Light+Building, which will be held in Frankfurt from April 11 - 16, is the world's leading fair for lighting, electrical engineering and building automation. A visit to the trade fair grounds is an absolute must for anyone who works in these fields in a professional capacity. Alongside it, the "Luminale" light festival will transform the city and its surroundings into a stage on which anything to do with lighting is presented. Read all about it in our article on the Luminale. In it we take a look at the highlights at the fair itself - those which no visitor should miss. This year, as Light+Building is being held at almost exactly the same time as Salone del Mobile - something which really should be avoided next time round - it seems all the more worthwhile to filter out the most important items in the run-up to the fair, so as not to waste time once you get there.
In Hall 11, which was opened a good 18 months ago, the most important switch manufacturers such as Berker, Gira, Merten and Jung will be on display. Be sure to visit the exhibition "Architectural Elements" in 11.1, which Stylepark curated, and which brings together various manufacturers of architecture systems in an architectural course. In addition to the fields of design and material, Stylepark is now also involved in architecture systems and the exhibition documents the way we approach the topic.
Hall 1 - particularly 1.2 is traditionally where the best manufacturers of decorative luminaires exhibit. Ingo Maurer's stand is certainly a good starting point. You do not have to be a prophet to predict that the Munich light magician and his team will once again set off creative fireworks. "New ideas, new prototypes, new products," is Ingo Maurer's motto. There will be lot of look forward to, especially now that the days of the light bulb, which Ingo Maurer is second to none in using in his work, are numbered.
Anta Leuchten will be presenting a new table light by Jörg Zeidler; at Marset, one of the leading Spanish manufacturers we can look forward to the "Scantling" luminaire by the aspiring German designer Mathias Hahn. We are also interested in the new creations by Freedom of Creation, not to mention MGX by Materialise. Benwirth Licht with its "Cluster+" system developed as a modular system, presents a luminaire which can be fitted with LEDs and OLEDs. You should also keep an eye out for the creations by Bocci from Canada and Aqua Creations from Israel.
Catellani&Smith, I Tre, Pallucco, Prandina and Axo Light constitute the most important Italian brands, Santa&Cole, Vibia, Arturo Alvarez, Blux and Carpyen represent the strong Spanish market and companies such as Anthologie Quartett, Axelmeiselicht, Tobias Grau, IP44, Serien.Lighting, Mawa, Next, Nimbus and Tecnolumen stand for the highest in German quality. In Hall 1 there are also important brands from Scandinavia such as Bestlite by Gubi, not to mention the Benelux countries, with companies such as Dark, Brand van Egmond. Overall, this is a top quality forum for the best the world has to offer in decorative luminaire design.
In Hall 3 things get more technical, but no less interesting. Flos, Artemide, iGuzzini, FontanaArte, Targetti Poulsen, Castaldi and Viabizzuno - the really big names from Italy are on parade, as are Erco, Kreon, Regent, Modular Lighting, Ludwig Leuchten, Baltensweiler, Bega and Licht im Raum. Having completely repositioned itself, the Freiburg company Spectral will also be exhibiting in Hall 3.
Another highlight is the Festhalle (Hall 2), in which Zumtobel, Osram and Siteco will be presenting their products. And in the Forum, right next to the Festhalle, you can find out all the very latest about OLED technology at Philips Lumiblade.
If you keep the pace up, concentrate on the essentials and follow the "Hall 1-Festhalle-Forum-Hall 3-Hall 11" course you should get a good overview of what there is on offer in a single day.
Preview of new products Light+Building 2010, Frankfurt
Light + Building 2010
The international furniture and interior design fair
from April 11-16, 2010
daily, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., only on Friday, 16th of April from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Messe Frankfurt
Ludwig-Erhard-Anlage 1, Frankfurt am Main
Germany
