Review of International furniture and interiors fair of cologne 2014
IMM is one of the most popular exhibitions in Germany for home supplies. Many professionals around the world will pass by and make decisions about future projects. The diversity, quality and internationalism you will experience at the Imm cologne are second to none. Year after year, you can count on the imm cologne to present both market-ready new launches and the furnishing trends that will be shaping the future.
The imm cologne isn’t just the very first interior design show of the year, it’s the first choice for renowned international exhibitors and decision-making professional visitors from all over the world as well. The Imm cologne showcases inspiring interior design ideas for trendsetters and provides markets with new impetus. And the major innovation drivers, market leaders and brands will be there.
In IMM cologne 2014 “das haus”, a home interior that while not only expressing a sense of practicality and forward thinking, should be authentic in its vision. Louise campbell from denmark envisions a house with two sides. A space that creates harmony between its inhabitants offering an open, sprawling interior for ‘him and her, for slow and fast, soft and hard, light and dark, color and material.
The 240 m2 construction is made from a framework of two timber-framed, prototypical homes that are positioned so that one sits half inside of the other – off-center, as if it has been pushed into the other that extends outwards. the structures are separated through color – the posts of the inner construction have been painted white, while those of the external one are painted in light grey; their individual arrangements mirrored onto the floor through lines that correspond in color.
At its heart features a 16-meter-wide piece of furniture for lounging and sleeping on; while a bathtub stands in the middle of the living area and the kitchen at the far end of this space. none of the zones are concretely defined, with the organization of furniture and accessories implying particular rooms of the home instead. the theme of openness is further expressed through the exclusion of walls which are replaced by soft textiles that can be easily rolled up or down depending on the amount of transparency or privacy one desires.
A major highlight of campbell’s plan is a wall that features 573 tools that visually establishes the ‘kitchen’ and ‘workshop’. this area is equipped with a large table for the various activities that would be conducted here: hammering, mixing, painting, sawing, sewing and stirring; and while technology is noted only because of its absence, the house is well furnished with all of the instruments required for conceiving various types of handicrafts.
Imm cologne is the world’s leading platform for new ideas, for innovations and trends and for young, creative, new design. This is where business momentum for the entire industry is generated and trending topics for the coming months take shape.
Innovation and trends will be presented not just at the exhibitors’ stands but also showcased at a series of exciting and inspiring events. One of the most spectacular is sure to be “Das Haus – Interiors on Stage”, in which life in the house of the future is imagined, designed and realised by a renowned international designer.
Imm provides comprehensive, concise and clearly structured overview of the international world of interior design. From living rooms to bathrooms, from entry-level to high-end. With these changes, exhibitors will be able to generate high-quality contacts among their target groups and inform visitors efficiently.
Cologne is also an opportunity to present new tools dedicated to retail entrepreneurs, including the new retail gallery concept, an innovative in-store communicationand the 3D configurator. The new retail concept is one of the cornerstones of the Partnership Program Editions and focuses on the modularity of the exhibition, which allows you to adapt the format to the real needs of space and business.
The emerging trends and conceptual developments showcased here have a palpable influence on the design market across the world. imm cologne is increasingly establishing itself as an international platform for both business and cutting-edge design – a rare and highly attractive combination that is set to be highly influential in the long run.
Exhibitors will be offered the opportunity for product and market tests on the final consumer. The imm cologne is considered as an indispensable communication forum, an important impetus driver and creative center of ideas. Anyone who exhibits here reaches the decision-makers of the global furniture scene.
Highlights
At the imm cologne 2014, this segment will be presenting itself as a readily accessible, visitor-friendly axis and be complemented by new design themes, bringing Pure together into a single unit not just in terms of content but in terms of space as well.
Hall 11 is and will remain the traditional heart of Pure. With space spread over three levels and its community of like-minded companies, Hall 11 provides the classic setting for large-scale brand presentations and clusters together innovations, unusual product displays and lifestyle. In future too, it will serve as the starting point and backbone of the Cologne design trail.
Pure Edition is the imm cologne’s format for curators of visionary furniture and interior design concepts in Hall 3.2. The space is lined with dark surfaces like a stage and subdivided into booths measuring 50-150 sqm by an open trade fair architecture that can be individually designed by the exhibitors – a showcase for design installations that point the way ahead. Featured Editions – fourteen selected installations created for the exhibitors by designers or architects (e.g. Front Design, Studio Hannes Wettstein, Fabio Novembre etc.) are a special highlight of Pure Editions and underline the gallery-like character of this hall.
In Hall 2.2, the democratic design platform for established and up-and-coming brands and designers features an innovative mix of product ranges that cover the entire spectrum of interior design. The consistent architecture of Pure Village was inspired by urban structures and, together with design events and supporting programmes like “Das Haus” and “The Stage”, gives rise to an exceptionally lively “neighbourhood”.
In 2014 too, the imm cologne’s lecture forum “The Stage” will give visitors to the international furnishing show an overview of the latest trend developments. Visitors can look forward to lectures from a broad spectrum of different sectors, as well as interesting panel discussions with renowned speakers and international participants.
Pure One is a non-commercial trade fair format for the promotion of up-and-coming designers and the presentation of innovative design concepts. The imm cologne has been known for its very practice-based approach to supporting young designers for many years. In 2014, it is taking its promotional activities to a new level with the creation of Pure One, an independent, large-scale platform in the spacious new setting of Hall 1. The heart of the newly structured talent forum is Design Injection, an exhibition of experimental design projects selected by the imm cologne in which groups of designers, cooperatives, colleges and companies present their works. The participants of the D3 Contest and approx. 20 design colleges (D3 Schools) are also located in Pure One.
Since 2002, Koelnmesse has been presenting the internationally renowned award to innovative and outstandingly designed products from all areas of the furnishing sector. All companies from the interiors industry with products in the segments furniture, bathrooms, office/workplace, building fixtures and furnishings, walls/floors/ceilings, kitchen/household, lighting and textiles are eligible to enter the competition. A visit to the exhibition of award-winning products is an absolute must for anyone with an interest in design.
Exhibition Hall
Koelnmesse – Global Competence in Furniture, Interiors and Design: Koelnmesse is the world’s top trade fair organiser for the areas of furnishing, living and lifestyle. At the trade fair hub of Cologne, the leading international fair imm cologne as well as the trade fair formats of LivingKitchen, ORGATEC, spoga+gafa, interzum and Kind + Jugend rank among the internationally renowned and established industry meeting places. These fairs comprehensively represent the upholstered and case furniture segment, the kitchen industry, the office furniture sector and outdoor living as well as the innovations of the furniture supply industry.
Over the last few years, Koelnmesse has specifically added international fairs in the most important fastexpanding markets to its portfolio. These include idd Shanghai, interzum guangzhou in Guangzhou and Pueri Expo in Sao Paulo. With ambista, the online portal for the interiors business, Koelnmesse offers direct access to products, contacts, expertise and events relevant to the industry all year round.