At this year’s “Maison&Objet” in Paris the focus was on more than just tradition and craftsmanship. Another trend we noted: in an attempt to address a wider audience, design manufacturers demonstrated an increasing consideration of new product categories in the areas of accessories.

During imm Cologne, the Museum für Angewandte Kunst opened a special kind of exhibition: “Isn’t it romantic? – Contemporary Design Balancing between Poetry and Provocation”. An homage to the longing for a world that isn’t always perfect.

Touch-screen displays, adjustable work surfaces, sensor-controlled coffee making: “Living Kitchen”, the biennial fair parallel to imm Cologne, presented technology as an aid to a better life.. A vision that even proves rather convincing on occasion.

The imm Cologne is swiftly getting back on an even keel. And how are designers and manufacturers making use of the opportunity? A tour of the trade fair shows that they often resorted to the tried-and-true, reanimating and dressing it up for contemporary use. Even Konstantin Grcic opted for a tongue-in-cheek approach to a design classic.

“Featured Editions” developed by the imm Cologne in collaboration with Stylepark and premiering at this year’s fair presented a broad spectrum of concepts that were both creative and artistic. The new format saw a positive response from exhibitors and visitors alike – plans for the next installment in 2014 are already in the pipeline.

In honor of his 70th birthday, Architecture Forum Aedes in Berlin has doffed its metaphorical cap to Wolf D. Prix, dedicating a small retrospective to the architect and his firm Coop Himmelb(l)au.

What will tomorrow’s offices look like? What role will technology play in all this? Or aesthetics? Thomas Wagner spoke to Hanns-Peter Cohn, CEO at Vitra, about the office as an urban landscape, tiny office cubicles and places of retreat, replacing felt with polyester and future developments.

This year’s Heimtextil in Frankfurt runs the danger of being memorable for its superficiality rather than its quality. However, they have come up with some real highlights – and these aren’t restricted to the “Being” trend show alone.

I’m tempted to say: It’s about time. Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec have been named “A&W Designers of the Year 2013”. Certainly cause for a portrait of these two designers extraordinaire.

“…There is something charming in the sound of an old wooden floor and the silence of a thick woolen carpet…”

“…In this way, we have on the one hand transformed the fair stand into a notional art gallery, on the other into a woodland scene…”

“…The concept was inspired by warship ‘dazzle’ design, which was used in the early 20th century to provide abstract camouflage to moving objects…”

“…the rugs become reminiscent of corals, anemones or sponges…”

“…This was in fact our first real contact with the area of ‘flooring’…”

“…My favorite type of flooring? The turf in Munich’s ‘Allianz Arena‘…“

The BAU, world’s leading trade fair for architecture, materials and systems, celebrates its 20 year anniversary in 2013. A list of selected exhibitors shows you which manufacturers are to be found where.

“…to be honest I had never really stopped to think about laminate flooring before…”

“…combine different types of wood in homage to the material’s diversity…”

“…The ground has our utmost attention…”

Each year, imm cologne is the first event to present the latest home trends for Europe and overseas. Over 1,050 exhibitors from more than 50 countries will present their innovations at the furniture fair. An exhibitor schedule presents the most important manufacturers.

It’s all go again in Cologne! Everybody is getting ready for imm Cologne, but that’s by no means all the city has to offer. We’re already looking forward to the furniture frenzy, “Passagen” Interior Design Week, Designer of the Year, and of course to Cologne, Kölsch beer and critique. Or will it all be much more romantic than we think?

When designer Stefan Diez agrees to design a presentation setting for the domotex in which artists, designers and exhibitors consider the theme of “flooring” one has every good reason to be excited. From January 12 through 15 you can make up your mind on the fruits of these innovative collaborations.

If you’ve seen one trade fair you’ve seen them all, right? Domotex in Hanover is proof that it doesn’t have to be that way, that unusual concepts are most certainly welcome. In Stefan Diez the organizers have not only got an excellent designer on board, but they have let themselves in for a rather exciting experiment. Before the trade fair kicks off, Uta Abendroth spoke to Stefan Diez about his approach, his favorite flooring and designers who are still looking for something.

Between mid-January and mid-March there will be plenty of excuses to visit every corner of Europe. And learn a great deal about building, gardening and interiors along the way. Here we have compiled a must-have guide to the most important trade fairs for both the professionals and all the other aficionados from the worlds of architecture and design.

Happy New Year! Sure, everything hasn’t transformed overnight or even got better. But does this necessarily mean that 13 is an unlucky number?

Developed as part of the “Audi Urban Future Initiative” and the “Audi Urban Future Award”, the “mooove.com” online platform and the accompanying context-based search engine we.moove.com first went live in October 2012. Anyone can use them to find out more about how our cities and metropolitan regions will look in 2030.

Is there still a boundary between what is private and what is public? In its consideration of this question, the “Dornbracht Conversations” in Berlin’s Kunst-Werke – KW Institute for Contemporary Art turned into something of a verbose stocktaking.

Do you know your architecture and design? Do you read our News&Stories articles, regularly receive our Newsletter or use our database for research? And do you like tackling tricky questions?

A paradise of chocolate, bonbons and candy canes – no, we’re not talking about “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”. This place can be found right here in Frankfurt. A visit to the chocolaterie Bitter & Zart.

While the architect has his office, and the designer his workshop, the artist has a studio.

Hamburg has splashed out on a new subway line with two new, well-designed train stations. One is for the most part still closed since there are no finished buildings close by. But one day there will be thousands using the new route to travel through the city. That’s a promise!

The Christmas season. It’s the time of year when Christmas lists are made and presents are exchanged. Here the Stylepark team share their festive gift recommendations – and introduce themselves while they’re at it.

Are we already starting to miss her, the good old “Ostplatte”? And how about our notion of “city lighting” in Berlin? Two card games enlighten us on the ways in which you can toy around with history and learn something in the process.