Growth reported for the latest edition of the German trade fair

Positive results for imm cologne 2020, which welcomed about 128,000 visitors (an increase over the 125,000 in 2018) and over 1230 exhibitors. But the Internationale Möbelmesse, which has the duty and honor to kick off the fair season in this sector, could not help but reflect the contractions of the German market. To make up for this, there were more impressive, spacious installations, as well as prestigious world premieres, like the debut of the Outdoor Collection of Cassina, underscored by a lively Starck-Urquiola duet.

Lots of greenery and a boost in new developments of design for outdoor living confirmed the vivacity and strategic/commercial value of the outdoor sector, a versatile presence in many of the booths. The theme was also effectively staged in a very extroverted version, in the Das Haus installation. The Spanish studio Mut Design presented an original model of an ideal home, with rooms open to the audience: a circular dwelling, warm and luminous, a pure emblem of Mediterranean character.

Starting precisely with Das Haus, this year the event, in general, expressed a more emotional and engaging character, also thanks to areas set aside for the trends Future Interiors and Pure Atmosphere. There was a perceptible effort to put an indispensable evolution of concepts and contents into practice. For the first time, the fair focused on two thematic worlds, with rationalization of pathways and clarity of visual identity: ‘Pure’ presented the entire world of design brands, while ‘Home’ focused on furnishing proposals in the lifestyle range. The high quality of the projects on view was emphasized by the Pure Talents Contest (Giulio Cappellini was one of the jurors): concrete but poetic, oriented towards optimization of production and sustainability.

The next appointment with imm and Livingkitchen will be from 18 to 24 January 2021.