Best In Show: IMM Cologne 2016.

The beginning of the year is heralded by several of the most important events on the design calendar and the annual trade fair circuit. IMM Cologne is the first cab off the busy rank, setting the trends, creating business momentum and current topics for the entire year. Today we bring you our selection of the highlights recently on show at the German fair, including best new furniture, lighting and accessories.

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“Pli” Side Table by Victoria Wilmotte for ClassiCon // We’ve loved this table ever since we first spotted it a couple of years ago (and talked about it in this roundup of amazing translucent furniture), so it’s wonderful to finally see it in production with ClassiCon. French designer Victoria Wilmotte brings an object of unusual crystalline elegance and astonishing geometry. The bends and folds that gave Pli its name, almost make the stainless steel base look like an oversized finely polished precious stone. We love it hard.

Colander Chair by Patrick Norguet for Kristalia // French designer Patrick Norguet has created a stackable chair for Italian furniture company Kristalia that features a perforated seat based on a kitchen colander. The chair is designed for indoor or outdoor use, and features a curved polypropylene plastic seat and back. Its pattern of holes helps rain water drain off.

Icaro 015 Collection by Caronni + Bonanomi manufactured by Desalto // Desalto‘s Icaro 015 Collection boasts a versatile console with an extremely clean line, perfect to enhance any environment. Tables, small tables or console with frame and drawers in steel white or graphite matt finishes, tops in toughened glass 8 mm white or graphite in the matt or glossy versions, or in ceramic 6 mm white calce, concrete, asphalt and lava colours.

Meridiana Chair by Christophe Pillet.

Portable Atelier by Driade & Moleskine designed by Philippe Nigro.

“Meridiana” Chair Reissue & Portable Atelier Collection from Driade // The famous “Meridiana” chair from Driade collection, designed by Christophe Pillet in 2003 has been reissued in two new variations – all black and all white. Driade also joined forces with Moleskine and french designer Philippe Nigro to create a dynamic and modular ‘Portable Atelier’. Essentially a moveable office, each of the brands harnessed their specific expertise to form a smart, simplistic and refined collection. What began as a desk design has grown to a collection of fundamental workspace pieces, including a matching adjustable stool, a detachable shelf to slot into the desk and plenty of Moleskine-inspired accessories.

F.A. 33 Mirror by Gio Ponti.

Randaccio Mirror 70 by Gio Ponti.

Multi-Lite Pendant Lamp.

TS Table in new finishes.

Satellite Pendants.

New Products from Gubi // Gubi presented a bunch of reissued and new product, but the ones we thought were worth noting are the two re-issued design treasures – the “Multi-Lite” Pendant Lamps by Louis Weisdorf and the “Satellite” Pendant Lamps by Mathieu Mategot. Gubi also showcased the the beautiful Gio Ponti designed mirrors – “Randaccio” and “F.A. 33”. We are also quite partial to the updated finishes of the GamFratesi designed TS Table collection. Yum

“Palette Desk” by Jaime Hayon for &tradition // The ‘Palette Desk’ is a series of three, doubled-tiered desks featuring a mix of marble, stained ash veneer or satin polished brass. The new addition mixes two different shapes and materials together, resulting in a double-level design reminiscent of alexander calder’s kinetic sculptures. The desk is composed of an elongated bean shape and a small round shape made of different materials, that together converge to create a brilliant balancing act.

Ligne Roset re-edition of iconic 1980s “Plumy” Sofa designed by Annie Hieronimus // Ligne Roset presented “Plumy”, a sofa collection born from the collaboration between Michel Roset and the upholstery R&D department with designer Annie Hieronimus 35 years ago, according to a specification laid out and overseen by Michel Roset. We thought that the design world was over the 80s by now, but apparently not.

Riva 1920 New Cedar & Oak Timber Finishes // The products that make up the Riva 1920 Collection are made of genuine solid wood of reforestation, using varieties such as maple, cherry, oak and walnut. Characteristic feature of the brand is the recycled timber, such as the thousand-year old Kauri from New Zealand, Briccole of Venice and the scented cedar from Lebanon. We are quite partial to their two new beautiful Cedar & Oak finishes. Delicious.

Isanka Chair Walter Knoll.

Votteler Chair Walter Knoll.

Fishnet Chair Walter Knoll.

Sadi & Neptun Ozis Collection from left to rught – Burgaz, Rumi & Fisnet.

New & Reissued Pieces by Walter Knoll // German luxury brand Walter Knoll released new and re-issued several historical products. Amongst the new products of note is the “Isanka Armhair” from the Isanka Collection designed by EOOS, featuring distinctive in character and superb leather upholstery detailing.

On the re-issue front, Walter Knoll brought back to life the “Votteler Chair” Designed in 1956 by Arno Votteler. Votteler Chair speaks of the inspirations of it’s time – Scandinavian objectivity and austerity in the best possible sense. The deliberately angular volume of the upholstery rests on a delicate tubular steel framework. The chair comes in a high and low back version.

In addition to the Votteler, the brand also re-released a collection of chairs designed in the 50’s and 60’s by Turkish designer Sadi Ozis, with his son, Neptun Ozis. The chair shapes are consistent with the original design, and have now been updated with luxurious upholstery (original designs were in raw materials such as wire, tin & fishing net).

Woodnotes Collection.

The Big Stripe carpet by Ritva Puotila and Woodnotes design team.

Siro+ Chair & Twiggy Table.

New Pieces from Woodnotes // Woodnotes released the Siro+ Chair & Twiggy Table designed by Ilkka Suppanen & Raffaella Mangiarotti. The multipurpose “Siro+” chair can be used as a dining chair, night table or bench. The “Twiggy Table” is a small visually and physically light side table. The structure is a beautiful play of oak sticks, which can be seen under the glass top. The brand also launched the The Big Stripe carpet designed by by Ritva Puotila with Woodnotes design team.

Das Haus by Sebastian Herkner // Since 2012, the IMM Cologne Fair has been featuring the ‘Das Haus – Interiors on Stage Project’ — a special program which invites designers and architects to develop a ‘domestic space’ that explores the possibilities of interior design in a completely uninhibited way. The fifth edition saw Sebastian Herkner transforming one hall of the annual fair with his vision of a home living space. Herkner’s scheme drew on the aspirations of social change, more specifically on the ongoing global issue of refugees fleeing the war in the middle east, and making their way to Europe in order to escape and find a new life amidst the turmoil they are dealing with. ‘The transparency of ‘Das Haus’ is an expression of the necessity of facing changes with more openness,’ says Herkner.

FRAME magazine’s trend pavilion at LivingInteriors // FRAME magazine unveiled a pavilion brimming with wall and floor trends at IMM Cologne’s LivingInteriors. Designed by Amsterdam-based architects i29 and styling company Kamer 465, the pavilion visualised three major trends: ‘Inspired by nature’, ‘Anything, anywhere’ and ‘Smart materials’.

[Images courtesy of Press Office.]