The IMM Cologne Pure Talents Contest is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year with a new and innovative concept, aims to promote young design talent.
Four particularly impressive designs were recognised from the more than 1000 submissions to the re-conceptualised Pure Talents Contest: a mobile sauna, roof tiles made from recycled palm fronds, a skilfully crafted, textile partition screen and a foldable three-seater sofa.
The jury of five international designers was, for the first time, composed of former nominees of the competition who have made a name for themselves in the international design community. They were Marco Dessí from STUDIO DESSí, Esther Jongsma from VANTOT, Jonas Wagell from Studio JWDA, Tomás Alonso from Tomás Alonso Design Studio and Yael Mer from Raw-Edges Design Studio.
The winning entry in the “lifestyle and home living in cities with limited space” category was the “MFG Mobile Sauna” (in which “MFG” stands for “Mobil für Gelassenheit” or mobile serenity), an interior design concept from Emil Löber, Sophia Reißenweber and Friedrich Gerlach. Their collaborative submission applies the tiny house principle to an unusual type of space: a mobile sauna. The micro-architectural structure is designed for use in compact settings such as parking spaces, and pairs lightwood with a transparent outer shell. This represents a new, modern take on the communal sauna, a concept deeply entrenched in Scandinavian culture.
Carolin Schelkle is the winner in the “lifestyle and home living in a circular society” category with her “Wasted Treasure” project. The design showcases an alternative way of using biomass generated during palm oil production, especially that produced from the plant fibres in palm leaves, which do not decompose easily. Schelkle’s work illustrates the advantages of this material using roof tiles as an example. The addition of limestone and the recycled material brick dust results in dried, finely ground fibres that make for a weather-resistant, breathable building material. The intelligent repurposing of industrial waste is an important issue that permeates all areas of home living and building.
The winning design in the “lifestyle and home living as a statement/message/concept” category is the “Pleated Partition Screen” from Fenna van der Klei. The screen is made entirely of textiles and constitutes a new and innovative take on traditional folding techniques such as pleating. The fabric is stiffened without binders or adhesives, and stability is achieved merely by means of the folding technique, supported by the felt elements integrated into the pockets. The exquisite use of colours and patterns combines with thoughtful touches and the design’s simplicity to make this submission particularly charming. The self-supporting structure can be easily transported in flat packaging.
In addition to the three winning designs, the jury gave a special mention to the “Ballast” project from Anton Defant, in recognition of his unconventional furniture design. Jury member Tomás Alonso describes it as “probably the quickest three-seater sofa in the world to set up”. “Ballast” makes use of a radical approach that reduces the seat and backrest to the mesh material normally used to secure baggage stowed overhead and is surprisingly comfortable. The compact sofa can be collapsed in minutes, uses little material and is suited to all kinds of living spaces, ensuring that it meets the demands of a nomadic lifestyle.
For more information visit imm-cologne.com/events/pure-talents-contest/
