Retail Observer

DECEMBER 2019 RETAILOBSERVER.COM 33 sanitary industry will be appearing: The Pure Architects interior world (Hall 4.2) will focus on products that are closely connected with the property itself, including sanitary ware, wellness products, tiles for floors, ceilings and walls, building technology, lighting applications and smart home technologies. TREND DEVELOPMENTS IN THE CONTRACT SEGMENT ARE INFLUENCING PRIVATE BATHROOMS In the private real estate market, the size and furnishing of the bathroom is increasingly becoming a crucial purchase criterion for investors. When marketing owner-occupied properties, high-end bathroom furniture and furnishings frequently feature on prospective buyers' wish lists, alongside location. Where the architect plans a larger bathroom with multiple possible uses, this increases the level of furnishing and the design quality of the products used, skillfully transforming them into a private spa. A higher purchase price can then often be achieved for the property. These kinds of product developments in the contract business can now be seen appearing, with a slight delay, in the private segment. Sales figures for shower toilets are currently rising. Wellness products such as infrared cabins, saunas and steam rooms are among the in-demand equipment for private spas. PURE ARCHITECTS: A WALK-IN DESIGN CATALOGUE FOR BATHROOM FURNITURE The new trade fair format Pure Architects was launched in January 2018 in Cologne. Because this interior world is located within the lifestyle-oriented Pure segment, imm cologne is offering exhibitors of innovative interior concepts the opportunity to present their new products and innovations in a compact format every two years at the Interior Business Event. The new format will return for a second time in January 2020 with premium brands such as Laufen, Geberit, Vola, Bette, Dallmer, Klafs, Effegibi, Domovari and Vallone in its lineup. Pure Architects 2020 is therefore set to be a meeting place for sanitary ware brands that want to present their collections to a trend- and design-savvy audience. In addition, Hall 4.2 at imm cologne 2020 will host products installed in the architecture of the building's floors, ceilings and walls, including collections by Laminam, Mafi, Project Floors, Porcelanosa, Vives, Graniti Fiandre, Tecnografica and Neolith. Pure Architects is also the platform for architecturally installed building technologies. Exhibitors such as Gira, Jung, Comelit, Bachmann, Biffar, Miele and Bega will be showing their innovations. With the interactive "let's be smart" installation, imm cologne is not only turning its attention to the important future issue of the smart home for the fifth time, but also demonstrating live how new technologies are having an impact on the design of living spaces – and how interior design is responding. The contract business will be one of the key themes at the linked talks forum The Stage (Hall 3.1) at imm cologne 2020 where numerous speakers will present the latest trends in the hotel and contract business to interior designers and architects. Pure Architects in 2020 will also once again be a creative toolbox for architects, bathroom and light planners, interior designers and buyers. Countless samples of carpets, fabrics, flooring materials, wallpapers and paints will be there to be discovered, offering a host of inspiration for the creative work of planners. Pure Architects is the walk-in design catalogue for the creative industry. KOELNMESSE – GLOBAL COMPETENCE IN FURNITURE, INTERIORS AND DESIGN. Koelnmesse is the world's top trade fair organizer for the areas of furnishing, living and lifestyle. At the trade fair hub of Cologne, the leading international fair imm cologne as well as the trade fair formats of LivingKitchen, ORGATEC, spoga+gafa, interzum and Kind + Jugend rank among the internationally renowned and established industry meeting places. These fairs comprehensively represent the upholstered and case furniture segment, the kitchen industry, the office furniture sector and outdoor living as well as the innovations of the furniture supply industry. Over the last few years, Koelnmesse has specifically added international fairs in the most important fast-expanding markets to its portfolio. These include idd Shanghai, interzum bogotá in Bogotá, interzum guangzhou in Guangzhou and Pueri Expo in Sao Paulo. With ambista, the online portal for the interiors business, Koelnmesse offers direct access to products, contacts, expertise and events relevant to the industry all year round. Further information is available at www.global- competence.net/interiors. For more information about ambista: www.ambista.com. RO

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