Interieur Kortrijk

The Insider’s Tip !

Interieur Kortrijk is one of the worldwide leading design fairs for interior furnishings –as well concerning the quality of the exhibition as the originality of presentation.
„Everyone, who wishes to get an oversight of the developments in High End Design, is here at the right place!“(Daniel von Bernstorff on www.stylepark.com). The trade-show takes place in Kotrijk, from Friday, October 15th to Sunday 24th.


© Interieur Kortrijk 08 - Key Visual

The heartbeat counts! Passion is sensed at the people going for this trade-show, doing this trade-show. This may be one important reason of its success, besides skill and market analysis. Half an hour from Brussels, you will find the Interieur Kortrijk, a fine, interesting and highly successful Design-Show that keeps your attention up at all times. The perfect place to get inspired and – being rather small – it gives you time to take for the details.
Well established, since 1968, it offers an elaborate international exhibitors‘profile – 2008, about 66% – with preselected exhibitors arriving from over 30 countries. Here, international manufacturers present their latest and best products. Along with these established giants of design, the Biennale – with a special low-budget / high-impact formula – gives room to the emerging designers of today and tomorrow, as well as for educational organisations and support services needed to the global design scene.
In 2008, almost 95,500 visitors have been arriving from 60 countries. Distinctiveness: the admittance is to a mixed audience: not only to professionals, but also to the general public, which is quite special.

© Interieur Kortrijk 08 – MonaLight – Switch White Lichtschalter

Winner of the DME Award 2008 (Design Management Europe)
The Interieur Foundation, organizer of Interieur Kortrijk, has been awarded with the prize of best management of design in a public or non–profit organisation. It is the only pan–European business award for design management. Its objectives are to recognise and award management teams who demonstrate vision, skills and leadership qualities to implement successful design strategies. The Interieur Kortrijk states a beautiful example.

Dieter Van Den Storm is the Main Project–Coordinator of Interieur Kortrijk. He organizes the trade-show  for the Interieur Foundation, Belgium, together with his team. We asked the management team:

Interieur Kortrijk is a fascinating show. It has gone a long way since 1968: have there been any substantial changes in your philosophy since it started? What was the original idea?
The aim of the Interieur Foundation has always been to promote creativity in design, through the means of a major international biennale, which offers an overview of the most recent developments and most successful projects in design. Recently this mission statement was extended to design and product development.

What happens today? As for your Public, are there more contractors visiting Interieur Kortrijk or retailers aiming to consumers? What kind of public are you aiming at?
Stephanie Delatter , part of the team, came up with a list:
Last edition, 46,5 % of all visitors attended Interieur 08 for professional reasons. This professional attendance included the following categories of visitors:
•    46,7 % interior designers, architects and contract specifiers
•    21,3 % working in the construction sector, wood sector, residential construction, painting and decorating sector
•    11,8 % are working in the furniture industry
•    10,8 % working in textiles, graphic sector, designers, trade, communication, culture and education
•    8,4 % working in lighting sector

Interieur Kortrijk , is it more a business platform or is it an information and / or innovation platform?
The Interieur Biennale is a platform open to both professional visitors as to the general public. This is one of the reasons why Interieur is so different from other design events. It is a rare occasion where exhibitors receive both reactions: critical reflections from professionals as spontaneous reactions from the public….the ideal test case for new products! Professionals use Interieur as a business platform. The general public discovers novelties and trends, and gets informed where necessary…a unique and international platform where there is time for reflection, encounters and business.

How are you facing the crisis? There has been less public coming recently, but that can also mean that a natural selection is taking place and only the really interested – in doing business – are coming. What are the plans?
As we just opened the inscriptions for the exhibitors, it is too early to pronounce how the crisis will have an impact on the exhibitors list. That it will influence the inscriptions is without doubt. In 2008, when the crisis just started, the Biennale escaped the cut downs. In 2010, however, we will face a different design landscape. As Interieur remains one of the most important international platforms, companies will not skip the Biennale. They might, however, change their tactics in how to present their products. This will give space to new and different companies to participate. An interesting movement and one to look forward to!

2010: New Halls prove Original Design
The international success of the Interieur Biennale has seen the event outgrow the existing Kortrijk Xpo venue. Since its first edition in 1968 – in the De Coene hall – the site has continued to evolve with the new halls constructed by Branzi and Kieckens. For the 2010 edition – inspired by a work of the Painter, Sculptor and Architect Georges Van Tongerloo – the Architects Geers and Van Severen designed a 570 metres long covered external gallery. Thus, in case of rain, it will be possible to reach the halls without getting wet. Furthermore, the Rambla will feature a large entrance building on both sides, which will make it the central access point for the halls. Outside, two smart platforms, each between 8,000 and 9,000 m², feature all connection options. With these changes, Interieur 2010 will be at home in an interesting and practical new architectural environment!

Guest of Honor to the Interieur 08 was Jaime Hayon from Spain. He showed a retrospective of his most important works for BD Ediciones, Bisazza, Bosa, Camper, Established & Sons, Gala & Gino, Gestalten Verlag, Lladró, Metalarte, Moooi and Swarowski.

© Interieur Kortrijk 08 - sBD-ShowtimeCollection VasesColors

Design Competition
Since 1972, an international design competition takes place alongside every INTERIEUR. The latest edition attracted 286 entries from 33 countries. The prototypes were judged by an international jury of prominent designers, design critics and industry shapers. 14 prizes were awarded in 2008. In total, the winners walked away with 35.000 € in prize money, sponsored by eleven prominent institutions. The previous winners were by alphabetical order: Ligne Roset, Kundalini and Minotti.

Base: Living XL Special Edition 1/2010

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Interieur Kortrijk in a nutshell