Seven days, three hubs, hundreds of brands involved and thousands of visitors from all around the world. These, in short, are the figures that the Cologne Design Week is about to record. From 16 to 22 January, the city puts the spotlight on the international design and furnishing scene, providing an outstanding showcase for business, first and foremost, as well as culture.
There are many events in the calendar, which geographically cross the districts of the city, coming together in three specific hubs.
Passagen, Cologne’s “Fuori Salone” is a catalyst for the entire week, featuring independent designers, emerging networks, high-level manufacturers, universities, institutions and architects, creating a journey through the center and the Belga district, along the ‘Ring’ boulevard and the Rheinauhafen docklands, in the Deutz and in the creative suburbs of Ehrenfeld. Over 180 events connect design with the urban setting. Brands such as Molteni&C, Giorgetti, Boffi and Fermob seize the opportunity to present new products and to welcome guests inside their local stores.
The Design Post is an outstanding exhibition location, which has been completely redesigned and reopens its doors on the 15th. It is home to over 30 Italian and foreign brands, which are displaying their products in a permanent space, available to interior professionals.
Finally, the heart of the Design Week is the IMM Cologne fair, part of a trade fair duo this year with LivingKitchen. With 1300 exhibitors from 50 countries (70% of participating brands are foreign), IMM increasingly aims to offer not just a business platform, «but rather emotions, to create a positive atmosphere in the industry», to quote Gerald Böse, President and CEO of Koelnmesse. Hence the products, trends and creativity that pervade the entire Exhibition Center, including the Pure and Pure Talents area dedicated to young talents, the Sleep area and the Smart segment (Hall 7), which hosts an exclusive Smart Home project created by Imm Cologne, Schwörer Haus and Ikea.
A new addition is the immspired – the bloggers’ trend show area, where the famous bloggers Holly Becker and Desiree Groenendal interpret the 2017 trends in a personal set-up. Around 200 exhibitors are scattered through the LivingKitchen biennial, dedicated to the kitchen and household appliances, with almost 50 new names, of which 30 come straight from Italy. This fair also has an important cultural side, featuring information sessions, events and showcooking. Unmissable!
