ISH Special 02.2009

Dear Readers

For this year's ISH, the international trade fair for bathroom, air-conditioning and building technology we have for the first time compiled our essential Architonic Guide featuring the most important manufacturers for architects. With this Newsletter we would also like to draw your attention to a number of special events on the occasion of the fair, which takes place from 10 - 14 March 2009.

After Cologne and Stockholm Architonic will once more be presenting its new Concept Space II in Frankfurt, too. Here you can read part 2 of the "Making of" story.
You are cordially invited to visit us in Hall 3.1 from 10 March!

We take a look back at the Furniture Fair in Stockholm and present a few selected new products on show at the most important furniture fair in Scandinavia.

Be inspired!

Your Architonic team
Zurich | Milan | Berlin | Barcelona | Copenhagen | London | Miami

At ISH, too, you are cordially invited to visit us in our Architonic Concept Space II! After the Furniture Fair in Stockholm you'll find us at ISH in Frankfurt in Hall 3.1, Stand B09 from 10 March. Here you can get to know our team and the latest developments at www.architonic.com in person.

In our last Newsletter we reported on the robot-controlled construction of the cubes made of Swisspor insulating foam at the ETH Zurich. Their fragile structure now had to be covered by a protective layer so that they could be transported and put into use. For the facade of their sWISH* pavilion at Expo 02 Gramazio & Kohler sprayed a layer of polyurethane directly on the insulating material. For this process we once more received the support of AGF AG, the specialists in liquid sealing.

Polyurethane consists of two components and is as flexible as rubber. The fast reacting dual-component material hardens within 15 seconds. Without any coating it is light gray in colour, but it can be sprayed with a layer of colour which then forms a chemical bond with the polyurethane, creating a fully homogeneous effect. The individual components are hazardous to health and the environment if they enter the ground water or other water sources. However, after it has hardened the material does not need to be treated as special waste during disposal, because no toxic vapours are generated during incineration, and polyurethane is then fully degradable, leaving no residues.

It took a lot of testing before the right thickness and surface structure was found. In design terms the aim was to create a conflict between homogeneity and fragmentation, with a layer which would be thin enough to leave the minor irregularities of the individual cubes visible.

AGF AG specialises in the sealing of roofs with polyurethane. However, it was only possible to implement a project such as the Architonic Concept Space II because the AGF team is always interested in new applications. This basic attitude is a vital one for architects and it has enabled AGF to carry out some really exciting projects. The examples show that the creation of really new solutions requires a dialogue between design innovation and technical innovation.

"Blue Responsibility" - sustainable sanitation
A responsible attitude to the use of water is one of the most important aims of the 21st century. The German sanitation industry offers a multitude of technical solutions to help meet this target and the demand for a sustainable approach. The 2009 ISH will demonstrate this once again. Under the overall title of "Blue Responsibility", well-known brand manufacturers will present sanitation products which show their particular expertise in the field of sustainable solutions.

ISH Technology and Energy Panel Galleria 1 North
Under the motto "Efficient systems and renewable energies" the ISH Technology and Energy Panel shows the fundamental changes in the heating market. Highly efficient heating and air-conditioning technology will be presented in lectures and a cross-sectoral exhibition.

Air-Conditioning Forum Hall 5.1 / Congress Center
The Air-Conditioning Forum picks up on current themes in building services engineering and its relevant market environment. Topics are e.g.: Architecture and Technology, Sustainable Building, Standardisation and Markets, Climate Protection Targets.

Design Plus Foyer Hall 4.2
The Design Plus Award is in coorperation with "Rat für Formgebung" presented for outstanding and particularly innovative design. Other criteria, including climate protection, energy efficiency and sustainability are also considered to be important.

There will be a detailed presentation of the prize-winning entries in a special exhibition.

Water Lounge Hall 3.1
There is a special meeting place for representatives of the bathroom sector and journalists: the Water Lounge. Organised by the Association of the German Sanitation Industry and Messe Frankfurt, the Water Lounge offers a pleasant setting for discussions and visualises the latest bathroom trends in a special and interesting way.

Outlook Lounge Foyer Hall 4.2
The place to meet for architects, engineers, designers as well as subscribers of Outlook magazine. At ISH, Messe Frankfurt will welcome you for the first time in a specifically furnished lounge.

Stockholm always keeps its promises. It has once more been demonstrated that Sweden's capital city has become the most important forum for Scandinavia's furniture and design industry, and rightfully so. The fair has for many years invested heavily in a worthwhile programme of events, clearly segmented exhibition halls and generous accommodation facilities for international journalists, with a view to attracting them to Stockholm. This year the Dutch designer Ineke Hans was invited to put on a display in the entrance hall, where she used masses of blue light to create an unusual prelude to the otherwise conventional exhibition halls. At the same time the relaxed atmosphere and friendly Swedish welcome also inspired visitors to move on after their day at the fair and attend the numerous events which are held in the city. These were listed in an excellently designed guide to the fair. No wonder that in spite of the economic crisis Sweden has no shortage of international visitors.

This year Architonic was represented for the first time with its own stand, the Concept Space II. In the entrance hall, right next to the special exhibition by Ineke Hans, we were really delighted with the positive response to our work, and of course we enjoyed the opportunity both of welcoming old friends and making new acquaintances.

As expected, most Scandinavian manufacturers took advantage of the Stockholm furniture fair as an occasion to present their new products, and the high general quality level was impressive. We have once more put together a selection of these for you, with a second part to follow.

With a range of more than 20 000 materials and products Modulor is probably the major supplier of materials for architects, designers and artists.
In its Berlin Modulor shop and online at modulor.de the firm of Modulor has established itself not just as an international wholesaler, but also as a comprehensive internet research tool in the "material for creatives" field.

Modulor catalogue 2009/10
The Modular catalogue, which is now generally regarded as a standard work of reference for materials, is almost legendary and is an integral component of every design or architecture studio. The eagerly awaited new Modular catalogue has been on the market for a few months now. Its expanded chapters make the catalogue even more clearly structured and stimulating. For each product, for example, the necessary tools and possible combinations with other materials are indicated. Explanatory introductory texts provide in-depth information about the properties of the material, together with processing possibilities.

Design trends, sustainability and saving energy are, according to the official press release, the focal points of the 50th. ISH in Frankfurt am Main, the trade fair for building, energy and air-conditioning technology, renewable energies and the world of the bathroom. We have selected the most important manufacturers from the architect's point of view, and compiled them in a manageable format in our Architonic Guide, which contains both a layout plan and stand numbers. The Architonic Guide is available at the stands of all the listed manufacturers and can also be downloaded here.

«Sex and the City?» In architecture!
The world of Madelon Vriesendorp in the Swiss Architecture Museum

The »Empire State Building» and the «Chrysler Building» lie on the bed in highly suggestive positions. The airship promoting a brand of rubber hangs limply like a condom over the edge of the bed.

Black and White is the new Green

When the times are uncertain the simplicity provided by black and white categories acts like a lifeline in a sea of randomness.

'Design has to be fun...'
'...without neglecting its function - and if it works double it's twice as much fun.'

An interview with the ambitious and talented german designer Sebastian Herkner.

The fluid Geometries of Water
tap of the future

Leading independent brassware designer, Triflow, has commissioned pre-eminent architect, Zaha Hadid, to explore the capabilities of brassware technology in designing the tap of the future.