The Design Room Barcelona 2018: furniture highlights for interior designers and architects

Created to highlight the best from the Spanish design scene and foster new collaborations between companies and professionals of the interior design industry, the first edition of The Design Room 2018, which was held in Barcelona on the 24^th of May, has been a resounding success.

Style, design, trends and architecture

After the new launches at the great international shows of IMM Cologne, Maison & Objet Paris, the Salone del Mobile and the ICFF New York, Spain’s furniture scene is thriving with new products that are a real fount of ideas for those interior designers, architects and specifiers who felt challenged to come up with the latest up-and-coming designs and furnishing solutions for their projects.

In this spirit of discovering new territories, The Design Room Barcelona 2018 has set itself apart as a crucial nexus between business and design, bringing together the rich offer of 8 leading Spanish companies, specialized in design furniture (BIVAQ, delaoliva, GRASSOLER, INCLASS, KRISKADECOR, LOYRATIME, OFIFRAN, POINT), and more than 166 Catalonia-based professionals of the interior design and landscaping industry (interior designers, architects, specifiers, distributors, retailers…) in search of unexpected sources of inspiration.

Photo Tour

Location: La Casa de les Punxes

The location was not a traditional setting, however it became a real addition to the event with its incredible, refined Modernist architectural features.

Designed in 1905 by modernist architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch (contemporary of Gaudí) and located in the Eixample of Barcelona, Casa de les Punxes (House of Spikes) is a spectacular building and one of the most emblematic in Barcelona, as well as being key to understanding the movement of Catalan Modernism. The building, which was declared a historical monument of National Interest in 1976, recalls northern European Medieval castles, with elements of different architectural styles and various technical innovations in the steel structures. The six-pointed towers (crowned by conical spikes) are one of its distinctive features and are what gives the building its popular name of Casa de les Punxes.

The Design Room Barcelona was hosted in the Àtic, a 220 sqm apartment divided into 5 connected rooms which acted as individual showrooms for product exhibitions.

KRISKADECOR space: decorative chains for contract spaces

Located at the very entrance of the apartments, KRISKADECOR welcomed visitors with its captivating decorative chains that provide design solutions for different ambiences at home or in contract spaces, such as hotels, restaurants, museums, offices, showrooms, etc. Made of anodized aluminium links, the chain curtains can be used as space dividers, wall coverings, lamps and to build architectural structures and decorate façade. Each project can be customized in colour, shape and volume following customers’ taste and the requirements of the space.

Thanks to their cutting-edge patented technology, the firm can reproduce images and patterns combining a wide range of colours in both brilliant and matt finishes.

New launches include the AURA lamp, a creation by Yonoh that is offered in different combinations to create sculptural effects. The floor piece combines the design and the fluid shapes of the chain tubes with hand-.crafted ash wood trim on the internal support structure.

BIVAQ space: high-end, timeless outdoor furniture & accessories

Founded in 2003 by a young entrepreneur and a small team of committed professionals, the Barcelona-based company has succeeded in positioning itself as an international key player of the outdoor sector.

Located in the circular Amigo room, the BIVAQ’s exhibition space offered a variety of pieces from the new 2018 catalogue, some of them new launches recently presented at the Salone in Milan: the NAK XL and the MOOD XL modular sofas, the ILLA chairs and side tables, the VINT and the SIT armchairs, the VINT dining and side tables and the CLUB chair. Pieces on display were presented in the new finishes offered by the catalogue which include new paint and fabric colours in a very contemporary range (mustard gold, peach grey, silver, turquoise and mineral tones, olive green) and the DEKTON ultracompact porcelain table tops.

Cushions are upholstered with either mass-coloured acrylic fabric or vinytex, made of polyester and PVC – and include a waterproof layer.

OFIFRAN space: high quality & innovative office furniture

Since 1990, OFIFRAN has been manufacturing office furniture in both classic and contemporary style. In the Monserda room, the firm exhibited a selection of its most recent collections. Upon entering the room, each visitor’s attention was immediately captured by the GALLERY executive L-shaped desk presented with a black leather and lacquer finish with a matching metal structure.

The piece was complemented by the RAY operative chairs and a small lounge space decorated with the SQUARE LOUNGE armchair and the CENTOVENTI coffee table.

The comfortable GALLERY WAITING armchair, upholstered in a beautiful olive-green velvet, and the CENTOVENTI side table with a precious marble top elegantly accompany the refined chimney, an original piece from the 50s, creating a charming focal point.

delaOliva space: versatile seating collections and tables

At the other end of the Monserda room, Madrid-based delaOliva, a firm created in 1957 and specialized in tables and chairs for offices, schools and the restaurant business, exhibited the new creations by Ximo Roca Design for the brand: the HUG seating collection, a versatile and fully customizable line of chairs and stools that can fit a variety of spaces. They come with or without armrest, with low or high backrest and in a choice of different bases; structures and upholstery can come in the same tone or in different colours to create intriguing contrasts.

Available in different dimensions, shapes and heights, the WING bar and restaurant tables are offered in a rich choice of colours and finishes to perfectly adapt the space always adding freshness and a pop of colour.

POINT space: Mediterranean inspired outdoor furniture

The circular Ballarín room was brought to life by three pieces from the latest outdoor collections of the Spanish brand POINT: the WEAVE reclining armchair with foot stool, the WEAVE swing chair and the TUB armchair, two distinct collections that respond to different design concepts but are equally aimed at delivering style and comfort to the outdoors.

Featuring a natural look enhanced by the woven backs and sides, the WEAVE collection, designed by Vicent Martínez, includes sofas, modular elements, small tables, an armchair, a lounger, a reclining chair, tables of different heights, stools and a swing, all of them available in different colours. Seats and backrests come with upholstered cushions.

Light in appearance, the TUB collection by Gabriel Teixidó stands out for its great resistance to hard weather conditions. The eight pieces, which include chairs, armchairs, sofas, dining, coffee and side tables, are made of aluminium and feature a subtle combination of straight and curved lines.

INCLASS space: contemporary design furniture

Local production with a global approach; from their headquarters in Crevillente, Alicante, this dynamic, family-owned business create innovative products in collaboration with major international designers. The brand showcased their newest collections, VARYA and ESSENS, fresh from the Salone del Mobile. Milano 2018, which brought the corner of the Juyol room to life with their captivatingly stylish designs.

Designed by Simon Pengelly for INCLASS, the VARYA collection comprises an extensive range of chairs, armchairs, stools and benches. The seat shell is available in thermoplastic in twelve different colours and also upholstered in four different ways. Bases also come in a wide variety of options, ranging from wooden legs to the aluminium spoke swivel version with casters.

The perfect equilibrium between two essential volumes generates the ESSENS tables, a new creation by Jonathan Prestwich for the brand. The programme comprises four types of 100% recyclable polyethylene bases for composing tables in a variety of formats. The table are also offered with marble tops and with bases in metallic colours.

GRASSOLER space: contemporary upholstered furniture

The quintessence of comfort. This family-owned, Barcelona based company has been committed since its foundation in 1960 to manufacturing sofas of the highest quality for home and contract use.

Located in the middle of the Juyol room, the CAYMAN modular sofa took centre stage with its generous proportions and eye-catching, soft pink upholstery. This little, inviting lounge space was beautifully complemented by other outstanding pieces of the brand: the BERNA chair by José Gras, the HEXA chairs, the wooden WASABI coffee and side tables and the MENTA sofa side table; another creation by José Gras to improve the functionality of lounge spaces.

GRASSOLER also presented another small lounge space composed of the ultra-comfortable CHARME wing armchair that features a retro-inspired wooden base, the WASABI side table and the new MADALENA pouffe. Everything you need to create a charming nook at home or in any lounge space!

LOYRATIME space: stylish dining and living room furniture

At the other end of the of the Juyol room, the YOKO bookcase, a design by Ximo Roca Design, finishes off the exhibition exquisitely by adding a hint of modern functionality with its modular structure that takes personalization to the extreme. The LOYRATIME ambience is complemented by pieces from other collections signed Ximo Roca that can be mixed and matched to design perfectly functional and elegant living room ambiences: the DALEN coffee tables, an innovative concept that seamlessly incorporates a table with a magazine holder, and the POPPEA extra-large and comfortable chairs, offered in two versions, with or without armrests.

LOYRATIME also presented a cupboard from one of its most successful container programmes: the MOSS collection that offers the possibility to create unique storage units, as well as sideboards, tv cabinet or occasional furniture. With a design based on pure, simple lines, MOSS offers containers in various sizes that can be finished in metal, lacquers or wood, creating the right configuration for each space. The industrial character can be accentuated by the metal legs, or you can try a more sober, minimal look by choosing the version with plate base or the floating option.

This impressive, extensive furniture offer was further complemented by the breathtaking views which visitors could enjoy from the balconies and the electrifying rooftop terrace, continuing to elevate the mood of this successful design event.

The Design Room’s journey across Spain has just begun, where will it stop next? Stay tuned to keep informed…