The January trade show season began with gusto at this year's edition of IMM Cologne. Chinese architects Neri & Hu took centre stage as the nominated designers for the fourth instalment of IMM's annual 'Das Haus' installation - a concept which, each year, sees a different designer furnish a 240 sq metre house installed within the Messe's halls. Neri & Hu's interpretation saw them collaborate with Danish flooring brand Dinesen to create an elevated winding walkway that took visitors on a tour of interiors filled with mid-century design classics as well as a selection of new prototypes fresh from the Shanghai-based studio's factory floor.
As well as the usual roster of big furniture players the show provided a platform for some exciting new talents and smaller companies thanks to sponsorship from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi). One of the most impressive debuts came courtesy of Neo/Craft, a Berlin-based brand headed up by German designer Sebastian Scherer. Among the label's debut collection of ten sharp-lined designs in steel, glass and wood, the 'Isom' tables garnered much attention - four CNC-cut glass panels in nuanced hues converge to create optical cube-shaped patterns.
Rebranded as 'Pure Talents', IMM's annual showcase of young designers was moved to the roomier environs of the Messe's Hall 1 where we spotted plenty of new names as well as some more familiar faces who were showing as part of a collective exhibition titled ' The Journey'. Winners of our Best Denim 2015 Wallpaper* Design Award Matteo Fogale and Laetitia de Allegri showcased their 'Ish' furniture collection made using marble-like materials created from post-industrial denim and cotton scrap; while recipient of our Best Space Race award, Elisa Strozyk, presented her series of swirling liquid-glazed ceramic tables that resemble far away planets.
Of the graduates showing as part of der Universität der Künste's presentation, Friederike Delius caught our eye with her 'Foldwork' drying rack. Part of a project that set out to elevate the everyday products more often associated with domestic drudgery, the wall-mounted rack, crafted in brass, folds away flat against the wall, saving space and doubling as a graphic artwork when not in use.
True to form, Danish design stalwarts Gubi presented a mix of new and reissued designs including the minimalist 'Modern Line' sofa by Greta Grossman - originally launched in 1949 - and a brand new line of layered glass and aluminium pendant lamps named 'Collar' by Sebastian Herkner.
And finally, providing a little respite from the Messe's Halls we joined rug designer (and joint winner of our Best Space Race Wallpaper* Design Award with his 'Spacecrafted' collection) Jan Kath at his Cologne showroom to celebrate the launch of 'Rugart meets Photography' - an exhibition that showcased the brand's recent collaboration with photographer Lars Langemeier.
Made out of four CNC-cut glass panels in nuanced hues, Neo/Craft's 'Isom' tables garnered much attention
Available in two sizes and six colours, the Isom table's Hexagon-shaped tops rest upon three square panels of glass
When viewed from certain angles, the diamond-shaped surfaces converge to form perfect isometric cube patterns
Chinese architects Neri & Hu were tapped to design the fourth incarnation of IMM's annual 'Das Haus' installation
Each year, the trade show invites a different designer to create a house concept to be installed within the Messe's halls
Neri & Hu's interpretation saw them collaborate with Danish flooring brand Dinesen to create a winding walkway that took visitors on a tour of the house's interiors
Danish design stalwarts Gubi presented a collection of layered glass and aluminium pendant lamps named 'Collar' by Sebastian Herkner
Available in five different colours, the aluminium 'collar' functions as a reflector, diffusing the lamps' light
Gubi's new offerings also included the minimalist 'Modern Line' sofa by Greta Grossman - originally launched in 1949
Interior designer India Mahdavi launched the graphic 'Parrot' tables for French brand Petite Friture. Suitable for use both indoors and out, the design is characterised by its striking red asterisk-shaped foot
Young German studio Kaschkasch launched its foldable FJU desk with Italian brand Living Divan
Following their debut in 2013, Lex Pott's 'True Colours' vases are now in production with Danish brand &Tradition
Inspired by the distinctive upholstery found inside the classic Austin-Healy cars, Walter Knoll's new 'Healey Lounge' features wide armrests designed to be used for jotting down notes or as a surface for resting a tablet or smartphone
Launched in August 2014 by interior designer Martin Mestmacher and business partner Bodo Nicklas, GO by MM (Gentle Objects by Martin Mestmacher) is a new line of black steel-framed furniture
The debut collection includes a dumb waiter, valet stand, sideboard and a wall-mounted storage system that can be configured as a wardrobe, desk or as hallway furniture
The wall-mounted system, called 'Com:pos:ition', is made up of individual components that can be configured to provide different functions
'I wanted to create furniture objects as three dimensional graphic paintings and sculptures,' Mestmacher told us. 'The single components are individual, different and asymmetric but all together considered in balance.'
Austrian architect Nina Mair designed 'Cypris' - a brass-framed, 1950s-inspired mirror that was debuted by German brand Classicon
A collective exhibition titled 'The Journey' included a few familiar faces such as this piece by the winners of our Best Denim 2015 Wallpaper* Design Award, Matteo Fogale and Laetitia de Allegri
The duo's 'Ish' furniture collection is made using 'Denimite' and 'Marbelus' - marble-like materials created from post-industrial denim and cotton scrap
Universität der Künste graduate Friederike Delius presented a contemporary drying rack called 'Foldwork'. Crafted in brass, 'Foldwork' folds away flat against the wall, saving space and doubling as a graphic artwork when not in use
Providing a little respite from the Messe's Halls, rug designer Jan Kath invited us to his Cologne showroom for the opening of 'Rugart meets Photography'
The exhibition showcased the brand's recent collaboration with photographer Lars Langemeier - a series of portraits of Jan Kath's rugs photographed in extraordinary settings
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