Forget the rug!

“In our globalized, digitalized world people simply feel overwhelmed and have an implicit need to reassure themselves of their ‘self’, through selfies for instance, to become a brand or engage in a creative craft,” argues Peter Ippolito. This trend towards “individualization” is affecting all areas and floor coverings in particular. As one of four jury members, the Stuttgart architect and his colleague Susanne Schmidhuber from Munich have initiated the reorientation of Domotex, the world’s leading exhibition for carpets and floor coverings, in Hanover. The keynote theme “Unique Youniverse”, developed by Schmidhuber (a Munich-based office specializing in exhibition and brand architecture), is not only reflected in the highly varied trend area, but also runs through the entire exhibition. Dr. Andreas Gruchow, who sits on the Board of Deutsche Messe, the firm behind the fair, promises: “More trends. More experience. More inspiration.”

When Peter Ippolito explains that “trade fairs have to become places where we negotiate things that are important for society,” this is especially true of Domotex. As a highly specialized trade fair, whose offerings encompass carpets, parquet and laminate flooring, design floors, application and installation technology, not to mention outdoor floor coverings, it covers an important part in the overall spectrum of architecture and interior design. A highly dynamic area. The “Framing Trends” section is designed to provide an idea of the latest developments in terms of individualized products and applications: 20 “framed” rooms in Hall 9 in which designers, artists, creative young talents and manufacturers can present their very personal vision that goes beyond the pure product of “floor covering”. To this end, Susanne Schmidhuber from Schmidhuber and her fellow jurors have selected a whole series of inspiring projects developed especially for Domotex. In addition, the topic of virtual reality is approached in a playful manner, a topic Domotex and Schmidhuber are convinced that manufacturers and planners alike will need to focus much more on in future. 

The heart of Hall 9 will be a stage, a café, and the installation “Endless Uniqueness”, around which the 20 “Framing Trends” will be positioned. Stimulating panel discussions can be expected on the stage, featuring Werner Aisslinger (Studio Aisslinger, Berlin), Andreas Krawczyk (NKBAK, Frankfurt) and Chris Middleton (Kinzo, Berlin) on the topic “Modular Design: Individual vs. Serial”. Also to be recommended and peppered with personal insights are the guided tours, offered on all four days of the fair by Jürgen Mayer H., Peter Ippolito and Susanne Schmidhuber. A final highlight: Susanne Schmidhuber and her creative team have developed an accessible orthogonal space featuring mirrors and hand samples of floor coverings that enable visitors to perceive it as a sphere in which they see themselves reflected – a fascinating and artistic manner of depicting the overriding topic of “Individualization” in all its facets, and one that naturally throws up a question or two. So we can look forward to the new Domotex, which starts in January, when some 1,400 exhibitors from 60 nations will descend on Hanover.

Domotex – the World’s Leading Fair for Carpets and Floor Coverings
Friday, January 12 to Monday, January 15, 2018
(N.B: altered sequence of days)
Daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Hanover Exhibition Center
www.domotex.de

Orientation at the trade fair:
For the first time there will be a “Domotex app” launched before the fair begins.
Moreover, the hall layout plans will be altered so that everything takes place “under one roof”

The “Framing Trends” under the motto “Unique Youinverse”:
In Hall 9 with the areas “Flooring Spaces”, “Living Spaces”, “Art & Intervention”, and “Nuthinkers”

The Domotex Talks take place on all four days of the fair:
“Modular Design: Individual vs. Serial?”
Friday, January 12, 2018, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
With Werner Aisslinger (Studio Aisslinger, Berlin), Andreas Krawcyzk, (NKBAK; Frankfurt), Chris Middleton (Kinzo, Berlin)

 “New One-Offs: Handmade vs. Digital?”
Saturday, January 13, 2018, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
With Veronika Aumann (textile designer, Weißensee Academy of Art Berlin), Manuel Jimenez Garcia (madMdesign, London), Gilles Retsin (Gilles Retsin Architecture, London), Fabian Scheurer (Design-to-Production, Zurich)

“Retail Interactive: Virtual vs. Real?”
Sunday, January 14, 2018, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
With Jürgen Mayer H. (J. Mayer H., Berlin), Theresa Schleicher (freelance consultant, e. g., for Zukunftsinstitut, Frankfurt), Sven Slampatzki (nation d, Hamburg)
 
“Nuthinker Stage: What’s next?”
Monday, January 15, 2018, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
With Prof. André Nakonz, Suzanne Köchert and students of HS Hannover, Prof. Klaus Teltenkötter and students of HS Mainz, Prof. Katrin Greiling and students of HBK Saar

Domotex tours of the trade fair:
With Peter Ippolito (Ippolito Fleitz, Stuttgart), Jürgen Mayer H. (J. Mayer H., Berlin), Susanne Schmidhuber (Schmidhuber, Munich)
On all four days of the fair from 10 a.m. to 12 noon and from 3.15 p.m. to 5.15 p.m.