While critics denounce such as an easy and obvious way to generate content – for us reviewing the past year is an important step in planning our activities for the coming year: where to go, who to talk to, what to sit on and, just as importantly, what to ignore or give up.

The only real problem for us is that in preparing such we realise just how much material we haven’t had the chance to use – and so receive an impression of how much more material we will acquire in the coming year.

Heck!

Reading Table by Uli Budde @ Designers Fair 2010 Cologne

The year started, as ever, with IMM and Designers Fair in Cologne. Aside from the opportunity to roll out a few anti-carnival gags the trip introduced us to some wonderful new products/designers, specifically; Uli Budde, Christian Lessing, Martin Neuhaus, Alexander Gufler, maigrau, Tim Baute etc, etc, etc…

A further highlight was the introduction of Herbert Hirche’s Interbau 57 armchair through Richard Lampert.

Negative was the lack of innovation and – if we’re honest – quality on display at IMM. For Germany’s most important furniture trade fair it just simply wasn’t good enough.

Let’s see what IMM 2011 brings.

In February we were then on much safer ground with the opening of the VitraHaus on the Vitra Campus in Weil am Rhein and a visit to the MoormannHaus in Aschau in Chiemgau.

Moormann Haus, Aschau in Chiemgau

Aside from the way the VitraHaus majestically appears before you, for us the real joy is the decision to include “non-Vitra” items in the displays – very much in the spirit of Charles and Ray Eames‘ “Collage” principle of interior design.

If we did have one wish for 2011 it would be that rather than only including established designers, that Vitra include one or the other design from a young designer or two in the VitraHaus exhibition space.

VitraHaus is big enough to give young talent a chance.

While the MoormannHaus is every bit as spectacular a piece of architecture as Vitra’s, the real highlight of the trip to Aschau was Berge - the Moormann auberge

Much more than a delightful base for a trip to the Bavarian Alps – Berge is much more a wonderful introduction to the Moormann philosophy.

In March (smow)airport systems premiered their range of USM Haller based airport solutions at the Passenger Terminal Expo 2010 in Brussels. Created in cooperation with USM Haller , (smow) airport systems have developed a range of solutions for both operative, Lounge and Retail areas of airports – solutions that were very well received by the PTE visitors.

The company name and structure may have changed since PTE 2010 but we will be at PTE 2011 in Copenhagen to both follow the development of the project as well as to report on other developments in airport / public area furniture world.

Full house in the (smow)room for the Leipzig Buchmesse readings

Back in Leipzig March is Buchmesse and March 2010 saw the most successful series of readings ever in the (smow)room in Burgplatz.

Ever!

Starting with Grillsaison from Philipp Kohlhöfer and then moving on over “New voices from Switzerland” to “Meine Frau will einen Garten” by Gerhard Matzig the three readings provided three very different if equally enjoyable experiences.

More so in 2011 !

Fritz Haller against Egon Eiermann.

While ahead of the 2010 (smow) designer furniture world cup final many bemoaned the decision of both Switzerland and Germany to  play safe with their more technical formations;  the match itself was one for connoisseurs.

Certainly  a Nils Holger Moormann for Germany or a Susi and Ueli Berger for Switzerland could have brought a little more imagination and colour to the match.  But what the two old masters lacked in flamboyancy they more than compensated for with technical brilliance and confident construction.

Egon Eiermann opened gently with his classic deskframe before quickly doubling up with his deceptively subtle shelving unit. Sensing the “office furniture” direction the match was taking Fritz Haller reached deep and produced a “Komplex integriertes Tisch-Organisations-System”. His KITOS Table being such a departure from his normal USM Haller system that it caused Eiermann to briefly stumble, the Brandenburger regaining his composition in time however to take a 1-0 lead with a beautifully worked SE 18 für Wilde + Spieth.

Spurned on by Eiermann’s SE 18 Fritz Haller responded with a quickfire roll container / Haller table combination before drawing level with a well placed Haller table flat screen swing arm.

The longer the match went on the more Fritz Haller’s stable USM Haller system seemed to control the match; however Egon Eiermann refused to give in and late in the second half  attempted a delightful  SE 68 /E 14 Rattan stool double. Neither of which could quite match the versatility of Haller’s USM system and with match heading for extra time Fritz Haller slide in a perfectly executed metal extension shelf for the victory.

And to take the (smow) designer furniture world cup back to Switzerland for the first time.

(smow)2010 Overview

The Swiss fans celebrate Fritz Haller's victory over Egon Eiermann

The second semi-final of the 2010 (smow) designer furniture World Cup was for many design critics the most interesting match of the competition Charles and Ray Eames against Egon Eiermann.

Not only because of the international stature of the two design teams; nor because of the important role that both played in the development of industrial and furniture design in their home nations. The critical interest was much more if – and when yes to what extent – Egon Eiermann’s approach would mirror that of Charles and Ray Eames.

And the opening exchange was to provide for ample controversy.

Charles and Ray Eames opened with their standard DCW plywood chair: a move which provoked an almost instantaneous  response from Egon Eiermann in the form of an SE 42. Referee  Arthur Mehlstäubler rejecting appeals for a penalty on the basis that the the formal vocabulary available for designing such a plywood chair is limited: so ball to hand and as such no penalty. A decision that was not universally accepted amongst the capacity crowd in Durban.

Undeterred Charles and Ray Eames produced  quick fire DSR and DSW sidechairs before taking a deserved 1:0 lead with one of their trademark “Eames Elephants“.

The Eames Elephant however seemed only to spur Egon Eiermann to increase his efforts and, after a little experimentation, Eiermann was able to draw level with his Rattan Chair. Shortly afterwards he moved into a 2:1 lead with his deceptively robust Eiermann deskframe.

And despite some intensive aluminium chair work from Charles and Ray Eames, Egon Eiermann held on for a  2:1 victory.

(smow)2010 Overview

The first semi-final of the 2010 (smow) designer furniture World Cup pitted not only two generations against each other but two approaches to design: Fritz Haller the classically trained Swiss linealist and Tom Dixon the warehouse party welder turned doyen of contemporary English design.

As ever Fritz Haller began with his universally acclaimed System USM Haller formation. The international success of Haller’s USM Haller system is largely due to its deceptive flexibility: It looks rigid and firm, but in reality can be quickly altered to meet any demands.

Tom Dixon is however too long in the tooth to be easily taken in by Fritz Haller’s approach, and it was the improbable former Habitat chief designer who made the first serious move with an excellently worked Spin candelabra. Although thrown by the unusual combination of weight and mobility Fritz Haller is a master with metal and he was able to counter with a delightful hanging file / extension door combination.

Switching tactics Dixon produced an ingenious wooden Offcut stool; an article which again seemed to have Haller beaten, the old master however recovering in the last minute to clear with a glass table top.

In the second half England brought on Jasper Morrison in the hope that the change in style would upset Fritz Haller – it didn’t and late in the second half Fritz Haller demonstrated once again why his USM Haller system is so good when he effortlessly converted a lowboard L into a sideboard M for a hard fought victory.

(smow)2010 Overview

To close the group phases of the 2010 (smow) designer furniture world cup one of the most anticipated contests: Charles and Ray Eames against Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec.

With everything to play for the Bouroullec brothers opened with an adventurous Slow Chair for Vitra before producing a  wonderful Alcove Sofa.

Neither attempt was quite good enough to break through a solid Eames defence; although were good enough to keep Charles and Ray Eames on the back foot and so prevent them making any meaningful first half advances.

Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec started the second half in much the same fashion as the first; a Steelwood chair and shelving combination for Magis posing a tough challenge for Charles and Ray Eames.

The pair responded to the challenge however producing a quickfire DSR, DAR, RAR triple to deflect the Bouroullec’s advances.

With the match heading for an apparent draw Charles and Ray Eames produced a sensuous La Chaise to take a hard fought victory and qualify for the semi-finals.

The Group D table and all Group D results can be found here.

The familiar nature of Group D was continued with this meeting of two grandees of the international designer furniture circuit: Eero Saarinen and Alexander Girard.

With both still having an outside chance of qualifying for the semi-finals the start was edgy and imprecise.

Alexander Girard however was first to find his rhythm and came close with an intricate Names fabric. Eero Saarinen responded with a clever Grasshopper chair, a move which produced the most delightful Millerstripe Multicoloured bright and neutral combination response from Alexander Girard.

And the 1:0 lead.

And with his travelling army of Wooden Dolls cheering him on Girard held on for  deserved victory.

The Group D table and all Group D results can be found here.

Although always a hard fought encounter this Holland – Germany match had an added edge; the winner proceeding to the semi-finals of the 2010 (smow) designer furniture World Cup.

Ahead of the match the Dutch decided to switch Hella Jongerius for Marcel Wanders; hoping that the creative force behind moooi and droog could better counteract Grcic’s clear, linear forms. And the tactic worked. With first his Knotted Chair and then his New Antiques combination for Capellini, Marcel Wanders took a deserved 2:0 lead. Becoming increasingly frustrated by his inability to make headway Grcic unleashed an unnecessary 360 degree chair and was rightly booked for a dubious bit of “product reference” to George Nelson‘s 1964 Nelson Perch.

At half-time the Germans substituted Grcic for Nils Holger Moorman, and the wily old man of modern German design quickly brought the score back to 2:1 with an unbelievably cheeky Rechenbeispiel. As the second half progressed it was clear that Nils Holger Moormann’s more authentic, soulful anarchy was stronger than Marcel Wanders’ carefully considered, calculated imagination and so it came as no surprise when Nils Holger Moorman drew level with his Bookinist before taking the lead with Liesmichl.

A thoroughly absorbing and dramatic encounter ending 3:2 for Germany.

The Group B table and all Group B results can be found here.

Konstantin Grcic is booked for his 360 chair

For both Canada and Spain the tournament was already over before this match kicked off.

Despite that both sides contributed to a high quality and keenly contested match.

Although on paper Patricia Urquiola was the favourite, she was unable to properly take advantage of her greater repertoire, preferring instead to rely on fairly large scale, prestige projects.

Although Frank Gehry remained true to his non-linear form he surprised Urquiola late in the match with a left twist cube for Heller.

The final score of 1:0 certainly flattering Frank Gehry

The Group B table and all Group B results can be found here.

Knowing that they needed to defeat Fritz Haller’s stable and flexible USM Haller system in order to advance the Italians choose to stick with Antonio Citterio for this all or nothing encounter.

Setting quickly to work Antonio Citterio rolled out a succession of office chairs; including the Oson CE, Axess and T-chair for Vitra. However regardless of what Antonio Citterio tried, Fritz Haller always found a combination to match and ultimately took a 1:0 lead with a beautifully finished Haller Table.

Undeterred Citterio kept producing the office chairs and was eventually rewarded when his Vitra Skape sneaked in to make the final score 1:1

It was, however, very much a case of “too little too late” and so Switzerland and Fritz Haller advanced to the semi-finals.

The Group A table and all Group A results can be found here.

Following Verner Panton’s red card against Fritz Haller, Denmark were forced into a change and so Arne Jacobsen lined-up against Maarten Van Severen.

And although this was never going to be a high-tempo encounter the crowd in Johannesburg did become somewhat impatient at the incredibly slow pace of the competition.

With both designers endlessly reworking and perfecting their pieces it was well into the second half before the first attack developed: a neat Ant Chair from Arne Jacobsen giving the old master of Danish design the slight advantage. Arne Jacobsen extended his lead with an Egg Chair and seemed to be heading for a clear victory before Maarten Van Severen salvaged a draw with a late .07 and Kast combination for Vitra.

The Group A table and all Group A results can be found here.