HBL Tradeshows: Live from Qubique

Friday 28 October 2011

Welter at Qubique 2011


WGSN-homebuildlife highlights the emerging trends from the first-ever Qubique, held at Berlin's disused Tempelhof airport and billed as a "next-generation trade show":

Show your working: Qubique's organisers have dedicated a section of the fair called Qubique Factory to exposing the manufacturing process of esteemed companies such as Thonet, which is showing a steam-bending machine. Other brands and designers show artisans at work within their stands or have installed working machines in their spaces.

Pleating: This traditional technique is applied to materials including paper and wood veneer to imbue solid materials with the flexibility usually associated with fabric and create a surprising contrast.

Imperfection: The flaws and one-off quirks that cause an object to be deemed imperfect or damaged are celebrated as desirable features. These range from the patina of aged and weathered metals to patched and darned rugs, unfinished ceramic surfaces and a timeworn wooden table encased in resin to preserve its appearance.

Subscribers, read the entire live report here.