The tranquil dignity of the city, the blackened stones of the cathedral and the Columba of Zumthor make the Cologne imm Cologne something of a paradise for a tasteful person. German austerity, restraint and stinginess in color are beneficial to both the furniture itself and the expositions of the exhibition. Although intellectuality supplants vitality - no killer creativity, no bright color, no sincerity, which is possible only with neophytes.
If we talk about furniture trends in 2018, according to imm Cologne, this is - you won't believe it - all the same modernism. An architect at a furniture exhibition, of course, will still see architecture: the basic circle-square, which, however, really remain an important theme of modern design. The leading edge doesn't question why the cabinet still looks like a parallelogram - and examines the door abutment design. The only thing that can be called a real novelty is the Breuer Bono plywood structures, which are 7 centimeters away from the wall, German and beautiful. In some cases, it is very similar to working with architectural design, although if architecture is now passionate about 3D printing and parametric spaces, then the design world is more concerned with how to properly illuminate tomes about Le Corbusier and Charlotte Perian. But the impetuosity of “premium” brands like Fendi or Trussardi (and why did they do interior design at all?) In Cologne is not so striking, and you seem to be looking - if you remove the logos from prominent places, then it's okay.
At this exhibition, the line becomes clear where good taste is so good that it is no longer good. Most of the big and established manufacturers are in no hurry to experiment. The reason is probably the global crisis or simply fear; a feeling of boredom settled on their stands. As a novelty, almost everyone, as an agreement, made large round / oval / rectangular tables with a marble top - a kind of musthave of the 2018 season, it’s even incomprehensible how we can manage without it in our Khrushchev buildings.
Sales of expensive factories appear to have fallen and they cannot afford the investment, risk and complexity of new product development, betting on what is guaranteed to attract attention. But when everyone does it with the same product, the meaning is completely lost. Copying and the fact that the Chinese manage to counterfeit products that have not yet even entered production make their development not particularly profitable, so only the young and unknown are at risk - those who have nothing to lose.
Perhaps only Ligne Roset managed to do two absolutely trendy things that cannot be copied. La Biblioteque Fil is made of plywood, laminated on both sides, and thin rods connected with such skillful welding that the Chinese have not the slightest chance to reproduce it. A simple chair made of bent plywood reflects all modern trends, adding a special craftsmanship - the veneer folds in the fold between the seat and backrest are very delicate and also difficult to reproduce.
Cities are getting bigger, apartments in them are getting smaller. The main theme of this exhibition is the hallway. Folding, transformable - a variety of items for this small but important place were displayed on the stands of both young designers and expensive factories. Round hooks for clothes, mirrors with storage in the back - in a word, things that can be bought in a rented apartment (namely, in these, according to analytical reports, most millennials live, that is, those solvent buyers who still need to purchase something). Team 7 made some beautiful mirrors, very appropriate for our grandmothers' Khrushchevs and at the same time incredibly expensive. Unclear purpose, beautiful designs from Stellar Works are also best suited to the hallway. Countless round clothes hooks, classified mirrors and slipper-elastic panels, similar to the "Super Skillful Handles" theme, are all familiar to us. The dwelling of the future is becoming more and more like a technological and decorative box, and less and less like a flowing free space, which Le Corbusier and Mies van der Rohe dreamed of.sponsored by Cosmorelax
