IMM Cologne, the first annual furniture-show of the year, wrapped up in Germany on January 21. Hundreds of exhibitors were on-hand to launch new and exciting pieces that will set the tone for the year ahead. Here are just a few of our favourite finds, from an ingeniously beautiful rail lighting system to colourful upholstered furnishings and flat-pack chairs brimming with style.
The Netherlands-based Studio Truly Truly unveiled its first design for lighting brand Rakumba, a stunning rail system that draws inspiration from the way characters are arranged to form words. Cilon, the first collection for Typography, is comprised of seven different fixtures that can work together to create individual expressions. At the root of the system is a superthin rail (offered in three lengths) that runs power from end to end. Individual fixtures can be positioned anywhere on all sides of the central axis, and can be controlled independently, and the rails can be installed both horizontally and vertically to create an array of compositions, from pendants and chandeliers to room dividers and more.
French designer Victoria Wilmotte is a master at applying an elegant hand to unexpected materials. Her already wildly popular Pli table, which folds stainless steel into a faceted base that reads more like a precious stone than metal, was presented this year as a dining table with a spectacular green marble surface defined by rich veining in deep, organic colours.
Along with this, she brought a mirror for ClassiCon that is much art object as it is reflective surface. The bent nature of Piega brings an eye-catching third dimension to the typically flat accessory, refracting light and shadows in an interesting and playful dialogue with its surroundings.
Innovative for both its design and sustainability, Tonon‘s Fl@t chair is the ultimate in flat-pack. Arriving as a thin and flexible circular piece, the chair is assembled by bending the padded shell and holding it in place with special black powder-coated aluminum straps.
Simple yet sophisticated, the seat offers the utmost in comfort for all manner of environments, and the nature of its design, the work of Martin Ballendat, means low-volume shipping that results in less energy consumption.
The 64-year-old furniture brand’s booth was awash in a youthful and soothing palette that stood out among the some of the more sombre offerings. Particularly enticing was the Moss sofas by Jehs + Laub. Formed with generous, down-upholstered volumes that are as soft and springy as the organic material they were named for, the sofas feature a slouchy cover that is equal parts casual and striking. Details like tone-on-tone piping and a well-crafted wood slat frame work to deliver a welcoming landscape for the home.
For his first design for Artifort, Italian designer Luca Nichetto presented a superbly comfortable perch defined by a profile of gently sloped lines. Like a cup on a pedestal, the upholstered armchair embraces the shape of the human body to an exacting degree. Used as a standalone statement piece or with its matching ottoman, Pala makes a great addition in living rooms, restaurants or lounges alike.
Watch for more IMM Cologne coverage in the May issue of Azure.