Press releases

Nov 14, 2011

22nd Ambient Ljubljana – Furniture Fair successfully completed

The Fair, which was officially opened on Tuesday, 8 November, by President of the National Council of Republic of Slovenia Blaž Kavčič, MSc, closed its doors on Sunday, 13 November. Over the 6 days, the Fair showcased 297 companies from 19 countries on 25,300 m2 of exhibition surfaces. As in previous years, the Top Ten prizes were presented for best creative achievements in the field of design. This year, the highest prize among the 10 was awarded to Toni Kancilja for the solid wood cabinet manufactured by Mitja Bolčič, Mizarstvo Bolčič. Three equal prizes for the Best Exhibition Space were presented to: company Kolpa, d.d., Metlika, project Alpe-Adria Holz/Les – Collignum, and company Pobles. The Golden Plaque of the Naš dom magazine (the Večer publishing house) and the prize awarded by the Designers Society of Slovenia were also presented. The furniture exhibition was accompanied by the supporting programme, which included expert conferences, round tables and exhibitions. The Fair was attended by 35,500 visitors.

The recipient of the highest prize awarded by GR – Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre was selected by special international jury presided over by Prof. Janez Koželj. The cabinet Istra, made of solid wood, was chosen since »it proves that wood represents an immense source of inspiration to the designer. Although wood may be used in various combinations and forms, let them be organic or geometric, its natural properties are always expressed. The designer of the awarded product used wood in a manner to preserve its characteristics of a living, organic part of nature, together with its record of life, and thus creating direct and consistently achieved useful form, without unnecessary additions or ornaments.« Upon receiving 2 prizes, the Top 10 and the Top of the Top prize, designer Toni Kancilja stated: »The prizes embody the strongest bond between the master, who creates the object, and the designer, who envisions it. This bond is necessary; without it, there is no success. The award is thus the confirmation that this bond is very strong.« Mitja Bolčič, Mizarstvo Bolčič: »These prizes are even more significant since we received them for prototypes, which were produced at the last minute, spontaneously, while controlling the construction of unpredictable, but because of long years of experience, on the basis of predictable characteristics of wood.«

In addition to receiving the prize for the Best Exhibition Space awarded by GR – Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre, the Alpe-Adria Holz/Les - Collignum project also won the prize of the Designers Society of Slovenia. Upon this occasion, designer Andrej Mercina, from the company Trije arhitekti, said: »The two prizes have special meaning particularly in the context of the background, the story itself, which goes beyond the Collignum trademark products and the exhibition space itself. Through the Alpe-Adria Holz/Les project, at the persistence of the project manager Mrs. Marina Einspieler (Slovenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry from Klagenfurt) and co-workers, and on the basis of ideals of interregional, intergenerational and interdisciplinary cooperation alongside all possible problems, which occur in such multi-member group, we are successful in uniting new design energy with awakened traditional joiners’ knowledge and contemporary technology. The design of furniture elements consciously reaches for the widest range of design themes and aims for the widest target public since we would like to transpose the described high standards of the Collignum brand to the general public. The exhibition space was thus seemingly easy to design; we only had to faithfully follow the cleverly conceived connecting thread of local specifics, ecological sensitivity and commitment to wood. The prizes are the best possible epilogue of this first phase of the Collignum project, a project with a message.«

Another company also received 2 prizes at the 22nd Ambient Ljubljana Furniture Fair; the Top 10 prize and the Golden Plaque of the Naš dom magazine for 2011 were awarded to the company Brest pohištvo d.o.o. for the multifunctional programme ALTERA, designed by Matej Velušček. »The prizes again confirm the correct direction of development of multifunctional furniture of the company Brest pohištvo d.o.o., which began years ago with the Modulo prototype programme. The prizes provide the development team of the company Brest with additional motivation and impetus«, told Velušček and added, »before joining Brest as a designer in February 2011, I was employed in one of the architectural offices in Ljubljana. This switch to industrial design succeeded me very well. The prizes of the Ambient Ljubljana – Furniture Fair provide me, as a beginner, with assurance and additional motivation for the future. It is a good start.«

Congratulations to all prize recipients! More about the prizes and the accompanying programme available at http://www.pohistveni-sejem.si/za-obiskovalce/obsejemski-program-in-nagrade-za-razstavljavce/

The next Ambient Ljubljana – Furniture Fair will take place at GR – Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre between 5 and 11 November 2012.

Nov 8, 2011

Best Exhibition Spaces at the Ambient

GR - Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre presented three equal prizes for the Best Exhibition Space at this year’s Ambient.

The prizes were awarded to:

• Alpe-Adria Holz/Les – Collignum for fulfilling all criteria of an exhibition space of our time. These include innovative design, functionality, message conveyance, technological quality, artistic value and environmental friendliness, as stated by the jury in its explanation. This exhibition space thus by far exceeds the standards of ordinary exhibition spaces.
• Kolpa, d.d. Metlika, as the company presents its latest production line in the most suitable and attractive manner, enabling the visitor to immediately recognise the advantages of the exhibited products. 


• Pobles, as the company emphasises the simplicity, clean and unobtrusive manner of its exhibited furniture. With this, the company proves that it is possible to create a decent exhibition space with minimum interventions.

The Designers Society of Slovenia presented its prize to the group Trije arhitekti for a comprehensive approach to the project entitled Alpe-Adria Holz/Les – Collignum. 

According to the official explanation of the Society, the group presented a range of products in their development phase within the framework of the project with multi-layer goals. The main emphasis was put on promoting the use of domestic types of wood, sustainable use and production for the wide range of users. In addition to clean lines and multifunctionality, the products are distinguished by creative execution of joiners’ details, which originates in the rich knowledge of our ancestors. With its work, the group transmits the deeply rooted wood joinery tradition of the Slovenian space into today and tomorrow.

Nov 2, 2011

Spinning new ambients!

Ambient Ljubljana – Furniture Fair is the largest exhibition of furniture and interior design in Slovenia, which is traditionally organised by the GR - Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre each year in November. This year, 297 companies from 19 countries present themselves on 25,300 m2 of exhibition surfaces in all available halls, including the Apel hall complex (as GR has named the Slovenijales building), and on the external surfaces. Blaž Kavčič, MSc, President of the National Council of the Republic of Slovenia, will officially open the Fair on Tuesday, 8 November, at 1:00 pm. As in previous years, Top Ten prizes will be awarded for the best creative achievements in the field of design, as well as the prize for the Best exhibition space and many others.

The Fair is not only an exhibition where the achievements and latest trends in the furniture industry are exhibited under the same roof, but also aims to draw attention of the general public – in 6 days approximately 40,000 or more visitors attend the Fair – to the significance of design and to the functional and aesthetic elements of living spaces. GR - Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre is thus the initiator of a rich accompanying programme and in cooperation with individual partners presents the following:

• Top Ideas – Design Trade Show, where young perspective architects and designers present their conceptual designs. The trade show is an exhibition available to the visitors and at the same time an opportunity for the professional public and industry representatives to make contact with the authors of inventive, creative, and innovative design solutions.

• Exhibitions of students from various higher education institutions, which deal with design or landscaping

Academy of Fine Arts and Design, University of Ljubljana:
➢ Department of Industrial Design
➢ Department of Visual Communication
➢ Department of Glass and Ceramic Design

Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana:
➢ Department of Landscape Architecture
➢ Department of Wood Technology

Academy of Design in Ljubljana

In cooperation with the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Ljubljana and the Delo and Slovenske novice supplement Deloindom, Architectural Dialogue – architectural counselling by students of architecture – takes place also this year.

• Exhibition of the Designers Society of Slovenia – exhibition of achievements marking the 20th anniversary of the Society

Thursday, 10 November, 10:00 am, Urška hall (2 lectures and a round table):
• Connecting design and the industry – cooperation between designers and the industry for better business results and increased competitiveness of Slovenian economy
Organised by: Regional Development Agency of the Ljubljana Urban region

Wednesday, 9 November, 10:00 am, Urška hall:
• Slovenian wood processing – a look into the future: a conference and a round table on the vision of restructuring of the wood processing sector
Organised by: Furniture and wood processing association at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia

The Fair is open: daily from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm, on Sunday 13 November the Fair closes at 6:00 pm. Regular ticket costs EUR 7.00, from 25 October advance sale tickets are available at a uniform price of EUR 7, concessions EUR 5, children up to 7 years of age and the disabled with a person assisting a wheelchair user – free of charge. Visitors receive a Fair Catalogue and may enter a prize draw for attractive prizes contributed by the exhibitors.


www.furniture-fair.si

Nov 11, 2010

Prizes of the 21st Furniture Fair - Ambient Ljubljana

Numerous prizes have been awarded at the 21st Furniture Fair – Ambient Ljubljana, under way this week until Sunday at the Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre. Various juries selected winners of certificates and prizes, awarded by Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre and others, among interior design products of over 300 exhibitors from 25 countries. The prizes include Top Ten, Best Exhibition Space, Golden Link and others. Considerable attention is attracted by exhibitions such as Tabletop Landscapes, Top Ideas – 1st Design Trade Show, Top Ten exhibition, Houses of the world exhibition, etc. The Fair is open from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm until Saturday, and until 6:00 pm on Sunday. You are kindly invited!

Prizes awarded by the Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre:

TOP TEN
• Evaluation criteria: prizes Top Ten are awarded to products and system solutions, which best combine function with technological or artistic quality; the best among the Top Ten receives the prize The Top of The Top.
• Jury: Janez Koželj, honourable chairman, Jure Miklavc, chairman, Špela Hudnik, Isabel Hérault, Yves Nacher, Piero Zucchi, Stefano Gri
• Prize recipients:

• TOM tovarna opreme d.d., for sofa/resting chair Orca, designer: Ernest Nograšek
• MIZARSTVO URBANIJA, Marko Urbanija s.p., for Urban kitchen, designers: Lena and Tomaž Krušec
• SVEA lesna industrija d.d., for Villa kitchen, designer: Darko Šurina
• ODEJA d.o.o., for Illusion collection, designer: Andreja Cegnar
• ODEJA d.o.o., for Zoo playmats, designer: Lili Panjtar
• LIP RADOMLJE, d.d., for children’s bed Dreamy, designers: Asto Dvornik, Gregor Zupan
• TRGODOM NO. 1, d.o.o., for Recession Crib, designer: Klemen Rodman
• MIZARSTVO BOLČIČ, Mitja Bolčič s.p., for collection of solid wood furniture RUJ, designer: Toni Kancilija
• MAREMICO, d.o.o., for hybrid modular bed Maremico, designers: Valentin and Emil Marinšek
• AMBIENTI D. C., d.o.o., for induction cooking set Multiplo-Scholtes

Winner – The TOP of the TOP

• Prize recipient: TOM tovarna opreme d.d., for sofa/resting chair Orca, designer: Ernest Nograšek

Best exhibition space prize

• Evaluation criteria: the jury selects the best exhibition space and presents the exhibitor with a special award certificate based on the criteria of originality, design perfection and aesthetics.
• Jury: Lenka Kavčič, Ana Struna Bregar, Maja Vardjan

• Prize recipient: MIZARSTVO URBANIJA, Marko Urbanija s.p.
• Prize recipient: KOLPA, d.d. Metlika
• Prize recipient: ODEJA d.o.o.

Architectural Dialogue prize
• Evaluation criteria: most innovative architectural solution
• Jury: Julijana Bavčar, Isabel Hérault, Piero Zucci

• Prize recipient: Tadej Juranovič

Prize awarded by Ljubljana Exhibition and Convention Centre (Gospodarsko razstavišče d.o.o.) and the Furniture and Wood Processing Association of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce of Slovenia:

Golden Link (Zlata vez) – 3 prizes
• Evaluation criteria: prize awarded to a new, not yet publically presented product for design originality, marketing penetration and integral concept.
• Jury: Jasna Hrovatin, chairwoman, Manja Kitek Kuzman, Rajko Magdalenc
• Prize recipients:

• first prize - Golden Link: company Panles trade d.o.o. for Zoja kitchen, designer Primož Vrečko
• second prize - company Maremico d.o.o. for Hybrid modular bed, designers Valentin and Emil Marinšek
• third prize - company Rujz design d.o.o. for connecting hardware Spoj, designer Aleksander Praznik

Other awards:

Golden plaque of Naš dom magazine
• Evaluation criteria: awarded to furniture of a domestic manufacturer, with whose products it is possible to best and most efficiently furnish either an entire dwelling or a part of it. A jury appointed by the Editorial board of the magazine selects the award recipient.
• Jury: Lili Vrtovec, Evita Sinrajh, Dušan Waldhütter
• Prize recipient: Mizarstvo Lestetik, d.o.o., for programme Sleep FIT, designer Peter Florjančič

Award certificate of the Designers Society of Slovenia
• Evaluation criteria: for achievements in the field of design of the Designers Society
• Jury: Mateja Panter, Lenka Kavčič, Jurij Dobrila
• Prize recipient: Mizarstvo Bolčič, for furniture Ambra, designers Tea and Edo Vidovič

Title of the Honourable member, awarded by the Wood Processing Association of Slovenia
• Honourable member of the Wood Processing Association of Slovenia, Blaž Kavčič, M.Sc.

Title of Emeritus member, awarded by the Wood Processing Association of Slovenia
• Emeritus member of the Wood Processing Association of Slovenia, Nada Marija Slovnik, M.Sc.