The 25th international furniture fair - Ambient Ljubljana is experiencing a rebirth. Held at the Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre, the fair will remain open until Sunday. Although this year the fair features somewhat less known exhibitors, compared to previous years, it still showcases extraordinary, high-quality products. The fair's exhibition program has thus gone through a filter and its aim is to bring the concept of design closer to the wider public.
The absolute winner: the Pine and Terazzo Kitchen
For the first time in the 25-year history of the international Ambient fair, the juries unanimously awarded all the prizes and recognitions of the Ljubljana fair to the Pine and Terazzo (Smreka in Terazzo) Kitchen (photograph number 1) designed by Julijan Krapež and made by the Pohištvo Potočnik company.
The TOP 5 international jury (this year made up of: Barbara Delucca (Italy), Rianna Makkink (the Netherlands), Janez Koželj, Jure Miklavc and Vladimir Pezdirc) was convinced by the close cooperation between the designer and manufacturer of the kitchen, "inspired by the Slovenian tradition which was successfully integrated in the modern living environment". Explaining their choice the jury went on to say that for the making of the kitchen the designer and manufacturer decided to use "Slovenia's primary timber source – the pine, which we have not, until now, encountered in kitchen furniture."
Raising the general culture
The members of the TOP 5 jury agreed that Slovenia's designers and manufacturers are able to compete with Europe's furniture designers, especially with the products that stand out, like those presented in the frameworks of the Top Ideas exhibition program.
"The Dutch member of the jury, Rianne Makkink, told me that she was far from disappointed to be a jury member of a small-scale fair, such as the Ambient fair, in a wider international context. In this part of Europe the best known fair is the one in Milan. However it is also true that the Ambient fair is the only fair being held at this moment, in the region between Milan and Vienna. And we can find high-quality outstanding designs at this fair," said Marjana Lavrič, in charge of PR at the Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre.
The aim of the furniture fair is to raise the general culture, "and view, that we all take part in the designing process of our living environment, not only in terms of interior design, but also with regards to the quality of our surroundings, neighborhood, streets, parks etc. A survey carried out by the Exhibition and Convention Centre shows that two thirds of our visitors come to the fair in search of a particular piece of furniture, while one third is interested to see the latest achievements of Slovenia's furniture industry. And our industry has changed significantly in the last couple of years, as can be seen from the exhibitors," admits Marjana Lavrič.
Less exhibitors compared to previous years
This year we have 206 companies from 20 countries presenting themselves at the fair. In 2010 we had 309 companies from 25 countries, "which clearly marks when the crisis hit Slovenia, leading to the fall of the great, so-called post-socialist manufacturers in the furniture industry. However small companies, working closely together with designers, are sprouting up," adds the head of public relations at the Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre.
Top Ideas - an opportunity for the creative young
That is why for a fifth year in a row the Ambient Ljubljana fair is staging the Top Ideas exhibition program and design ideas exchange. It features unacclaimed designers and architects, this year also from Croatia, focusing their work on the culture of living.
"The Exhibition and Convention Centre, as the organizer of the fair, offers a platform from which they can showcase their products and exchange ideas. We make it possible for them to meet with other representatives of the furniture industry. Of course, whether those industry representatives recognize their talent, or show interest for their achievements, is another matter. However practice does show that there is a growing interest for the project, which gets bigger every year. Some young designers have also stepped out of anonymity thanks to the Top Ideas program."
Two projects which are being presented in the Top Ideas program confirm the previous statement. They have received recognitions for being among the best TOP 5, an award handed out by the Exhibition and Convention Centre for best creations. The two recognitions went to Aklih Moment (Domen Gregorič, Jan Ravbar and Grega Logar), for the modular urban Moment furniture, and Bruno Velčić, who received a special best TOP 5 award for the hand-made kitchen utensils Island Spirit.
A novelty: Design Week
A novelty is that the 25th edition of the international Ambient furniture fair has joined forces with the Design Month campaign, and thus created the Design Week joint brand (running from the 7th until the 12th of October). "That's why we're inviting people to visit the locations of both events with reduced entrance fees and free transportation on Ljubljana city buses. The common thread of both events is design," adds Marjana Lavrič.
Photo: Katja Štok
