Habitat Valencia's exciting new project

Valencia's Habitat fair, the major Spanish interior design event, with an international outlook, ran from 19 to 22 September. A total of 404 companies took part, 79% Spanish and 21% from another 11 countries. The fair was attended by 23,174 trade visitors, with almost 20% from 51 different countries. Both visitor and exhibitor numbers exceeded expectations and the exhibition area of 45,000 sqm was three times larger than last year, in what marks a turning point for the trade show as it returns to its regular September date.

A series of events were organised to coincide with Habitat Valencia, both inside and outside the exhibition and including design events, like Nude for young designers, which featured 26 participants, and the Fifth Meeting of National Design Associations. The convention also featured interesting debating forums with Spanish designers, companies and professionals from the interior design world, including Ágora Nude, an Actiu round table and talks by furniture manufacturer and exporter association ANIEME, and the FEDAI association which showcased the online lighting store Lightingspain. Lladró and Capdell also hosted exhibitions.

 
Interiors from Spain visited Habitat Valencia, in the four halls of its convention centre venue. Hall 2 was given over to more contemporary designer lighting and furniture. Key novelties included the launch of Gandía Blasco's new Diabla brand, the elegant balance of JMM’s “Black Tone” furniture collection, new seating and sofa options by Capdell, Point, Cármenes and B&V and the Spanish première of the “Nuez” family of chairs created by versatile designer Patricia Urquiola for Andreu World.

In the same hall, we had chance to see cutting-edge furniture by Expormim, Inclass, Treku, Ondarreta, Vondom, Moblibérica, Industrias Tagar, Grassoler, Joquer, Koo International, Belta&Frajumar and Moradillo. Lighting exhibits included designer products from companies like Almerich, Massmi and FM Iluminación. Ofifran unveiled its most state-of-the-art office products, while Alfombras Veo Veo premièred its “Connect” rug series, and Spanish manufacturer Omelette–ED presented its first home-furniture collection “Mediterranean Reflections”.

Halls 1 and 3 were the place to find well-known sleep and relaxation brands, with modern and upholstered furniture by companies like Fama and Gamamobel. Hall 4 accommodated leading Spanish upscale companies like Tecninova, Mariner, Colección Alexandra, Hurtado and Guadarte, and high-end lighting manufacturers like Riperlamp and Copenlamp.

After this opportunity to discover the very best in design, lighting and furniture “Made in Spain”, we are in no doubt that a growing number of companies and countries will soon join the list taking part in this new-look Habitat Valencia which met with the acclaim of exhibitors and visitors alike.