

Paschen wants to use the trade fair to stage both its products and the company to perfection. The focus will be on a special edition to mark the 25th anniversary of Paschen Libraries and on a spectacularly sized specimen of the “Vision One” model. With regard to visitors, the traditional manufacturer from Wadersloh is hoping for an interested, exclusive public that is curious and open-minded about all things new and attaches importance to quality and first-class workmanship. “As the world’s leading interior design fair, the imm is a highlight for us every year and accompanies us continually during the subsequent months. We followed the recent upswing with the greatest of pleasure and are delighted that the event is finding its way back to such attractiveness and strength. A world-class fair in Germany is an absolute necessity for a successful market presence. Internationally, the fair certainly still has upward potential,” says Christian Teutsch, head of sales at Paschen.

Riva 1920 is also planning to present a whole series of new products to visitors in Cologne for the first time. They include solid wood tables, TV wall units and beds. The Cantù-based Italian firm has very high hopes of its new designer collection, which is made of special types of wood such as “Kauri Millenarian” and “Briccole Venezia”. The latter, for instance, originates from the Venetian Lagoon and is used in recycled form. Riva 1920 sees Hall 11 as one of the most important locations at the entire fair during the imm cologne. “We’re avowed fans of the trade fair and it’s the most important event for us in terms of keeping in touch with our European customers,” explains Simone Belotti, export manager at Riva 1920.

For Ronald Schmitt, sustainability is one of the most important themes of all. Accordingly, the firm’s new collection features a “Linoleum” tabletop finish that is 100 percent natural. For the family-run company, the imm cologne is an important choice of location for the coming year. What the Eberbach-based firm appreciates about Hall 11 is the concentration of manufacturers with the same customer structure. Because manufacturers from a wide variety of market segments also present themselves in the immediate vicinity, “the customer finds a highly comprehensive range of goods from the individual product groups,” says the high-end producer.

Another exhibitor that is totally in line with the concept behind the pure segment is Tonon Italia. Its highlights at the coming fair will be material interpretations by designer team Maly Hoffmann Kahleyss and Martin Ballendat – in particular, a modern wooden chair designed by the trio and a chair made of the new material “Freeform Advance” by Ballendat. “For us and our customers, the furniture fair in Cologne is a genuine must,” confirms the Manzano-based company. It is certainly no coincidence that the Italian firm has been exhibiting at the imm cologne without interruption for 32 years.

In the run-up to the imm cologne, there are three things Weishäupl Möbelwerkstätten is hoping for from the January event: lively interest from the press, lots of good talks with customers and a positive basic mood during the fair. As one of the few outdoor specialists exhibiting at the event, the Stephanskirchen company is in optimistic mood as it looks forward to the fair and will be showing a whole series of new products that are certain to delight visitors. They include the “Chill” and “Aikana” series in the lounging/chilling segment, the chairs “Wipp”, “Rion” and “Strip” and some interesting carpets for both outdoor and indoor use.

There is a palpable sense of enthusiasm amongst almost all the companies involved – not only for the pure segment but for the entire furniture fair as well. According to Ton from the Czech Republic, for instance, or Punkalive from Finland, “The imm cologne is THE platform for Northern Europe when it comes to furniture and design.” Schramm, the bed systems specialists from Winnweiler, and Italian designer furniture producer Zeus Noto, are both hoping for an international visitor clientele with a keen interest in the products on show and prospective purchases. Even at this early point, one thing is certain: the exhibitors have spared neither effort nor expense and have been making optimal use of the time since the last imm cologne in January 2011 to perfect their new developments. They are thus making a very successful contribution towards generating sales appeal and getting the business year 2012 off to an excellent start.

imm cologne + LivingInteriors
16th to 22nd January 2012
9.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.
Public Days: Friday 20th to Sunday 22nd January 2012

The exhibitors will be coming to Cologne from no fewer than 54 countries all over the world – yet a further increase of 18 percent in the international structure of the providers as compared to the previous event in 2011. Especially regarding Italy this development is satisfying: In comparison to 36 exhibitors in 2011 there are now 74 participants. In 2012 companies from the Ukraine, the Philippines, Luxemburg, Latvia, Lichtenstein and Chile will be attending the trade fair for the first time. Altogether imm cologne has registered a clear increase in exhibitors around seven percent (in comparison to imm cologne 2011 without LivingKitchen). The current forecast as to the amount of exhibition space that will ultimately be occupied amounts to a plus of five percent as compared to 2011.

prime
Exhibitors in the prime segment will include Decker, Hartmann, Niehoff, Paidi, Selva, Trüggelmann, Venjakob and Wöstmann.

comfort
The companies exhibiting in the comfort segment will include Candy/Carina, Elastoform, Ewald Schillig, fm Munzer, Frommholz, Furninova, Gepade, Himolla, HTL, Koinor, Kuka, Laauser, Natuzzi, Ponsel, Willi Schiillig and the Steinhoff Group.

smart
Smart will feature companies like Actona, Arte M, CS Schmal, Gautier, Inter Link, Kare Design, Nolte Möbel, Parisot, Tvilum, Wiemann Möbel and Welle Möbel.

sleep
Bookings for the sleep segment have been received from Auping, Badenia, Breckle, Carpe Diem, Dunlopillo, Fan, Oschmann, Rummel and Schlaraffia.

pure
In the pure segment, the firms showcasing their products will include B&B Italia, Classicon, Cor/Interlübke, Cassina, De Sede, Driade, Flexform, Kartell, Leolux, Living Divani, MDF, Poliform, Poltrona Frau, Porro, Riva, Ligne Roset, Walter Knoll and WK Möbel.

pure village
Pure Village is the concept of choice for Burgbad, Carpet Concept, Creation Baumann, E15, Fatboy, Gandia Blasco, Grohe, Interstuhl, Kaldewei, Loewe, Lehni, Parador, Thonet and Wogg.

LivingInteriors
And those who have opted for the new LivingInteriors format include Otto Golze & Söhne, Marburger Tapetenfabrik, Erfurt & Sohn, A.S. Creation, Giessmein Walkwaren, Gira Giersiepen, Spartherm Feuerungstechnik, Sitab, Caparol Farben & Lacke, Cotto d’Este, Bauwerk Parkett, Kährs Parkett, Future Bizz, Dornbracht, Geberit, Hansgrohe and Revox.

“It’s also extremely gratifying that, year after year, we always manage to convince new and interesting exhibitors to take part in our trade fair,” says Haubold. “In Hall 7, the newcomers will be Mäusbacher, IMS Living, Duo Collection and A. Brito, and there will be four new faces in Hall 8 as well: Dorel, Roba Baumann, Flexa4Dreams and De Eekhoorn. We’ve taken first-time bookings for Hall 9 from Dorelan, PerDormire and Colunex, and B&B Italia, Porro and Artek will be making their debut in the pure segment.”

Further information:
www.imm-cologne.com

imm cologne + LivingInteriors
16th to 22nd January 2012
9.00 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Public Days: Friday, 20th to Sunday, 22nd January 2012

Photo: Bauholz design

The Nordic maritime look with its clear but cosy shapes is particularly popular for outdoor furniture right now. And in view of Scandinavia’s coastal climate, it’s perfectly acceptable for the tables and chairs to look a little rough. When it comes to patterns, stripes and various shades of blue are popular. At the same time, romanticism is experiencing a renaissance: a growing number of manufacturers are going for a dreamy look. The trend is dominated by playful creations and gently flowing forms, along with combinations of charming details, floral designs and old-style patterns. The City Style is also featuring on the outdoor stage as a countertrend to the romantic look and favours flamboyant, design-oriented shapes. Loungers and couches are characterised by a puristic straightforwardness and elegance and many of the material combinations include stainless steel. When it comes to colours, white, sand and brown shades will continue to dominate in 2011/12. And green is a must. The trend colour of the last fashion season is now conquering balconies and patios too, with manufacturers banking on bright shades like lime and apple green.

All this was on show at the spoga+gafa garden and leisure show at Cologne Exhibition Centre from 04. – 06.09.2011. The announcement that the leading garden trade fair would be returning to a yearly cycle proved a complete success. “The presence of top-notch international decision-makers from all channels is convincing evidence that spoga+gafa is the leading international forum for the garden and leisure market,” says a satisfied Metin Ergül, Vice President at Koelnmesse GmbH.

This success is borne out by the figures: 1,774 providers from 57 countries were represented at the garden show – an overall increase of more than 50 percent as compared to 2009. The number of visitors rose by more than 40 percent to 36,300 trade visitors from 106 countries. 59 percent of visitors and 81 percent of exhibitors came from abroad. “The abundance of innovations and excellent presentations by numerous top brands from all segments contributed a great deal to the high level of quality the trade fair presented,” adds Ergül. “Time to grow turned out to be a very appropriate motto for this excellent fair.”

The next spoga+gafa will take place in Cologne from 02. – 04. September 2012.

imm cologne will be live streaming the press conference and presentation of the project “Das Haus – Interiors on Stage” by Nipa Doshi and Jonathan Levien on September 22nd, 2011 at 11.00 a.m. (London Time). The live stream can be viewed free of charge and will be available after the press conference for you to watch.

We will post the URL of the live stream shortly – feel free to follow us on Twitter or Facebook, where we will post the adress of the stream for you, too.

Photo: Koelnmesse International GmbH

Prized by the more than four million visitors during the 184 days of the EXPO 2010, the German Pavilion is now officially “prized” by the experts too. An international  commission made up of representatives of the Bureau International des Expositions (B.I.E.), which awards the EXPOs, plus well-known architects and museum  directors was so impressed by the concept that it recommended the Chinese organising body, the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, bestow it with first prize in the “Theme Development” category. The pavilion, a demanding project, was organised and run by Koelnmesse International GmbH.

“The years of preparation and the attention to detail have paid off. What a way to finish! We’re over the moon“, said a delighted Dietmar Schmitz, the German Pavilion’s Commissioner General from the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, as he picked up the award. “I should like especially to thank the German Pavilion team, the masterminds behind the pavilion and everyone who brought it to life over the past six months as the face of the German Pavilion and ambassadors for Germany.” The exhibition was designed by Stuttgart-based agency Milla und Partner, the architecture was the work of Schmidhuber + Kaindl in Munich and the pavilion was built by Nussli (Germany).

The german EXPO pavilion was organised and run by Koelnmesse International GmbH. The Federal Ministry for Economics and Technology had commissioned the Cologne-based company back in February 2007 to prepare and run the pavilion. “I’m happy the German Pavilion is such a success and the diversity it offers is so popular”, said Dirk van der Coelen, Managing Director of Koelnmesse International GmbH, after the award ceremony in Shanghai. “We set ourselves an ambitious goal – to continue the success of past German Pavilions. And the fact we managed to do just that at the largest ever world exhibition fills us with pride.”

“Better City, Better Life” – balancity reflects EXPO theme
The jury’s decision was based on how well balancity implemented the EXPO theme of “Better City, Better Life”, a theme that called on the participants to spotlight urbanisation issues the world will face in the future. The German Pavilion’s message was that a city is a good place to live if it provides a balance between modernisation and preservation, innovation and tradition, the city and the countryside, community and the individual and work and leisure. The people behind balancity evidently conveyed that message in such a convincing manner that the jury chose to give the “Golden Award” in the “Theme Development” category to the German Pavilion.

EXPO Oscar, red dot and “Exhibitor” trophies – the list goes on and on
The temporary building with its interactive exhibition has received several awards already. 2,000 readers of the “Shanghai Morning Post” decided the German Pavilion deserved an EXPO Oscar for “Interpretation of the EXPO theme” and “Presentation of high tech”. The American “Exhibitor” journal, one of America’s major trade-fair and exhibition papers, awarded trophies in the “Best Pavilion” and “Best Interactivity” categories to balancity. Germany was the only participant to receive two trophies! And back in August, the German Pavilion received a red dot award for its communication design in the “Event Design” category. The German red dot is considered one of the most prestigious international design prizes.

“The exhibitors have used their innovativeness to brave the crisis and been rewarded by doing good business,” says Koelnmesse’s CEO Gerald Böse. “Cologne is the business forum for the industry,” concludes the head of the trade fair company. The positive mood that prevailed in the halls for the entire duration of the fair was also emphasised by Dirk-Uwe Klaas: “This was by far the most successful furniture show for years. In the midst of the crisis, trade visitors and end consumers alike have given us impressive confirmation that the imm cologne has regained its former strength,” says the chief executive of the Association of the German Furniture Industry (Verband der Deutschen Möbelindustrie, VDM). As announced last Friday, Koelnmesse and the VDM as non-material sponsor of the imm cologne have extended their contract long-term to continue this successful collaboration beyond the scope of the imm cologne 2010.

The conditions under which the imm cologne 2010 took place could hardly have been better. The number of exhibitors grew by around one percent to 1,053 companies, with an impressive seven percent increase in the number of domestic firms taking part. Foreign companies accounted for 58 percent of exhibitors, the providers came from 51 countries. “That makes the imm cologne one of the few consumer goods shows in the world that has managed to remain extremely stable in spite of the trend,” says Gerald Böse.

This pleasing result is also reflected in the number of visitors. In contrast to last year, the number of trade visitors from abroad increased again (+ 5.7 percent). The show reported particularly pleasing figures for North America (+ 23 percent) and Eastern Europe (+ 18 percent), two regions of vital importance for the export trade. Strong gains were also achieved in Asia and South America. The number of trade visitors from within Germany remained stable after a strong increase in the previous year. “I see this result as proof that the various activities we have undertaken to attract national and international visitors, such as our VIP packages, have been successful,” says Udo Traeger, head of Koelnmesse’s Furniture, Interior Design and Textiles division.

An excellent fair
Satisfied exhibitors, good business and countless innovations combined to create an extremely good atmosphere. “This year’s imm cologne exuded a sense of optimism. The customers were in a cheerful, relaxed mood. And the fair itself is on a very good course – starting with the compactly planned and very full Hall 11, the great new pure village format for smaller providers, all the way to the new opening times from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.,” concludes Leo Lübke, CEO of interlübke and COR Sitzmöbel. “All in all, thanks to the short distances, the central location of the exhibition centre and the good organisation, the imm cologne is the working fair for professionals” adds Lübke. Exhibitors were delighted at the rush of visitors and well-filled stands too. The good international response also contributed to the excellent mood, as did the strong order intake. “We’re very satisfied with the frequency of the purchasing associations at our stand. We were able to take a lot of orders and got the impression there’s been an increase in the number of international visitors. On top of that, we’re expecting very good post-fair business,” says Giovanni Rossi, marketing consultant at Maronese International. All in all, around 95 percent of exhibitors were satisfied with the imm cologne, more than 80 percent are already saying they’ll be coming back to Cologne.

Satisfied visitors
It wasn’t only the exhibitors who were thoroughly pleased with the event. Visitors were more than satisfied with the imm cologne as well. According to the visitor survey, around 80 percent were very satisfied or satisfied with how they had achieved their goals. As a result of this consistently positive assessment of the event, more than 80 percent of the visitors questioned would like to attend the imm cologne again in 2011.

pure village
With pure village, the imm cologne implemented a totally new exhibition concept that brought together heterogeneous product categories relating to all aspects of interior lifestyle. Renowned design brands from the furniture, fabrics, lighting and bathroom segments presented both exclusive individual design items and entire concepts for creative interiors. Right from the first day of the fair, the good visitor levels at pure village helped create an extremely positive atmosphere. “I’m delighted that pure village, which was developed by Dutch designer Dick Spierenburg, met with such a good response right from the start. The good results show that the time was ripe for a modern trade fair format like this. Together, we managed to create an atmosphere that inspired the visitors,” says a pleased Udo Traeger.

The kitchen returns to Cologne in 2011
Parallel to the imm cologne, the cathedral city will be playing host to the LivingKitchen® fair for the first time next year. The international kitchen trade fair will take place as an independent event every two years. It will have three Public Days and aims to bring together renowned national and international exhibitors from the entire kitchen industry. LivingKitchen® won’t just be showcasing kitchen furniture and fitted appliances but sinks, fittings, kitchen worktops and accessories, lighting and kitchen-related services as well. A year before the fair opens its doors, around 30 leading companies have already registered to take part.

Trends
- The megacolour white for upholstery fabrics and storage furniture surfaces, with e.g. aubergine shades for dignified accentuation. New additions this year: covering fabrics in matt black and blue.
- Large-format dining tables and dining room armchairs you can sit on comfortably for a long time.
- Adjustable upholstered furniture with lots of additional functions
- Dark wood, preferably combined with glass and stainless steel
- LED lighting technology in cabinets and shelving units
- The “kitchen – dining room – living area” as a spatial unit, now joined by private spa oases in which the bedroom and bathroom merge into a single unit.
- Greenline furniture.

The next imm cologne will take place from 18th – 23rd January 2011.

The imm cologne in figures:
1,053 companies from 51 countries took part in the imm cologne 2010. That includes 408 exhibitors and 31 additionally represented companies from Germany as well as 586 exhibitors and 28 additionally represented companies from abroad. Foreign companies accounted for 58% of exhibitors.*

* All figures are calculated according to the guidelines of the Society for the Voluntary Control of Fair and Exhibition Statistics (Gesellschaft zur Freiwilligen Kontrolle von Messe- und Ausstellungszahlen, FKM).

Once again in 2010 the imm cologne will publish the “hit guide”, a special offer for the member of the international press. In its handy pocket size and with lots of color illustrations and short product descriptions, it provides an overview of all the big and small highlights at the fair.

The guide is compiled and selected by the “hit scouts” who based their selection on all the new products and innovations registered by the exhibitors in the run-up to the event.

For journalists: the hit guide will be available as print version.

hit guide 2010 – feel free to download it now!
You can download the latest hit guide here (pdf-file, 4 MB):
hit guide 2010, Part 1
hit guide 2010, Part 2