Ambiente 2015 celebrates the USA among its offerings and new launches

Seashore Galore display
This year, the USA joined Ambiente as international guest of honor, following on from last year’s Japanese edition. Designer Scott Henderson curated the Seashore Galore display
(Image credit: Scott Henderson)

In the middle of a busy fair season, Ambiente always manages to gather a significant crowd of designers, manufacturers and companies under the halls of Frankfurt’s Messe. The fair’s strength lies in the way it manages to combine large producers with smaller projects, always including a well-edited selection of young designers united under the vast ‘consumer goods’ umbrella.

This year, the USA joined Ambiente as international guest of honor, following on from last year’s Japanese edition. Designer Scott Henderson curated the Seashore Galore display, an installation that played with oversized beach icons over a serene seafront background. ‘I was going for a universally positive expression that would put a smile on people's faces,’ explains the designer. Another American contribution included Roll & Hill founder Jason Miller’s café space in one of the exhibition halls, a discreet ‘lifespace’ of contrasting volumes.

Amongst the news on display was the well-curated Olio range by Barber Osgerby for Royal Doulton, a capsule collection that played with matte and shiny surfaces and subtle shapes and colours. Ionna Vautrin’s Clover lights for Lexon and Jonas Wagell’s glassware for WMF provided two cleverly-executed design highlights. Stelton’s Stockholm Aquatic collection by Bernadotte & Kylberg presented a new interpretation of Scandinavian design, with hand-painted porcelain in white and blue.

The fair also widened its scope with the exhibition of Basket Case, a charitable project involving design and craftsmanship from Botswana. Designers Matali Crasset and Sebastian Herkner traveled to the African country to Bulawayo basket- making community of women in Zimbabwe.

Another highlight was Sebastian Bergne’s fourth edition of the 'Solutions' exhibition, this year focusing on kitchenware and creating a bridge between good design and intelligent function that very much represents the fair’s core.

Oversized beach

The installation that played with oversized beach icons over a serene seafront background

(Image credit: Press)

Café space

Roll & Hill founder Jason Miller’s café space in one of the exhibition halls provided a discreet ‘lifespace’ of contrasting volumes

(Image credit: Press)

A capsule collection

Amongst the news on display was the well-curated Olio range by Barber Osgerby for Royal Doulton, a capsule collection that played with matte and shiny surfaces and subtle shapes

(Image credit: Press)

Colours in glass

German designer Hannah Krüger is one of the new talents on show. Her Joseph Hoffman-inspired stacked design was delivered in a number of finishes and colours in glass

(Image credit: Press)

The Austrian architect's shapes

The Austrian architect's shapes guided the designer's aesthetic research

(Image credit: Press)

Jonas Wagell’s glassware

Jonas Wagell’s glassware for WMF presented a simple design solution for the German brand

(Image credit: Press)

The exhibition of Basket Case

The fair also widened its scope with the exhibition of Basket Case, a charitable project involving design and craftsmanship from Botswana. Designers Matali Crasset (whose work is pictured here) and Sebastian Herkner traveled to the African country to Bulawayo basket- making community of women in Zimbabwe

(Image credit: Press)

Sketches of Basket

Sketches of Crasset's work for the Basket Case project

(Image credit: Press)

Basket Case

Sebastian Herkner's work for Basket Case

(Image credit: Press)

The impressive monochromatic stand

The impressive monochromatic stand of German porcelain manufacturer 1400 Mitterteich

(Image credit: Press)

Contemporary design and playful details

Chinese designer Mario Tzai's work plays with familiar shapes in a combination of contemporary design and playful details

(Image credit: Press)

Hand-painted porcelain in white and blue

Stelton’s Stockholm Aquatic collection by Bernadotte & Kylberg presented a new interpretation of the Scandinavian aesthetic, with hand-painted porcelain in white and blue

(Image credit: Press)

Indoor plant growing

A few exhibitors showed a concern for indoor plant growing, including Finnish company Plantui's hydroponic garden machines...

(Image credit: Press)

Indoor Plants

...and Japanese Akarina

(Image credit: Press)

The finest scissors

Traditional Japanese craft was still strongly represented after last year's Japanese partnership with the fair. The Banshu Hamono brand connects traditional craftsmen from the eponymous region, producing the finest scissors available

(Image credit: Press)

Garden tools

Blomus' sleek garden tools offering

(Image credit: Press)

The fair stand

The fair stand for Menu was set up like a maze built from the Swedish brand's signature shelving units

(Image credit: Press)

Singular Concept

Jewellery that doubles as sculptures by Singular Concept, part of the Taiwanese design pavilion at the fair

(Image credit: Press)

Traditional craftsmanship

Hailing from Belgium, Universopositivo presented simple furniture that combines traditional craftsmanship with well-considered design details

(Image credit: Press)

Tea caddies

Alexander Spenst was also part of the new talent roster for this year. His collection of tea caddies played with shapes and colours

(Image credit: Press)

Rosa Bertoli was born in Udine, Italy, and now lives in London. Since 2014, she has been the Design Editor of Wallpaper*, where she oversees design content for the print and online editions, as well as special editorial projects. Through her role at Wallpaper*, she has written extensively about all areas of design. Rosa has been speaker and moderator for various design talks and conferences including London Craft Week, Maison & Objet, The Italian Cultural Institute (London), Clippings, Zaha Hadid Design, Kartell and Frieze Art Fair. Rosa has been on judging panels for the Chart Architecture Award, the Dutch Design Awards and the DesignGuild Marks. She has written for numerous English and Italian language publications, and worked as a content and communication consultant for fashion and design brands.