The first furniture fair of the year, IMM Cologne is often noted as a place where big brands show new finishes for existing pieces or reissue past classics, rather than unveil new collections. This year turned out to be somewhat of turning point, with a wealth of new products on display within the fair’s many halls.
A standout in this year’s new ’Living Kitchen’ section was Matteo Thun’s collaboration with Milanese brand,
http://www.riva1920.it/" target="_blank" >Riva 1920, and American Hardwood. His ’La Cucina’ installation deliberately harked back to a time before gadgets and mechanisation, when simpler kitchens centred around conviviality. ’I am not a friend of all these electrical controls,’ Thun said. ’It is against the nature of our Mediterranean approach of sitting and talking to nonna [grandma].’ Surrounding the central cooking tripod was a series of units, also constructed by Thun, using wood reclaimed from his ’Beacons’ installation at last year’s Salone del Mobile.
Elsewhere in the fair, the Design Talents show proved a big draw, with highlights including Laetitia Florin’s rubberised ’Bidum’ storage containers and Emilie Colin Garros’ ’Functional Rhythm’ table. Making a feature out of metal framework proved a persistent trend, as shown by designers like Linn Kandel and Schwab/Panther.
Ligne Roset’s contribution to the fair is also always a highlight. This year it unveiled new additions to its Ruché collection by Inga Sempé, and a ’Simplissimo’ range of seating, including a banquette and chaise longue, by Jean Nouvel, which may look firm but are actually surprisingly comfortable.
IMM Cologne 2011

’Tec’ chairs by Bao-Nghi Droste Design, on show at IMM Cologne
’Tec’ chairs by Bao-Nghi Droste Design, on show at IMM Cologne

’Axis’ lamps and ’Buddy L+S’ furniture by Bao-Nghi Droste Design
’Axis’ lamps and ’Buddy L+S’ furniture by Bao-Nghi Droste Design

’Munich’ lounge sofa by Sauerbruch Hutton for Classicon
’Munich’ lounge sofa by Sauerbruch Hutton for Classicon

’Munich’ lounge chairs by Sauerbruch Hutton for Classicon
’Munich’ lounge chairs by Sauerbruch Hutton for Classicon

’La Cucina’ installation by Matteo Thun for Riva 1920 and American Hardwood, in the ’Living Kitchen’ hall
’La Cucina’ installation by Matteo Thun for Riva 1920 and American Hardwood, in the ’Living Kitchen’ hall

Cabinets by Matteo Thun, constructed using reclaimed wood from his ’Beacons’ installation at last year’s Salone del Mobile
Cabinets by Matteo Thun, constructed using reclaimed wood from his ’Beacons’ installation at last year’s Salone del Mobile

’Twist night’ stools by Formstelle for Zeitraum
’Twist night’ stools by Formstelle for Zeitraum

’Simple button’ bed by Formstelle for Zeitraum
’Simple button’ bed by Formstelle for Zeitraum

’Bondt’ couch by Nana Gröner and Merit Frank for Zeitraum
’Bondt’ couch by Nana Gröner and Merit Frank for Zeitraum

’Tenshi’ bench by Sato Furnishings
’Tenshi’ bench by Sato Furnishings

’Alnomarecucina’ by Alno AG
’Alnomarecucina’ by Alno AG

’Wogg 37’ chair by Alfredo Häberli for Wogg
’Wogg 37’ chair by Alfredo Häberli for Wogg

’Vision’ cupboards by Pastoe
’Vision’ cupboards by Pastoe

’Tor’ side tables by Montis
’Tor’ side tables by Montis

’Cabinet’ by Dick Spierenburg for Arco
’Cabinet’ by Dick Spierenburg for Arco

’Cafe’ chair by Jonathan Prestwich for Arco
’Cafe’ chair by Jonathan Prestwich for Arco

’Pivot’ desk by Shay Alkalay of Raw Edges for Arco
’Pivot’ desk by Shay Alkalay of Raw Edges for Arco

’Linea’ chairs and table by Gabriele Pezzini and ’Albero’ coat stand by Fabio Bortolani for La Palma
’Linea’ chairs and table by Gabriele Pezzini and ’Albero’ coat stand by Fabio Bortolani for La Palma

’Wooden Carpet’ by Elisa Strozyk for Boewer
’Wooden Carpet’ by Elisa Strozyk for Boewer

Sideboard by Eric Degenhardt for Boewer
Sideboard by Eric Degenhardt for Boewer

’Namu’ side tables by Boettcher and Henssler and ’School’ end table by Konstantin Grcic for Boewer
’Namu’ side tables by Boettcher and Henssler and ’School’ end table by Konstantin Grcic for Boewer

Concrete letter box, paper box, light and house numbers by Serafini
Concrete letter box, paper box, light and house numbers by Serafini

’Vuolle’ pendant light by Doctor Design
’Vuolle’ pendant light by Doctor Design

Reissues by Tecta
Reissues by Tecta

’DS-315’ by Philippe Bestenheider for De Sede
’DS-315’ by Philippe Bestenheider for De Sede

’Scope’ seating by Büro Uwe Fischer for Cor
’Scope’ seating by Büro Uwe Fischer for Cor

’Fossa’ sofa by Aurélien Barbry
’Fossa’ sofa by Aurélien Barbry

’Entailles’ sofa by Philippe Nigro for Ligne Roset
’Entailles’ sofa by Philippe Nigro for Ligne Roset

’Ploum’ sofa by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Ligne Roset
’Ploum’ sofa by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Ligne Roset

’Ploum’ sofa by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Ligne Roset
’Ploum’ sofa by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Ligne Roset

’Ruché’ bed by Inga Sempé for Ligne Roset
’Ruché’ bed by Inga Sempé for Ligne Roset

Over in the Design Talents hall: ’Bidum’ containers by Laetitia Florin
Over in the Design Talents hall: ’Bidum’ containers by Laetitia Florin

’SP-7’ dining table by Schwab/Panther
’SP-7’ dining table by Schwab/Panther

’Functional Rhythm’ table by Emilie Colin Garros
’Functional Rhythm’ table by Emilie Colin Garros

’Brigitte’ by Enrique Illanez Schoenenberger
’Brigitte’ by Enrique Illanez Schoenenberger

More from Harry Thaler
More from Harry Thaler

’Pressed chair’ by Harry Thaler
’Pressed chair’ by Harry Thaler

’Accordion Cabinet’ by Elisa Strozyk and Sebastian Neeb
’Accordion Cabinet’ by Elisa Strozyk and Sebastian Neeb

’Sealed’ chairs by François Dumas
’Sealed’ chairs by François Dumas

’Serpentine’ chairs by Éléonore Nalet
’Serpentine’ chairs by Éléonore Nalet

’Rik’ chairs by Inon Rettig
’Rik’ chairs by Inon Rettig

’Pylône’ tables by Linn Kandel
’Pylône’ tables by Linn Kandel

’Rubber table’ with suction feet by Thomas Schnur
’Rubber table’ with suction feet by Thomas Schnur