Stockholm Furniture Fair 2010
The elite of Nordic and international furniture design gathered in the Swedish capital Stockholm at the Älvsjö Exhibition Centre between the 9 and 13 February 2010, demonstrating once more their innovative potential at impressive exhibitions. Refreshing optimism...… positive energy, euphoric optimism plus an avalanche of innovations left not the slightest hint of a financial crisis here. Exhibition space at the centre was extended by an additional 10,000 square metres for this vibrant event and it was clearly no problem filling this space with class and highest quality exhibitors - and visitors.
All the important design firms of the building and living space area were accommodated in the giant Hall A. They included not only the big Scandinavian manufacturers but also international protagonists such as Moroso the premium Italian with a spectacular stand, which could be seen as a clear homage to the Swedish location.
Avalanche of innovation...
… a clear indicator of the reinforced self-confidence and market optimism of the protagonists. Bla Station excelled with many interesting products, above all with Antoinette from the young designer duo Cate & Nelson, the Dunder Sofa by Stefan Borselius, and Puppa – the new intake on Oppo…
Paul Smith takes the stage…
… and was permitted to furnish the "Guest of Honour - Lounge" for the 7th time in succession. There was no escaping the rainbow of opulence all around – a pandemonium of materials and colours where you honestly couldn’t say whether it was all a sensational success or totally off the mark…, but striking it certainly was.
Pulsating northern lights
Lovers of good design got what they wanted in the city too. A new design district is currently developing in the Södermalm section of central Stockholm where, for example, the showrooms of Fritz Hansen, Luceplan, Montana, Kinnasand, Ann Idstein, Kasthall, Avarte and Artek are to be found. This was where Forum Magazine organised a Jasper Morrison exhibition and a party for 1500 guests here turned the Wednesday evening into a tumultuous event. The Museum of Architecture on the museum island of Skepsholmen organised the Swedish design think-tank called "Designboost", a two day workshop with designers, architects, scientists, academics and business people that intentionally blurred the boundaries between the different disciplines, formulating a new type of discussion forum in design.
And in the centrally located Hotel Berns
designers and experts such as Ilkka Suppanen, Giulio Cappellini, Reed Kram met for a discussion at the invitation of the Swedish design institution Svensk Form before moving on to attend the
Pecha Kucha Night.
Everywhere around the city exhibitions opened, receptions, parties and discussion events were going on and at the end of the day the design community met to relax at the Nordic Light Hotel. The perfect balance between work and fun – that’s Stockholm. A city that is ever more of a true alternative to Cologne and Paris.
