6 21 1 2 1 The expo halls are given the spirit of a creative city (All images: <strong>Interieur</strong> <strong>Biënnale</strong> <strong>2012</strong>) 2 A view on the piazza
<strong>Biënnale</strong> <strong>Interieur</strong> <strong>2012</strong>: “Biennale in the city equals city in the Biennale” Our Designer section looks a little different than usual, but there’s a good reason for this. In autumn (20-28 October), there is the ‘<strong>Biënnale</strong> <strong>Interieur</strong> <strong>2012</strong>’ in Kortrijk Xpo in Belgium, an event which is a must for both end consumer and professional lovers of design. In this article, we take a look at what can be expected from the Biennale. We mainly focus on the seven design visions for the project ‘Project rooms’, which each cast a different eye on the future experience of living space. Diagonals and piazzas In a time when design continues to gain importance and recognition, the 23rd Design Biennale <strong>Interieur</strong> redefined the role it wants to play. According to the organization, a choice was made for creativity, in line with the anarchistic spirit of the roots of the fair. For the first time, a clear architectural concept will literally transcend the confines of the exhibition halls, in which a ‘city’ is built. Along a pathway – a city plan divided into diagonals and piazzas – there will be a mix of events, installations and displays by young talent. Lowie Vermeersch, president of the Biennale <strong>Interieur</strong> vzw and curator of the Biennale <strong>Interieur</strong> <strong>2012</strong>: “The Biennale started out as an exhibition which offered both professionals and a wider audience the opportunity to discover many unexpected and innovative objects and ideas in the field of interior living and design. It is this creativity we intend to revisit and reinforce. We also want to strengthen the role of <strong>Interieur</strong> as an international and professional platform for the promotion of national and international design.” Breaking through walls Remarkable is that the Biennale for the first time breaks through the walls of Kortrijk Xpo and also offers events on several different locations in the city itself. <strong>Interieur</strong> <strong>2012</strong> takes place on venues such as the Budafabriek, the Budatoren, the Budascoop and the stables of the Broelmuseum, in the centre of the city. Lowie Vermeersch: “Information about design is now available everywhere. Within the context of <strong>Interieur</strong>, there is a less urgent need to inform about what is happening and what’s available. <strong>Interieur</strong> must become a physical, sensory experience which offers new ideas. Hence the expansion into the town, in order to offer the required space for such an experience, also during evening hours. At the same time, the town-based locations allow us to develop new formulas for taking part. More than ever, we offer this space to young design talent and avant-garde brands.” “The city metaphor has arisen quite naturally. On the one hand, the expansion into the city is what gave us the idea to present the idea of the city in the halls. We can offer visitors a city map with diverse ‘neighbourhoods’, some to be found in the halls, others in the town centre. On the other hand, it is our intention to once again make the venue-based exhibition a true journey of discovery, making use of the city metaphor. In the halls, we introduce open squares, diagonal boulevards, various cafés and original snack bars… We want the venue to embody the spirit of a creative town centre where experiences and meetings are central components. In order to achieve this, we must let go of the rigid, grid-based floor plan.” ‘Project rooms’ Perhaps the most striking change is that there is no longer a single ‘guest of honour’. Now, seven designers are offered the opportunity to design a ‘Project room’ for the fair. This brings us to the seven designers we wish to present to you. Lowie Vermeersch: “We have not only invited designers to take part, but also artists and architects. With these project rooms, we want to explore, in a very real sense, the boundaries inherent to visions about how we 7 7
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