Europa by Ron Arad – 2018 IMM Cologne 02

Starting my series of posts about me visiting Imm Cologne 2018 could be worse than with the Ron Arad designed Europa Chair.

The reason is Draenert celebrates its 50ieth Anniversary while displaying this chair that they produced and which is in the collection of various musea.

Draenert was founded in 1968 by Karin and Dr. Peter Draenert and is today a topbrand of the international furniture design. Meanwhile the company is managed by Dr. Patric Draenert of the second generation. Currently we export to more than 50 countries. Important pillars for the sustainable business success are a sound financial structure as well as highly trained and dedicated employees.

Corques – Cork Sofa and Armchair by Lucie Koldova – 2018 IMM Cologne 01


Corques – Cork Sofa and Armchair by Lucie Koldova

I’m planning to visit IMM Cologne again after two years of absence, while last year I visited Maison et Object in Paris instead of IMM. And nice to find out that the designer who will decorate The House (Das Haus) on invitation of the organizing trade show, did indeed design a sofa and a chair for the Belgian manufacturer Per/Use:

A large-scale object to serve as the centrepiece of the interior. It was a fascinating experience to sculpt an object out of a soft textured material. The subtle yet robust form and the combination of natural Portuguese cork and strawberry-red cushions is my personal visual statement.

Text: Lucie Koldova

Sitting Stones by UNStudio/Ben van Berkel – 2013 IMM Cologne (11)

Sitting Stones by UNStudio/Ben van Berkel - 2013 IMM Cologne

Sitting Stones by UNStudio/Ben van Berkel 2013 IMM Cologne

Sitting Stones by UNStudio/Ben van Berkel

Informal working and lounging in an often formal world. Cheerful, free and variable – the Seating Stones by Ben van Berkel create generous seating landscapes. Inspired by nature, they fulfil our longing for naturalness and original forms of seating. Users intuitively follow the possibilities on offer: sitting or lounging around, relaxing or concentrating, on your own or in dialogue. A lively coming together of familiar Lounge Chairs, new Silent, Tub and Side Chairs as well as Poufs. No limits to the arrangements for creative spaces – in an open space office, in lounges, in an inviting entrée.

Text via Walter Knoll

Mademoiselle Lounge Chair by Ilmary Tapiovaara (1956) – 2013 IMM Cologne (10)

Mademoiselle Lounge Chair by Ilmary Tapiovaara (1956)

I’m not a Ilmary Tapiovaara design fan as the chairs and stools tend to fall apart because they cannot bear the load of sitting. In one way or another he wasn’t able to give his designs the sturdiness of real shaker chairs.

Red and Blue becomes Black and Green – 2016 IMM Cologne (01)



No, unfortunately I haven’t visited IMM Cologne in 2016, but I plan to do so again in 2017. Via Design Boom I found out that Patricia Urquiola had designed Cassina’s stand there (and later in Milan). It was in celebration of Cassina’s 90th Anniversary. She used a temporary Rietveld installation in Arnhem of 1955 later used for the sculpture garden of the Kröller-Müller Museum. Cassina had designed a MutAzioni series for the occasion and the Black and Green Rietveld was one of that series.