The Windy City’s Merchandise Mart is gearing up for NeoCon 2012 – three days of CEU-accredited seminars, parties, and keynote addresses from the likes of former Chicago mayor Richard Daly, interior designer Gary Lee and hotelier Ian Schrager. The biggest draw is the nearly 500 exhibitors, who present solutions for contract spaces, from innovative office systems to luxurious furniture and textiles for hospitality settings.
1 Talk by Keilhauer
Keilhauer will introduce a great-looking benching system created for face-to-face meetings in lounge settings. Designed by Austrian architecture firm EOOS, Talk is conceived as single- and double-width benches, with seats framed by high, angular backrests that provide comfort, privacy, and a sound barrier.
2 Drops by Abet Laminati
Abet Laminati is introducing a wide range of innovations this year, including the Drops collection. This aluminum laminate looks like it’s been hammered with dimples, but it’s really an illusion achieved with a special reverse-printing technique that adds the appearance of texture.
3 Fast by Leland International
As the name indicates, moving and reconfiguring this modular worktable system is quick and easy. Leland ensures this with flag indicators on each X-shaped pivoting base, so swapping and aligning the wide variety of tops available is a breeze. The fully recyclable system also comes with standard levelling guides, letting it adapt to uneven floor surfaces in seconds.
4 Vases by Maharam
Hella Jongerius’s Coloured Vases series provide both the inspiration and the name for this fabric from Maharam. The Vases pattern grew from Maharam’s desire to develop a more affordable core upholstery line, a collection that also includes Colorwheel, which captures the forms of Jongerius’s research experiments.
5 Sidewise by Teknion
Responding to the call for flexible furniture systems for tight quarters, Teknion combined vertical storage, a neatly integrated power and data interface, and surface heights configurable to lounge-, desk- and counter-heights. Sidewise smartly adapts to the many requirements of small, multi-use offices.
6 Xorel by Carnegie
Alongside the tradition-inspired textiles of their Tribute collection, Carnegie will also exhibit the more modern Xorel Graphic. Combining the high performance of a jacquard weave and the customizability of digital printing, this Cradle-to-Cradle Silver-certified line sports bold prints like Pixel and Medusa.
7 Wind Linear by Global
Global’s collection of seamless lounge furnishings now includes Wind Linear, which incorporates bridge components to create new configurations. The line is customizable with four finishes and fabrics from a range of suppliers including Maharam and Knoll.
NeoCon takes place June 11 to 13 at the Merchandise Mart, 222 West Merchandise Mart Plaza, Chicago.