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13. – 19.01.2014

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Interlübke publishes opinion poll: German Interiors 2012

Werner Aisslinger, Klaus-Peter Schöppner and Leo Lübke in Cologne. (photo: Koelnmesse)

Werner Aisslinger, Klaus-Peter Schöppner and Leo Lübke in Cologne. (photo: Koelnmesse)

“We feel very much at home!” could easily be the title of a recent study conducted by Emnid on behalf of interlübke. Leo Lübke, managing director of the renowned producer of top-quality furniture made in Germany, can certainly feel vindicated as far as his corporate philosophy is concerned – especially when it comes to issues like the living room as the focal point of life, quality, the design and functionality of the company’s furniture or even its distribution system.

The representative opinion survey interlübke commissioned to mark its 75th anniversary – “Germany in private – Germans’ homes and lives in 2012” – revealed that Germans like to live in light, upscale surroundings and – besides their partners – consider brochures and a personal sales consultation at the furniture store the best sources of advice. They also set great store by enduring furniture and are not particularly keen on change.

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Furnishing Cologne – part 9: New product trolleys Silver Edition by bordbar

Trolley Silver Edition by boardbar (Photo: Mirjam Fruscella / koelnmesse)

Travelling companions en route to other worlds: The service trolley has been a permanent fixture in the airplanes of this world for decades. bordbar transforms the trolleys into extraordinary, timeless pieces of furniture for a wide variety of different purposes. The form is reduced to the essentials: pure function in the tightest of spaces and in indestructible quality – this is the basis for the genuine one-offs produced by the Cologne-based company. The trolleys are available in a multitude of colours and with a multitude of functions that leave nothing to be desired. Having won a red dot product design award in 2011, bordbar will be appearing at the 2012 furniture fair with new variants (Silver Edition), new finishes and a shorter delivery time (within 48 hours).

Design: Valentin Hartmann und Stephan Boltz
www.bordbar.de
Booth: Hall 11.1 Booth C051

Furnishing Cologne – part 6: New products cocktail armchair Morph Lounge and table collection Kontur Couch by Zeitraum

Morph Lounge und Kontur Couch by Zeitraum (Photo: Mirjam Fruscella / koelnmesse)

Invitation to a stopover: Combining Zeitraum’s Morph Lounge cocktail armchair with its new Kontur Couch table collection gives rise to little islands that merge comfort with aesthetic qualities. The chair frame is made of American walnut and covered with a mix of leather and fabric. The matching occasional table by the name of Kontur Couch consists of a lacquered steel base and a solid American walnut top. The wood is treated with premium natural oils and waxes. The Read Noon lamp with a textile shade in warm grey puts the finishing touches to the ensemble.

Design: formstelle
www.zeitraum-moebel.de
Booth: Hall 11.2 Booth K040

Bordbar lifts off with Airberlin in 2011 – Airline to use light trolleys by Cologne-based company

Bordbar are deploying their products in their natural habitat – the air. 350 trolleys designed and produced by Bordbar will take off in cooperation with Germany’s second largest airline company Airberlin over the next few weeks.

Two classic Bordbar designs will be on board of the Airberlin planes, the “airports black” and the “worldmap black”. Both types will be brand-new and like all other Bordbar trolleys meet all standards and requirements for use in the sky. “Compared to other manufacturers our models are somewhat lighter and have the distinctive Bordbar design”, managing director Stephan Boltz explains. The company was founded in 2006 and already has a global network of over 220 trade partners. Boltz’s co-founder Valentin Hartmann adds: “Five years ago we started revamping disused airplane trolleys and transforming them into design objects for private use. Now we’re making a U-turn and finding our way back into the skies. Hence, we are about to reach one of our greatest business objectives.”

Exceptional design paired with high functionality and environmental friendliness: These were the criteria which convinced Airberlin to take the Bordbar trolleys on board. “The trolley as a commodity is transformed into an exceptional design object by Bordbar while conforming to our high quality standards. The trolleys are made of a very light material and therefore positively influence fuel consumption. This way we can maintain our reputation as an environmentally conscious airline”, Thomas Ney, Chief Product Officer Airberlin explains.

The Bordbar trolleys will be travelling around the planet until the end of October. After that they will touch-down in the Cologne-based Bordbar workshop where they will be given a face-lift and furnished individually before going on sale as used collector’s items just in time for Christmas.

The human factor as the measure of all things – seating comfort made by COR

Making upholstered furniture is an art form in its own right. And when it comes to seating comfort, ergonomics are an important discipline. The right seat heights and depths and the materials used play a major role. In addition, observations on human growth development are becoming increasingly important. Consequently, in light of the fact that, on average, people are getting taller, COR raised the seat height of its sofas by two centimetres several years ago.

A host of very different needs have to be considered – not only in terms of the construction but with regard to choosing the right sofa as well. Besides weight and height, the user’s personal preferences also play a key role: some like to sit close to the ground, others like to rise above things. And whilst some prefer a soft, flat surface, others like a firmer seat with a high backrest. When it comes to the upholstery, the personal feelgood factor is crucial. “Trust your instincts,” advises COR’s head of marketing Berthold Strüve, “Try out various backrests and seats. Comparing different options is the only way to find out what kind of inner workings are right for you.” read more…

From Urban Chic to Green Design – the outdoor trends for 2012

Photo: Bauholz design

Escaping from the hectic pace of everyday life, shifting down a gear and enjoying the evenings and weekends in your very own green oasis: for a growing number of people, the garden, patio or balcony is their favourite place for getting away from it all for a while. And that means having a comfy place to sit too.

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. read more…

Defne Koz about the trends of tomorrow: “I want my future back!”

Whether it’s a vase, glass collection, ceramic tile, luminaire, car tyre, sofa or wash basin – her creations are quite simply beautiful – and sensuous. And she has the looks to match. In the course of the interview, however, multi-award winning product and interior designer Defne Koz turns out to be not just charming and sensitive but tough and uncompromising as well – especially when it comes to quality issues in design. She thinks today’s design scene is lacking in diligent research, serious design, passion and courageous visions for the future. Following her participation in this year’s Trendboard Workshop for the imm cologne, she joined us in a café on the banks of the Rhine for an extensive interview about trends and the future of interior design, the power of design traditions and the hierarchy of visions.

The design philosophy of the Turkish-born product designer who currently lives in the USA was shaped by none other than Ettore Sottsass – it was in his studio that she completed her training. With branch studios in Milan, Istanbul and her new home town of Chicago, she is making her quiet but enduring mark on a wide range of sectors, from jewellery design all the way to architectural projects. She designs furniture for Mobileffe, Liv’it and MPD, luminaires for Foscarini and Leucos, decorative objects, household goods and accessories for Alessi, Egizia, Aski, Cappellini, Guzzini, WMF or Authentics, impressive tile collections for VitrA and bathroom items for Rapsel-Nito and Merato.

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Designer’s Voice: Defne Koz about trends, quality, design and new ideas

Defne Koz. (photo: Koelnmesse)

Defne Koz, member of the imm cologne 2011 trendboard. (photo: Koelnmesse)

What was the most interesting thing about the imm cologne Trendboard Workshop for you?
It’s always interesting – and important – to reflect on what we do and share our ideas about design. I like the fact that the Trendboard initiative is able to structure our collective thoughts into something that could be useful and helpful to other designers.

The Trend Book shows what’s happening in design right now and what motivates the people who make use of this design offering. In your opinion, where are the strongest influences on product and interior design coming from?
For a designer, there are always multiple influences. Personally I’m curious about art and architecture, but I always centre my inspiration around understanding people, how they live, how their behaviour is changing. That’s the root of new aesthetics.

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imm cologne launches successful offensive with Pure Village

To go by the name, it should have been a quiet, idyllic little place amidst the hustle and bustle of the fair – but it wasn’t. There was simply too much going on. Instead, Pure Village was more like a dimly lit piazza in the evening, when travellers from all over the world throng the streets to enjoy a little inspiring window shopping or linger over an espresso on the steps in the middle of the square. And yet it wasn’t so much the visitors that were unfamiliar as the surroundings, which countered the conventional fair architecture of light-flooded, hermetically sealed stands strung along perfectly straight aisles with their own very individual, intimate brand of aesthetics and an open structure.

For many visitors, the presentation format and wide range of different categories was totally unaccustomed: Pure Village was intended to be disconcerting and change the way we see things. And the concept did just that. The effect that koelnmesse and exhibition designer Dick Spierenburg had hoped for turned out to be a positive surprise for exhibitors and the public alike. By focusing on just a few highlights in an exclusive setting, the show managed to present a concentration of sometimes fascinating interior design ideas with a density reminiscent of an art gallery. In addition, the absence of the usual pigeonholes shone the spotlight on the creative quality of the exhibits as the decisive connecting link. And the way products were staged in the context of vastly different interior design solutions gave people plenty to talk about beyond the scope of the usual trade fair routine, allowing exhibitors to make totally new contacts with interesting target groups. read more…

Johanna Grawunder interview: “Experimental design and Art Design are the drivers for the entire industry”

3johanna_grawunderThe Trendboard has been talking about the end of design icons. What does that mean for interior design?
Yes, that’s something we discussed, but I don’t think it’s as absolute as that. In my opinion, there will always be iconic design. Because whether or not an object has cult character depends on the design itself and not on whether it’s marketed using that particular label. Many things are designed without a single thought being given to their symbolism, but they manage to capture consumers’ imagination at a certain moment in time all the same, so they come to represent a certain zeitgeist. What has really changed is people’s need to fill their homes with designer items as if they were toy chests. That attitude has gone slightly out of fashion.

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