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.
’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
