Cologne kicks off the New Year in colour:
International furniture fair IMM Cologne, showcased as global design forum, made an atmosphere of transition palpable.The year 2005 got off to a good start in Cologne: rising sales over the past few months, a visibly upward economic trend and a well-done presentation at the trade fair – all these have boosted the furniture industry. This positive trend was also visible in the colour schemes: The well-frequented fair presented bold fresh colours, bulky seating for lounges and top-quality materials.
But IMM Cologne underscored one trend in particular: Living will be more colourful and more laid back in 2005. Both upholstered furniture and cabinet fronts feature powerful colours, with orange, red and lilac dominating. But there is also a 70’s revival of brown, beige and white. Linear shapes have been replaced by generously-sized furniture inviting you to relax and unwind in deep upholstery. Comfortableness is key – also when it comes to aesthetic integration of flat screens and other high-tech gear in living rooms. Far from being a mere catchword, multi-functionality has become key sales pitch.
All this applies to kitchen furniture too. Kitchen counters of various heights and materials dominate the scene, converting kitchens into central hubs of domestic communication. In addition to its topical forum "imm cuisinale", the trade fair also provided a comprehensive and compact look at kitchen furniture and built-in electrical equipment, and featured many innovative products and visionary concepts: Take the international online design competition on "the kitchen as a centre of living", for example, which provided a glimpse of the world of the kitchen.
Focus on Design
Apart from functionality, design continued to have a key influence on trade fair themes. "ideal houses cologne" by Patricia Urquiola and Hella Jongerius were among the highlights of the fair, featuring very different interpretations and again causing controversy and stimulating discussion.
An event entitled "informed by cologne", organised by the imm cologne trend board, provided information on recent currents and interesting developments in interior design.
Avant-garde designers also made a statement, presenting "inspired by cologne" as an impressive reflection of their creative potential.
Stylepark’s forum called "Fusion" drew large audiences, with discussions centering on ubiquitous cross-over trends, convergence and inter-disciplinarity.
Finally, imm cologne made an appearance again as a global design forum – for top designers and industry newcomers alike.
