“The floor is always part of a room, in fact one of the most important parts,” comments Piero Lissoni. “At the DOMOTEX in Hanover there will be innovations on show that change our everyday lives. It may be an unexpected version of flooring, a good choice of color, an impressive carpet, or finely finished wood.” Italian architect and designer Lissoni is renowned for his elegantly styled rooms, furniture, kitchens and bathrooms. And now, as part of Innovations@DOMOTEX you will be able to experience him first-hand as a Special Guest at DOMOTEX, which is being held from January 16-19, 2016 at the trade-fair complex in Hanover. The second prominent guest expected in Hanover will be Wolf D. Prix, founder and managing partner of Austrian architectural office Coop Himmelb(l)au. Together with other famous architects and designers the two will be busy outlining their view of the topic of flooring as a key element of architecture and interior design – both at the panel discussions for the “Dialogues” and as part of the “Guided Tours”.

An ever growing range of design floorings, parquet and laminates on offer

In 2016 a visit to the DOMOTEX with its amazing range of carpets, design floorings, parquet, laminates, and its wealth of hand-knotted modern carpets will offer architects, interior designers, furnishings experts and representatives of the furniture and fit-out industries any number of new angles on contemporary interiors. And the fair organizers proudly report that the sheer number of different design floorings, parquets and laminates will be appreciably greater than it already was last year. For example, some 200 exhibitors are expected for the “Wood Flooring Summit” – the platform for wood and imitation-wood floorings – and among them such renowned makers as Amorim, Boen, Egger, Kährs, Meisterwerke and Unilin.

“We’re fast heading for a very successful DOMOTEX 2016,” reports Jochen Köckler, Member of the Board of Deutsche Messe AG, which organizes the DOMOTEX. “The number of registrations is already higher than in previous years. With good reason: Innovations need an international reach.” Around 1,400 exhibitors from more than 60 countries are expected in Hanover, and the trade fair at the beginning of the year looks set to provide key stimuli for the floorings market. Measured in terms of exhibition area, the countries most strongly represented on the ground are Germany followed by Turkey, India, Belgium, China, the Netherlands and Iran.

Innovations@DOMOTEX

Anyone wanting a succinct account of the latest novelties must make certain not to miss Innovations@DOMOTEX this time, either. The selection of 84 novelties was made by a jury headed by Munich-based designer Stefan Diez from new products for flooring, fibers, yarns as well as applications and laying techniques – that are special as regards their appeal, relevance and quality. The selected products will be on show in specially designated Innovations@DOMOTEX areas: In Hall 6 textile and elastic floorings will be displayed as expansive loops, in Hall 9 parquet and laminates will be shown in a rugged folded mountain range, and in Hall 17 the focus will be on handmade carpets presented in a world of waves.

Themed discussions and guided tours

The panel discussions held as “Dialogues” with internationally active architects and designers, such as Alexander Brenner of the eponymous Stuttgart office, Corinna Kretschmar-Joehnk of Hamburg’s JOI Design and Karim El-Ishmawi from Kinzo in Berlin, will provide all manner of new ideas. The conversations will address topics such as “Hotel and Hospitality”, “Office”, “Healthcare”, “Living” and “Retail”. What will be new in the “Dialogues” is that following each there will be a special tour of the fair in line with the topic just discussed. The Innovations@DOMOTEX area in Hall 6 will be the venue for the “Dialogues” and the meeting point for the subsequent “Guided Tours”.

Once again, the highly popular “Guided Tours” will feature at Innovations@DOMOTEX, led by architectural journalist Thomas Geuder together with a designer or architect. Each of these guided tours will study selected innovations at the respective booths more closely. With the emphasis of course being on debate and an open exchange of opinions. Participation in the tours is free of charge, but there is a limited number of spaces – so please register in good time (see the link below).

The handmade carpets in Hall 17 will no doubt attract great interest as regards all sorts of high-grade interiors. Like in an Oriental bazaar, here the international Who-is-Who of the creative minds in unique handmade carpets will come together, including Reuber Henning, Hossein Rezvani and Rug Star or Tufenkian and Zollanvari. And then on Sunday, January 17, 2016 the “Carpet Design Awards” will be bestowed – they count as the world’s most important prize in this sector and will be judged by an international jury chaired by British designer Michael Sodeau – in eight different categories. The prizewinners will be presented during the DOMOTEX in the Innovations@DOMOTEX area in Hall 17.

Register for the Guided Tours here >>>

For additional articles and information on DOMOTEX and Innovations@DOMOTEX simply visit the Stylepark Space on the trade fair at www.stylepark.com