IIDEX - Canada's National Design and Architecture Expo

An intense two-day event for interior designer and architecture professionals

by Malcolm Clark
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IIDEX, Canada's National Design and Architecture Expo took place this weekend in Toronto. The event attracted record numbers, over 15,000 industry and trade professionals, to Canada's premiere trade show featuring over 350 exhibitors and 200 speakers and thought leaders in design and architecture, from sectors including: facility management, hospitality, lighting, healthcare, landscape and commercial design.

Some of the highlights of this year's event include the Bunkie, a 32 sq m prefabricated cottage designed by Evan Bare, Nathan Buhler and Jorge Torres responding to a perceived need for overflow living both in Cottage Country and in the city aiming to deliver a highly functional, transformative space in an elegant form.

The Bunkie

Wood, that timeless building resource, is undergoing a mini revival this year with the AHEC - American Hardwood Export Council's campaign to promote the use of American Hardwood including their presence at the London Design Festival with the Endless Stair in collaboration with ARUP and dRMM Architects. Canadian wood was also showcased at the IIDEX Woodshop: 15 innovative wood prototypes that utilize Toronto's untapped Ash resource.

These unique prototypes were on display at IIDEX13 featuring the work of 10 established designers and wood workers based in Toronto and 5 emerging designers collected through a juried competition.

NU-OVO by Tisettanta is a new multifunctional house unit.

Customize as you like for indoor and outdoors, public and private: insert in rooms, hotels, open spaces and lofts without having to build any wall. It can be fitted into buildings thanks to its harmonious shape and it is perfect with any type of furniture

There was also a rich programme of international keynote speeches including Italian industrial designer Luca Nichetto, from NICHETTO & PARTNERS who gave curious insights on how to collaborate successfully with key professionals in a “Dream team”.

Architect Charles Renfro from American practice Diller Scofidio + Renfro, architects of the The Broad Art Museum in Los Angeles, set to open at the end of next year and which recently announced that it would be free to the public, also spoke about his firms rich body of work and signed copies of the book “Lincoln center inside out: an architectural account” which recounts the story of the redesign of the Lincoln Center, through a combination of photographs (including new imagery by the acclaimed photographer Iwan Baan), drawings, renderings, archival records and texts.

Lastly but not least the International pavilion featured over 20 Italian and International export-ready brands most not yet represented in North America including Fabbian, Italian lighting appliance manufacturer and Tokio. by ASOBI, Slovenian lighting and furniture brand. Designed by Milan Architects Enrico Cleva and Sara Viarengo and organized with partnership from HBTY, Happy Business to You and Pordenone Fiere, the largest contract furniture fair in Italy and Metalsistem Canada.

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    References
    Endless Stair 36

    Endless Stair

    London / United Kingdom / 2013

    The Broad Art Museum 51

    The Broad Art Museum

    Los Angeles / United States / 2015