Construction work in major cities is by no means unusual. Roads are repaired, squares remodelled and new apartment blocks erected. It’s no different in Cologne. But even though the cathedral city isn’t exactly lacking in curiosities, building an entire village in its midst certainly qualifies as a special event.
And yet the construction noise doesn’t bother a single resident; nor does the traffic have to be diverted. Because Pure Village, the township that will be built here in just a few weeks, will be constructed in the middle of Cologne Exhibition Centre, beneath the roof of Hall 3. Which explains why no doors will be hung and the big windows will remain unglazed – nobody is planning to move in permanently. On the other hand, there’s no need for visitors to this idyllic spot to do without a street café, ample entertainment, the services of a “doctor” or childcare facilities. Pure Village is the artificial but far from virtual venue where the design-savvy world will be gathering from 19th to 24th January 2010.
Every autumn, the 
Giulio Ridolfo is no designer. But his creative contribution to the world of interior design is highly treasured. The graduate in fashion design, who once worked for Gianfranco Ferré and Tods & Hogan, is currently said to be the most sought-after career changer in the field of textile design.
Once a year, Cologne becomes a talking-point as the design capital of Germany. During the international furniture and interior design fair 
