REVIEW – imm cologne 2024
Becoming a community

Since the last regular edition of imm cologne in 2020, a lot has changed following discussions about the sense and nonsense of the trade fair concept, the courage to invest in experiments and the need for transparent communication that creates trust even in times of crisis. "Connecting Communities" was the guiding theme of this year's imm cologne – an "interior business event" was planned to connect the numerous trade fair participants in the industry, according to Matthias Pollmann, Head of Trade Fair Management at imm cologne, at a press conference in October 2023. Looking at the bare figures, there were 750 registered exhibitors, including 640 international and 110 national companies. In 2020, there were still 1,233 exhibitors, many large companies were absent this year and numerous areas were not occupied as a result. Instead, new, equal showroom communities were formed, such as the Draenert, freistil Rolf Benz, Kettnaker, Object Carpet, Rolf Benz, Schönbuch and Walter Knoll brands. In the Designpost, visitors were also able to discover "Schnee by Studio Niruk", the first exhibition in the format "welcome design friends. Showtime" format by Welcome Design PR. The team selected white objects from agency clients and friends (Ege Carpets, Gabriel A/S, Gira, Kober Porzellan, Koeber Landschaftsarchitekten, Leolux, Nomad, Olivari, Pode, raasch, Richard Lampert, Niruk, Vario, Wood & Washi) and curated them into an experience space. Studio Niruk also exhibited their composite material "Corcrete" in the Designpost, which can be launched on the market this year in cooperation with the producers Hartis. The cork concrete panels are suitable for furniture construction as well as for wall or ceiling panelling, are lightweight, have a sound-absorbing effect and offer a pleasant surface feel.

Dallmer, Alape and Laufen teamed up for an exhibition on the "Living space bathroom" in the Cologne Passagen in the "Stoff-Pavillon Moeller", a listed building designed by architect Wilhelm Riphahn in the 1950s. Meiré und Meiré organised an exhibition in the Meiré und Meiré Factory in cooperation with J*Gast, Plateau Candy and the Typ brand. This offered opportunities for new interpretations of previous designs – be it the stacked "D1" chair in neon red by Bauhaus designer Erich Dieckmann or sofas with new upholstery by Italian architect and designer Cini Boeri – as well as forward-looking projects with a view to the revolutionary kitchen system "J*Gast" by the collective of the same name. The event also included a talk led by Oliver Jahn, which covered topics ranging from craftsmanship, innovation and sustainability to artificial intelligence.

The once elaborate stand architecture with numerous partition walls was replaced by airy presentations with curtains in the imm cologne exhibition halls in favour of sustainability; the carpet that had always been present in the past had finally disappeared from the aisles. Less was more, also with regard to the hall lighting, which made many a presentation appear somewhat gloomy. However, it was all the more pleasing that the showcase of the twelve winners of the Pure Talents Contest 2024 now had a spacious area in the centre of hall four to present their innovative ideas. Such as the foldable three-seater sofa "Ballast" by Anton Defant, his diploma thesis at the University of Applied Arts Vienna, or the "Wasted Treasure" project by Carolin Schelkle, a student at ECAL, in which she uses the biomass produced during the manufacture of palm products to create an alternative to conventional building materials. Carla Farré González presented her bachelor's thesis from the Elisava School of Design and Engineering: A system of aluminium tubes and kozo washi paper that combines interior lighting and room partitioning. Benedikt Stonawski and Hauke Unterburg from ante up created the spatial installation "Undergrowth" made of wood and recycled Tetra Paks for the show, which can be completely returned to the respective cycle. Visitors were also able to explore the duo's "Tom Table Oak Wood" and "Opponent Stool".

In parallel, the three "Installation Circles" were on show, sculptural installations designed by Studio Dessí, Raw-Edges Design Studio and Vantot, each of which offered a setting on a circular surface that was entirely in the spirit of circular systems and resource conservation. For "Welcome to stay", Marco Dessí used inflatable elements and borrowed semi-finished products to create a temporary platform on which the "Tecta D70" and "Thonet 520" chairs, the "Cima" luminaires by Lodes and the "Sea of Stories" art object by Quirin Krumbholz were placed. For "Sense of Surface", Raw Edges relied on digitally printed curtains with a multi-layered structure and light objects made of 3D-printed mesh, which is only moulded on site as a flat structure, thus saving material and facilitating transport. With "Impact of Light", Vantot created a filigree grid system with punctual spots that offers both an open exterior and a darker interior area.

Things got cosy at the trade fair stands: the need for protection and comfort in times of crisis was translated into wing-shaped armrests that suggest an embrace for the person sitting on them. Steven Dahlinger designed the double-layered backrests of the modular sofa and the "Nesting" armchair to be so flexible that they can be folded out to form a screen. The project, which was developed in the Industrial Design department at the Angewandte in Vienna under the direction of Stefan Diez, was realised in cooperation with furniture manufacturer Wagner. At Leolux, visitors were able to take a seat on the "Loya" sofa by Studio trulytruly, which appears to be made from a single mould and offers comfortable blocks from the backrests to the seat. Even the base is upholstered and can be chosen in a different material to the rest of the sofa. Jehs+Laub designed the "Nook" sofa for COR, a proverbial retreat with high backs and rising armrests. The soft mass in generous dimensions was also evident in the "Elliot Lounge Chair" by Lucie Koldová for Team7 Möbel or the three new outdoor products in the "Leyasol" collection by Hoffmann Kahleyss Design for Freifrau – from the Hollywood swing to the Sun Lounger, these offer extra-soft upholstery.

Modularity was also required for sofa landscapes, which Werner Aisslinger responded to with "Loop" for ipdesign/JAB, including the matching armchair model. In their upholstered furniture collection, Matthew Goodrich and Hines Fischer contrast the fabric with solid wooden corners that formally frame its flowing movement. For those who want to be gently embraced by the design not only when sitting but also when sleeping, the textile label Luiz was the right address: The fixed panels of the new "Bisou" bed by Peter Fehrentz can be supplemented with two fixed or folding side sections. There is a choice of over 130 upholstery fabrics for the headboard and bed frame. At the imm cologne, people tended to sit low, on floor-level sofas such as the "Mia" sofa system by Ilja Huber for Freifrau, and armchairs and chairs with shortened legs. In keeping with "low dining", there were low side tables, preferably with oval or round tops, which are increasingly made of glass. For example, COR presented the "Echo" side table by Lukas Heintschel, a cylindrical base with a round table top made of either coated glass or Parsol, a tinted float glass with a reflective surface. There is a choice of fabric or leather upholstery for the base and the table top can simply be twisted off. Rolf Benz showed, among other things, the round coffee table "KIO" by Sebastian Herkner, whose steel base has a glass surface in grey or bronze.

A retro feeling of well-being with lots of volume, which was rarely presented in the Pantone trend colour 2024 "Peach Fuzz", instead preferably in neutral tones from ecru to light grey, earthy red, green tones and bright contrasts in acid yellow or neon orange. Studio Besau-Marguerre created a riot of colour with free-hanging textiles for Création Baumann's new exhibition space in the Designpost: "For Création Baumann's exhibition space, we wanted to generate an eye-catching appearance that doesn't convey a classic showroom feeling. We show curtains as an architectural, space-defining element that picks up on the iconic architecture of the Designpost and thus subtly refers to the textile expertise of the Création Baumann brand," says Eva Marguerre. At Sahco, meanwhile, it became wild - floral patterns met animal prints. With "Rumor" by Bertjan Pot, the first knitted textile from Kvadrat Febrik, which is made from over 70 per cent recycled polyester, Kvadrat focused more on visual depth with changing colour and pattern intensity. Exciting structures with a bouclé character were also on show at Rohi with "Cento" made of pure new wool. Meanwhile, Schönbuch immersed the high-gloss fronts of the "Canvas" collection by Christian Haas in bright blue with contrasting orange accents.

While generous dimensions are currently in demand for upholstered furniture, the storage furniture on show offers flexible solutions, such as the "Relief" drawer chests by Taf Studio for String Furniture, which function both individually and in combination and offer particularly deep drawers. As the designers have also included the back wall, the collection can also be used as a room divider. The "Extend" table from Arco has it all: hidden under the table top is a pull-out that allows it to be extended by a whole metre. Müller Möbel showcased space-saving home office furniture such as the "Flai" wall-mounted secretary by kaschkasch, "Flatmate" by Michael Hilgers in a special edition with linoleum surfaces or the "Spaze" bed from kaschkasch, which has fully extendable drawers. "Tavi" from Interlübke can be configured with a large selection of hinged doors, drawers and flaps as a sideboard, highboard or lowboard as well as a stand-alone unit, and the surfaces can be customised. At the same time, the solid wood manufacturer Tischlerei Sommer emphasised just how aesthetically pleasing customised solutions made of solid wood can be with an impressive presentation of custom-made products, such as work blocks and cupboard monoliths made of light ash wood, in which an oven can be integrated.

Sebastian Herkner rethought the Thonet "S 32" cantilever chair and the "S 64" version with armrests by Marcel Breuer for Thonet and curated the "Rethinking Classics: S 32/S 64 Dark Melange" collection with dark, iridescent wickerwork. The "118 Fine Dining" model by Sebastian Herkner could also be discovered in the traditional company's space: On a beech wood base, it can be customised from the colour to the seat surface: From the seat cushion to the moulded seat to the classic wickerwork. Florian Hauswirth also gave craftsmanship a stage for Zeitraum and designed the "Alpenraum" collection made of wood: "Vna Stool", "Vna Bar" barstool and "Vna Dine" table. Inspiration was provided by the "Vna Chair" table, whose backrest and legs are inserted into the seat. At Designpost, Wagner Living demonstrated its expertise in the overall concept with a cosy setting, including the innovative "D2" system by Stefan Diez and a wide variety of seating options that stylishly promote back health. In cooperation with Thorsten Franck and the architect and designer Hadi Teherani, for example, the active stool "W3D" has recently been 3D-printed from recyclable bio-plastic, the shape of which looks like a textile and which has now been supplemented with a matching table.

A surprisingly large number of luminaires were on show at this year's imm cologne and in the Designpost, such as the "Xio" floor lamp by Dick Spierenburg for HollandLicht, a flat disc on a slender base that is given more depth with a textile cover, or the new version of the "Cono di Luce" by Ron Arad for Lodes as a table lamp. In addition to the revised edition by Pierre Guariche, Sammode presented floor lamps by Normal Studio, among others, which lend a new level to the industrial character of the "Paname" collection. At Blomus, the portable LED table lamp "Iris" by Sebastian Herkner shone, which can be used both indoors and outdoors with its robust glass shade and aluminium base. Marset offered, among other things, the "Fragile" luminaire made of glass by Jaume Ramírez, whose geometric shapes create a harmonious interplay: A cone and a sphere form the basis for a cylinder that emits ambient light from below.

In addition to Lodes, the lighting manufacturers Secto Design and Quasar joined the Designpost. Its importance as a showroom and platform was reinforced once again this year: the companies nunc, Sicinch, Nikari and Tubes moved into new exhibition spaces, while Weisshäupl and Wünder organised pop-up exhibitions. The triad of imm cologne, Designpost and the city centre could also be experienced in a new way, be it with a view to the group exhibitions in the Passagen or the opening of Minotti's first showroom in Cologne. At the start of the year, "togetherness" was given new impetus and the focus on the essentials became more important. The imm cologne also supported this with the "Circles" in the halls – café, bar, lounge area and studio, which served as a stage for informal dialogue and talks. A product highlight in terms of café culture could also be experienced in the Designpost: Ligre presented the new "Ligre youn" portafilter machine by Relvāokellermann, which is available in black-mat and silver-beige and is exceptional in terms of both aesthetics and functionality: clear design, intuitive operation, quiet operation and a warm-up time of just six minutes.

The imm cologne, Designpost and Passagen trio succeeded in creating a positive atmosphere with "Connecting Communities" at the start of 2024. The reduced number of participating companies and the focus on the collective not only brought concerns about an eventual downfall due to a lack of profitability, it also created opportunities: for high-quality discussions, more visibility for young talents such as emerging manufacturers, sustainable presentations and established brands working together on an equal level to strengthen each other. It could be the start of a forward-looking concept that has been missing at Koelnmesse in recent years. New paths do not have to be perfect, but the courage to explore them is essential for the progress of the industry.