The goal of the recently launched "Cross-Border Design Contest" in the Dutch city of Maastricht is to translate the DNA of the Dutch Limburg region in an Interior object.

The sound-absorbing luminaire “Silenzio” by Luceplan enables guests to enjoy the quiet in a restaurant in airy heights in Italy’s Aosta Valley.

EeStairs designed a sweeping staircase for the new headquarters of Dutch manufacturer Vreugdenhil.

A glance behind the scenes and under the floors of the one or other exhibition stand at Orgatec 2016 revealed: The sustainable handling of resources remains a key topic not only in textiles, but also in wall and floor coverings.

If we are to believe the boastful claims made at Orgatec, the fair that has recently come to a close, then the good old office chair will soon be history. With immediate effect, compulsory exercise is the buzzword. So you can forget about just sitting staring at your computer screen.

Vitra creates “Work.” At Orgatec the firm presents itself with a large number of like-minded companies. There is a message in this cooperation. Perhaps firms will form new partnerships, grow together without buying one another or mergin.

The colorful new headquarters of Austrian Federal Railways was furnished with chairs and tables from Arper.

The sixth generation of the classic luminaire “Mildes Licht” has integrated, state-of-the-art technologies that show working in a much better light.

The debutants of this year’s Orgatec make it clear just how much the office world is changing. They are leaving their comfort zone, putting up furniture totems or staging trips to outer space – and all of this with one goal in mind, namely to conquer the dynamic contract market.

At Orgatec you can find them at almost every booth: acoustic elements in all shapes and colors, intended to provide a calm and pleasant working atmosphere in those minimalist open-plan offices.

Benjamin Hubert, a young British designer, was the brain behind “Pair”, a stacking chair for traditional Danish brand Fritz Hansen. Hubert explains to Fabian Peters how the company’s history influenced the process and why the project took him three years to complete.

Wood is a sustainable raw material and a highly versatile construction material. As such, at this year’s “Architect@Work Germany” in Berlin it is the star of the show.

In conversation with Thomas Edelmann, the CEO of Danish textile icon Kvadrat - Anders Byriel - explains, why quality is the most important thing for him, why almost all the employees in the company are a little obsessed and why his firm is keen to continue expanding its competencies.

The sector’s prospects are looking good. Since there are no longer any fixed spaces and new work concepts geared to the digital revolution are in demand, everything is being furnished: Impressions from the Orgatec 2016 trade fair.

Herzog & de Meuron have emerged as the winners of the competition to build the “Museum of the 20th Century” in Berlin.

Thomas Wagner spoke to Alberto Perazza about wrought iron, sustainable products, Venetian hospitality and cosmopolitanism, and the subtle distinctions in design.

For the international interview magazine “Freunde von Freunden”, Magis used pieces by a variety of designers to transform an apartment in Berlin into an event venue.

A really important exhibition and at last one that is ice cold in terms of design and labeling: “Unter Waffen: Fire and Forget 2” in Museum Angewandte Kunst Frankfurt.

The Italian furniture company Magis attracts designers from all over the world. They love collaborating with founder Eugenio Perazza. Although the bar is set high.

The renovation of a historical chateau in Belgium was completed with furniture by Magis.

Tables and chairs by Magis are not only the result of an intensive collaboration. They are also suffused with a special spirit of hospitality.

Talking to Thomas Edelmann, Creative Director of Kinnasand Isa Glink explains what designing and fashioning textiles have in common with the work of an architect, what characterizes the new collection and what it means to belong to the Kvadrat group.

The ceramic color and format system “Pro Architectura” from Villeroy&Boch Tiles was used to create a mural of mosaic tiles for Ingolstadt’s new aquatic center.

The Biennale Interieur in Kortrijk is celebrating its 25th appearance with a Silver Edition. Yet in the jubilee year of all times, the once so fresh spirit is showing signs of fatigue.

Offices are getting ever more comfortable. The only thing is, of course, you still have to work in them. We cast a few glances back at the office of the future and ahead to Orgatec 2016 in Cologne.

With its scenography, the curatorial team of the 25th Biennale Interieur in Kortrijk creates a framework for the fair that works – yet fails to bring it to life with a relevant exhibition program.