Interieur 2012 design biennale, Kortrijk

Interior room, white walls, neutral floor, bespoke brown seating with black frame, black suspended ceiling light, white shade and lit bulb
A series of international designers were allocated their own spaces at Interieur, and asked to respond to the theme 'Future Primitives'. Pictured is a collection by Fien Muller and Hannes van Severen of Muller van Severen
(Image credit: TBC)

Interieur design biennale set a new standard for the design fair experience during its 23rd outing in Kortrijk this week, thanks to forward thinking new curator Lowie Vermeersch. The former design director at motoring brand Pininfarina not only upped the quality of the exhibitors for this by-invitation-only fair, but ensured that every aspect of the exhibition got the design treatment - from the stands themselves right down to the 'host' and 'hostess' uniforms and the numerous bars and eateries.

'We invited not only designers but also architects and artists [to participate in the fair],' said Lowie, 'so we really approached the Interieur in a multidisciplinary way.' International big guns including Studio Makkink & Bey, Troika, Nendo, Greg Lynn and Muller van Severen were asked to fill their own spaces in the exhibition, responding to the theme of 'Future Primitives'. This proved the highlight of the fair, with a particularly strong offering coming from Antwerp-based studio Muller van Severen, which produced a beautiful and refined collection of metal furniture, enhanced by a bold colour palette.

Interieur design biennale's main hub remained the Kortrijk Xpo, navigated by new zigzagging walkways-cum-installations, designed to enhance visitors' journeys through the show. But the Interieur also broke out to a new destination - a cluster of gallery spaces on Buda Island in the centre of town, made easily accessible from the Xpo thanks to a fleet of Audis.

Here, visitors could marvel at Troika's 'Arcade' lighting installation, which played with the architecture of the gallery, and Sou Fujimoto's 'In the Clouds' installation - originally conceived for Wallpaper* Handmade - among other projects. Visitors to Buda Island could also take time out in Design Marketo's Interieur Bistro, feasting on dishes made from locally ingredients while seated on furniture lent by exhibitors at the fair.

The brainchild of non-profit organisation Interieur Foundation, Interieur isn't just the preserve of design professionals. In fact, its chief aim is to educate and inspire the general public about design, which this year - thanks to Vermeersch's curatorial vision - it did in spades.

Interior room, white walls, neutral floor, black frame brown seat and connected bookcase with red shelves, black frame suspended ceiling light with white shade, with lit bulb, black frame wall light, white shade and lit bulb, positioned iver the furniture, black electrical cord attached and trailed along the floor

Furniture collection by Fien Muller and Hannes van Severen of Muller van Severen

(Image credit: TBC)

Interior room, white walls, neutral floor. black framed desk unit, blue, black, green and red shelving, white framed desk chair with green seat and red back, black frame ceiling light, white shade, lit bulb

Furniture collection by Fien Muller and Hannes van Severen of Muller van Severen

(Image credit: TBC)

Interior image, red walls, white floor, red desk, black chair, back light shining on desk area

'Buzzispace' private office booth by Alain Gilles, named Designer of the Year at Interieur

(Image credit: TBC)

Black background, three lit up display units with triangle shape top, each has a chair in the centre

Nendo's installation for the Future Primitives Project Rooms initiative

(Image credit: TBC)

White wall, large canvas print of a young male and female model wearing futuristic uniforms

Futuristic uniforms by Damien Fredriksen Raven, designed for the hosts and hostesses at the fair

(Image credit: TBC)

White floor and wall, white block platform with a pair of black lace up shoes on display

'WulfrunUnderground Creepers' were also part of the uniform

(Image credit: TBC)

White walls, white viewing platform, triangular base surface mirror with a circular top reflecting red, shadow around the object

'Surfaces Mirror' by Charlotte Dumoncel d'Argence

(Image credit: TBC)

White walls, Surfaces cabinet reflecting blue, two white frame legs

'Surfaces Cabinet' by Charlotte Dumoncel d'Argence

(Image credit: TBC)

White wall, variety of different colour and shape freestanding storage boxes

Freestanding storage boxes from Cubit-shop.com

(Image credit: TBC)

Blue floor, Grey wall and platform, soft white ribbed sofa

'Corso Blu' is a collection of design objects curated by Lowie Vermeersch, based on his personal reflection on the Future Primitives theme. These objects are presented in a blue diagonal, which cuts across the Xpo halls, creating several 'windows' evoking imaginary living spaces. Pictured is the 'Paper Cloud' sofa by Tokujin Yoshioka for Moroso

(Image credit: TBC)

Studio gallery display, grey floor, futuristic sculpture, blue backdrop divider screen, black ceiling with spotlights and lighting frames

Greg Lynn's installation for the Future Primitives Project Rooms initiative

(Image credit: TBC)

Interior room, white walls, ceiling and floor, wooden block sculptures on clear stands. light in the top corner of the room

'In the Cloud' installation by Sou Fugimoto, first conceived for Wallpaper* Handmade 2011

(Image credit: TBC)

White tiled floor, white viewing platform, small shiny tables, in green, white and black

Small tables by Anna Maria Litterio

(Image credit: TBC)

Black floor, white wall, wooden bench table with white metal frame

Bench by Tomas Alonso for Victor Hunt

(Image credit: TBC)

White floor and wall, wooden layered colour blocks, white, black and brown candle holders with blue and white candles

Candle holder collection by Catherine Lovatt

(Image credit: TBC)

White background with black circles suspended with straight black cords

'Sorry Giotto' lights by Cattelani & Smith

(Image credit: TBC)

White floor, lighting installation projecting multi-coloured lines and circles onto the floor below

'CMYX' lighting installation by Dennis Parren

(Image credit: TBC)

Black floor, white walls, the words 'Donald Judd' in red letters on the right wall, red bookcase, light wood small cabinet and a small black unit

Furniture by Donald Judd from Galerie Greta Meert

(Image credit: TBC)

Wall of bookshelves, items on the shelves, some with brown box drawers

'Infinity' bookshelves by Antonio Citterio for Flexform

(Image credit: TBC)

White wall, white block viewing platform, two concrete base lamps with metal and mirror design

'Occultation' and ' Eclipse' lamps, by OS + OOS from Galerie Gosserez

(Image credit: TBC)

White wall, white block viewing platform, metal frame lamp, white ballon shape shade lit up, blue switch, black cord

'Olab' lamp, by de Lafforest Gregoire from Galerie Gosserez

(Image credit: TBC)

White walls, white viewing platform, low wooden top table with black metal frame, bland grey speckled design table top

Low tables by Belgian interior design practice Helder

(Image credit: TBC)

White wall, wooden wall mounted desk unit with related items on the shelving

'Collectionnaire' wall mounted desk with storage by Moupila

(Image credit: TBC)

Natural wood unit shelf and background, multi-coloured glass dish centre piece

Multi-linear glass centrepiece from Klaar Prims

(Image credit: TBC)

White wall and floor, line of four stainless steel muscle pots with lids

Mussel pot in stainless steel by Nedda el Asmar for Demeyere

(Image credit: TBC)

Textured broad stripe background, in shades of brown, pink and red

'Soft Cells' by Kvadrat

(Image credit: TBC)

White wall, bespoke design mirror on the wall

'Froissé' mirror by Mattias Kiss

(Image credit: TBC)

Natural wood desk top, black desk top accessories, white wall, coloured pencils, edge of black desk chair

Desktop pieces by Sylvain Willenz for Objekten

(Image credit: TBC)

White walls, the words 'Sylvain Willenz' in black letters on the back wall, white ribbed table top, transparent block colour display pieces

'Blocks' by Sylvian Willenz for Victor Hunt

(Image credit: TBC)

White walls and floor, dark wood desk with a white, yellow and orange drawer stack, grey desk lamp, dark wood and cream soft cushion and back desk chair, bottom of a blue frame wall picture over the desk

'Nyhavn' drawer cabinet, 'Model 109' chair, 'Chieftains' armchair, from the One collection by Finn Juhl

(Image credit: TBC)

White wall and floor, wood desk unit, black mesh back design desk chair

Pastoe is celebrating its 100th birthday by showing its first ever cupboard, designed by Cees Braakman in 1952, which is still very much in keeping with its designs today. A new version inspired by the original will be launched by the brand in January 2013

(Image credit: TBC)

White walls and floor, cluster of floor standing clear block pieces, small multi-coloured rug

'Patternmaker' by St Petersburg based studio Stereooboi

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Gloss wooden floor, brick walls, grey armchair, large light display with white shades, low shelving units in grey to the right and back wall

An installation by Piet Hein Eek

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White platform and backdrop, a light wood chair and a red chair with black tubular back rest

Pair of chairs by Rejon

(Image credit: TBC)

Black background, lines of colourful glowing lights in the shape of a car at speed

Ross Lovegrove's car of the future

(Image credit: TBC)

Light natural wood floor, whitge wall, brown and cream leather chair with brown metal frame. two small silver metal crates at the right of the chair

'New York' armchair, by Sergio Bicego, and 'Leyva' cube, by Giuseppe Vigano, both for Saba Italy

(Image credit: TBC)

light wood floor, close up of a bright pink upholstered chunky armchair next to a grey chair of the same design

Bright upholstery from Tokio

(Image credit: TBC)

Grey marble style slab floor, silver wagon style outdoor trolley, black and silver wheels, wooden planter in the background

'Wagoon' outdoor trolley by Trade Winds

(Image credit: TBC)

Daytime, outdoor image, close up of large red chair, concrete floor, trees, cluster of brown chairs, street and buildings in the distance, cloudy sky

Even Kortrijk Market Square has been given the design treatment to mark the occasion of Interieur 2012

(Image credit: TBC)

ADDRESS

Design Biënnale vzw/npo
Groeningestraat 37
8500 Kortrijk
Belgium

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