Review: imm Cologne


Johnny Tucker selects the best designs on show at this year’s edition of imm Cologne, from reprints of Arts & Architecture magazine covers, to noise-reducing felt chairs


16 – 22 January

imm continued to have a buzz about it in the design-orientated halls, while the show also saw its Living Kitchen take place at the same time in the Cologne Messe. This year US designer Todd Bracher was drafted in to create the central Das Haus feature, which saw him unveil a space that looked to modern ways of living — particularly in New York — breaking down many traditional boundaries and creating essentially three spaces: living, sleeping/relaxing and washing; the latter taking place outside… The sleep space contained an enormous, glowing moon-like lamp and would have been a great place to relax, except people would have been tripping over you left, right and centre, due to the envelopingly low level of light in the space.

Lantern Light, designed by Neri&Hu for ClassiCon, stripped back to its essenceLantern Light, designed by Neri&Hu for ClassiCon, stripped back to its essence

Joco server, designed by EOOS for Walter Knoll with a beautiful, hand-finished brass lookJoco server, designed by EOOS for Walter Knoll with a beautiful, hand-finished brass look

The new/young designer section of the show — Pure Talent — was strong this year with some excellent work, particularly from Pierre-Emmanuel Vandeputte, whose easel-like chairs draped with felt created wonderful, noise-dampened individual spaces with a stripped back Japanese aesthetic. From Israel, Bar Gantz, had been experimenting with steam bending wood (not something that happens a lot in that neck of the woods) to create some elegantly curving, geometrically appealing trestles, tables and a simple, yet powerful shelf.

Ray Outdoor, by Antonio Citterio for B&B Italia — the Italian maestro takes the inside outRay Outdoor, by Antonio Citterio for B&B Italia — the Italian maestro takes the inside out

 

Pure Talent’s Pierre-Emmanuel Vandeputte’s easel and felt chairsPure Talent’s Pierre-Emmanuel Vandeputte’s easel and felt chairs

Circular shelves hanging by a single strand from the ceiling from Slovenian brand Pikka, designed by architects Katjuša Kranjc and Rok Kuhar, were beguiling, as were Neri&Hu’s lanterns for ClassiCon. Vitra doesn’t use the show as a major launch pad, but did use it to unveil a series of prints of classic covers of the US modernist Arts and Architecture magazine. And talking of classics, Antonio Citterio expanded B&B Italia’s Ray range, with some truly elegant woven exterior pieces. The new brass finish for the EOOS-designed Oki tables by Walter Knoll is also worth a mention.

Pure Talent’s Bar Gantz’s explorations of steam bending woodPure Talent’s Bar Gantz’s explorations of steam bending wood

The outside shower of the Das Haus feature at the show designed by Todd BracherThe outside shower of the Das Haus feature at the show designed by Todd Bracher

Golden Nugget, by Roderick Vos for Pode, made from folded steelGolden Nugget, by Roderick Vos for Pode, made from folded steel

Vitra launched a series of prints of covers from US mid-century modernism magazine Arts and ArchitectureVitra launched a series of prints of covers from US mid-century modernism magazine Arts and Architecture

Triiio side table by Brdr. Krüger from an original 1958 sketch by Danish architect Hans Bølling, relies on the weight of the glass top to keep three separate wooden leg pieces togetherTriiio side table by Brdr. Krüger from an original 1958 sketch by Danish architect Hans Bølling, relies on the weight of the glass top to keep three separate wooden leg pieces together

Puro, designed by Lucie Koldova for Brokis. In Spanish, Puro means cigar and pure...Puro, designed by Lucie Koldova for Brokis. In Spanish, Puro means cigar and pure...

Elbe Bench by Marcel Besau for e15, created for Herzog & de Meuron’s Elbphilharmonie in HamburgElbe Bench by Marcel Besau for e15, created for Herzog & de Meuron’s Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg








Progressive Media International Limited. Registered Office: 40-42 Hatton Garden, London, EC1N 8EB, UK.Copyright 2024, All rights reserved.