imm cologne news

Warm shades of red, modernised classic forms and colourful ensembles of solid wood, plastic, leather and metal are soon to enter into the living rooms of fashion-conscious interior design fans. This is the prophecy of the Trend Board at imm cologne, which, from 19 to 25 January 2009, will become the Mecca of the international furnishing world.

Five famous creative individuals – Eero Koivisto from Sweden, Markus Fairs from England, Arik Lévy from Israel, Stephen Burks from the USA and Giulio Ridolfo from Italy – have carried out research into how interior trends will look in 2009 on behalf of the furniture trade fair from Cologne. They were able to sift out four general directions in terms of tastes. An employee from the Ludwigsburg-based furnishing store Uhl Schöner Leben, which is always keen to promote innovation, commented on them for imm cologne.

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One of the highlights of the imm cologne 2009 is Stephen Burks’ Composite Lounge in hall 11. The ecological and artisanal aspects of his work are especially important for the famous designer from New York.

Burks’ latest project, the Composite Lounge, raises the question if the enormous abundance of industrially produced mass furniture is compatible with the demands of sustainable economic activities. The lounge, being almost a huge installation, reminds of a street scene.

Burks combines urban elements such as street lamps and huge dumpsters with a motley collection of piled up new sofas and seats held together by gaudy straps.

What interior trends will be dominant in 2009? Answers are provided by the trend forum “informed by cologne”.

In various lectures on color & light, form, function, pattern and material, participants can take a glance at the future of interior design. Moreover, an exhibition on the fair’s Boulevard introduces the four megatrends:

· Extra Much: Ardor and extremes are popular here. Searching for limits with regard to materials, shapes and construction is a dominant feature.

· Near and Far: Nature with its complex and interrelated macro- and microstructure acts as ideal example. Seemingly opposite features are combined.

· Tepee Culture: The nomad roots of mankind and being close to nature are central features. Direct, unmediated experiences, of which cracks and scratches give evidence, are highly valued.

· Re-Run Time: Matters of course are more important than originality. Well-known objects are re-valued. Traditional shapes are refined by reducing them to their essence so that the basic idea shines through again.

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In this time of major change, the Trendboard at the imm cologne compiles stunning examples of designers’ attempts to create a space which helps people reconnect with the world. These latest trends in interior design are featured in the book “Interior Trends 2009″.

According to the trend analysis conducted by the imm cologne Trendboard, the realities of the world around us are effectively reflected in both people and the latest designs. We are increasingly aware of the perceived and real changes in our lives, which directly impact our lifestyles and home furnishings.

Today’s design expresses social transformations, the shifting balance of nature, changes in our day-to-day lives and our sense of personal responsibility. People are looking at old, familiar things in new ways – and combining them to create innovative designs. Values are being challenged and new rules for aesthetics established.

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