IMM Cologne 2016

01 Vitra, Jasper Morrison’s HAL armchair

The Swiss company, founded in 1950, has collaborated with the world’s most renowned designers. One of them is Jasper Morrison, who won this year’s A&W designer of the year award and created this timeless HAL armchair, relaunched in all-white for the spring.

02 Nikari, Harri Koskinen’s January coffee table

Nikari makes sustainable wooden furniture and has been around since 1967. At this year’s fair the Finnish brand premiered Harri Koskinen’s January coffee table in ash wood, which neatly fits in with the company’s collection 12 Designs for Nature.

03 Artek, Kaari shelf

Brought to life by visionaries Alvar and Aino Aalto, Maire Gullichsen and Nils-Gustav Hahl, this Helsinki-based firm remains true to the values of its founders with the new Kaari (“arc” in Finnish) shelf, designed by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec.

04 Thonet GmbH, Jorre van Ast’s 1060 table

The Germany-based company, founded in 1853, paired up with Dutch designer Jorre van Ast for this bentwood table. The V-shaped legs and rounded corners reflect the nature of the brand’s classic Viennese coffee-house chair range designed by the Thonet Brothers in 1900.

05 Kalmar Werkstätten, Fliegenbein BL floorlamp

Garth Roberts’ designs define Kalmar’s collection, inspired by the timeless creations of Julius August Kalmar who founded the company in 1881. This BL floorlamp – with its quirky metal-tube legs and pleated shade – originally came out in 1957 and was recently reborn by Roberts.

06 String Furniture, shelf system

String’s story began when Swedish publisher Bonnier initiated a bookshelf competition in 1949 to boost sales. Nils Strinning’s shelf system won and quickly became a design classic, particularly in Europe and Scandinavia. Today Strinning’s customisable shelves are available for every room of the house.

07 Molteni, Giò Ponti D.655.1 chest of drawers

This mid-century modern chest of drawers was built by Italian architect and designer Giò Ponti in the 1950s and given a second lease of life by family-run furniture brand Molteni. Hand-painted and fitted with elm, Italian walnut, mahogany and rosewood handles, this piece is one to be passed down from one generation to the next.

08 Muuto, Tile cushion

Norwegian designers Anderssen & Voll designed this woollen Tile cushion exclusively for the Scandinavian brand. Its geometric pattern was woven by skilled craftsmen at the Norwegian textile mill Gudbrandsdalens Uldvarefabrik, which dates back to 1887.

09 Walter Knoll, EOOS Isanka sofa

Founded as a leather shop in the 19th century, this German company recently celebrated its 150th anniversary and respects its history with the creation of this EOOS-designed Isanka sofa, featuring premium hand-sewn saddle leather.

10 Mater, J80 chair

Mid-century modern was ubiquitous at this year’s fair and a particularly beautiful example of this was presented by Danish furniture-maker Mater. The new edition of Jørgen Bækmark’s J80 solid-oak chair with a woven paper-yarn seat is crafted in Denmark.