An elaborate coverage on design trends will be published by Surfaces Reporter Magazine
Interzum, cologne is an important destination for Surface décor trends. While we look at the designs, which seem to be ‘must-haves’ for the Indian market, we also look at the other side – how Indian players are choosing their new designs, inspirations & collection from the fair. In decorative laminates, design creators have been trying to get closer & closer to natural materials and hence they draw inspiration from surrounding environment, moods and natural materials. The level of closeness, the touch of technology and innovation determine how successful it will be.
Reproducing materials in laminated surfaces has been a trend ever since however, this time there were good attempts to display design inspired from urbanism, abstracts and subtle feel of surroundings materials, including metals.
Stone, woods and coming back of metal is what we saw at Interzum 2019. There were displays of larger wood or stone block patterns. The modern scanning technology has enabled the designers to imitate and recreate any stone block, wood grain with ditto color match or even with improvisations inspired from surrounding taste and fashion.
As Indians, we were more known to spend in hiding the concrete surfaces with paints. This is no more true for the urban well travelled population. Concrete not only provides a cool look in construction, but have found place in furniture and interior design extensively. Architects today are in love with the grey concrete surface. This was quite obvious and visible in the collections of design paper companies. The Grey were displayed for areas like living room, bedroom and even bathroom furniture.
Imitating wood blocks, veneers, aged wood, smoky wood, chiseled or sawn etc have been there from quite some time but this time Interzum stalls had inspirations
from dyed and neo-urban colors that were beautifully amalgamated with wood grains.
The Italian veneer manufacturer Alpi's Gamperana Triplex veneer collection was launched in collaboration with designer Martino Gamper. The veneer sheets grouped in three, was visibly a very unique composition. Definitely one of the trends that dominated interzum 2019 was 'increasing urbanisation'. With growing numbers moving to cities, living space is in increasingly short supply, hence for optimal utilisation of the available floor space and components to provide more space per square metre.
“Urban” is an on-trend texture that is ideal for stylish, modern kitchens and is one of the new products being presented at interzum at Saapi. With concept “I’m Pulse”, Impress decor presented new designs with light colors suiting for wall design, furniture or floor covering. lnterprint displayed the possibilities of digital printing in a “future-oriented” way that was covering all possible applications. The presentation of textures with “Xelio” finish foil were stunning and very close to the materials it intended to replicate with. Materiality and authenticity at Interprint design display was appreciated by the laminate producing companies, visiting Interzum 2019.
The design introduced by Décor base Paper printers like Schattdecor, Chiyoda, Lamigraf, Toppan, Decotec, Surtco etc were also appreciated by visitors, which details report would be covered in coming issue of ‘Surfaces Reporter’ magazine.
Companies like Egger showcased designs which are in sync with present demand like striking, rustic woods with new synchronised pore surfaces, kind of so called rugged and worn out wood. Egger’s presentation was more on lines of taste India market is moving towards. At Egger, the concrete decors with Concrete light grey were part of the style collection of “Loft Living”, which is characterised by spacious living in the city.
In the field of digital reproductions, the influence of matt, metallic-look surfaces is growing. The Viscora® Supermatt metallic coloured lamination film by Austrian exhibitor Hueck Folien is an example of this trend, as is a new surface by Egger that imitates the look and feel of finely brushed metal. Plate makers like Sesa, Flai also unveiled new texture during the show, which catched many eye bolls.
The following briefs are just a few from the galore of inputs gathered at Interzum 2019, all relevant for Ply Reporter’s Readers.
Digital printing is enabling printing of choicest designs with unique patterns while soft-touch or anti-fingerprint effects ensure an excellent look and feel that lasts.
Innovative digital printing technology makes even wooden surfaces look and feel like real wood.
Digital printing system based on water-based inks will be prevalent and emerge in various applications.
We are seeing design possibilities of thermoplastic materials and the functional features of laminates. Hence Foils and texture Foils are going to be a reality sooner than anticipated.
Innovation in ways to repair structured thermoplastic surfaces while retaining their performance characteristics and this is one of the sought after charecteristics going to be desired by Indian designers and architects as well.
This Interzum was full of mixed concepts instead of sticking to certain color, pattern, tone or haptic or textures. It was a pure medly of old designs represented in new dash of urban design.
Many exhibitors at interzum 2019 focused on flexibility in applications hence designs that fits in multitasking décor. The effort was viewed as providing foundation for a consistent home architecture and décor. The increasing fluidity of transitions is having an effect on systems, fittings and lighting.
Last but not the least, the range extends from real metal, ceramics, and stone to surfaces with a concrete look. However, the new surface designs had one common thing - authenticity. The designs exhibited authenticity in feel, look, touch and were pleasing to the senses. The Ply Reporter won’t hesitate in boldly saying that this year is about what kind of feelings a surface design can emote. Reiterating at our belief, a design expert commented, “Marble, metal and textile fabrics are now redesigned, merged and reproduced in a deceptively authentic way thanks to the latest technologies and add value to furnishing products.”
THEME & INNOVATION IN HARDWARE & FITTINGS:
The Ply Reporter team spent considerable time learning about innovations at interzum 2019. The following are few of the highlights just for a quick read and awareness.
Miniaturisation due to Urbanization was a widely discussed theme by many designers at Interzum. Components are getting smaller yet highly effective. Increasing flexibility and multifunctionality in furniture is going hand in hand with rising standards for the design of technical solutions.
In this context, the miniaturisation of fittings technology and components such as control and lighting elements continues to play a major role. At interzum, Kesseböhmer presented a new flap fitting with smaller dimensions and smart design and functions. One example of this trend was the new Schüco Open style system, that allows spaces to be flexibly joined or subdivided in line with requirements.
Highly flexible also sums up the presentation by Hettich, a specialist in functional fittings, who presented multifunctional new products for different living situations. The Surfaces Reporter design team was impressed by the concept of “panel are the new fittings’ based simple principle that instead of seeing the furniture panel and fittings as two separate components, they are conceived as one single unit. The magazine will write articles on this in its future issues.
Kesseböhmer’s “urban smart kitchen“ and Hettich new concepts for mini-apartments had similar message - growing urbanisation is leading to smaller spaces hence the future belongs to smart and optimum space taking hardware. Converting the same small living areas as modular kitchen or a smart built in wardrobe was pointing towards individually adaptable and versatile planning with new generation hardware and fittings that were combined intelligently with apt sliders. Companies like Blum, Hommel, Hafele and Pessotto presented their responses to the specific requirements of living in small spaces, through their designs.