Passagen: the ‘FuoriSalone’ of imm cologne

For the moment of the design fair, the city of Cologne comes alive with events in showrooms, presentations of new products and encounters with designers. Here are the appointments not to be missed, and some useful addresses

It’s been happening since 1990, and today it covers almost 200 events: Passagen, the interior design week founded and organized by Sabine Voggenreiter in coordination with imm cologne, the design fair programmed from 13 to 19 January in Cologne.

Now at its 31st edition, the ‘FuoriSalone’ of imm cologne enlivens the whole city and involves studios of young designers, universities, architects, showrooms and furniture stores on the streets of the center, the Ring running north-south across the city, the Belgian Quarter, the Südstadt and Deutz areas, and the energizing creative district of Ehrenfeld.

25h Circle, © Steve Herud
25h Circle, © Steve Herud

There are many appointments not to be missed: the magazine AW Architektur&Wohnen at the The Circle 25hours Hotel will assign the AW Designer of the Year Award to the English duo Raw Edges, while the Italian Cultural Institute present an exhibition on Vico Magistretti, to celebrate the centenary of his birth in 2020, featuring his works of architecture but also some of his famous design objects.

Sedia A.I. design by Philippe Starck, Kartell
Sedia A.I. design by Philippe Starck, Kartell

Among the Italian showrooms taking part: Giorgetti, on Kaiser-Wilhelm-Ring, illustrates the age-old technique of steam curving of solid wood; and Kartell, in the store on Hahnenstraße, spotlights the first chair in recycled material created by artificial intelligence based on input from Philippe Starck. Furthermore: Remagen, the historic lighting dealer, celebrates its 175th anniversary with new products by Masiero and Artemide; Boffi introduces the Combine kitchen by Piero Lissoni to an international audience, in the showroom at Spichern Höfe/Spichernstr; while De Padova will unveil the reissue of the Wingback chair by the American designer Paul McCobb, dating back to 1956.

Combine by Piero Lissoni, Boffi
Combine by Piero Lissoni, Boffi

All the events and addresses can be found at www.voggenreiter.com.