Sleep Exhibition: the Frontier of Innovation
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The Sleep Event is less than a month away and is promising an impressive array of product innovations from new and established exhibitors alike.
This year’s Sleep exhibition includes a raft of stand-out features introduced for the first time, and is sure to be packed with ideas and inspiration aplenty for architects and designers, specifiers, hotel operators, owners and developers attending from across the globe.
A particularly exciting new addition to the exhibition is Tech Hub, a platform profiling the cutting-edge technology companies whose products and services are transforming the hotel experience. Boxbuild, the driving force behind Bloc Hotels, in collaboration with Sky and Samsung, will be demonstrating how smartphone and tablet technology can be used by guests to effortlessly book, check-in and control their in-room environment.
Sleep sets out to attract fresh content each year to ensure it represents the newest perspectives in the world of hotel design.
This year almost a third of the participating companies will be showcasing their products and services for the first time at Sleep, with many from the United States and Hong Kong as well as across Europe. Amongst these will be The Modern Garden Company launching the delightful ‘Adagio’ rope-swing seat and a range of sleek contemporary upholstered outdoor furniture, while handcrafted furniture manufacturers Julian Chichester will be revealing a selection of their classically inspired designs for the hotel sector.
Other first-time exhibitors include: artwork specialists Muzéo from France; lighting and technology brands Berliner Messinglampen GmbH and Busch-Jaeger Elektro GmbH from Germany; Megaman from Hong Kong; and Italian suppliers FALA di Sergio Marchetti Srl, Radici Group and Fornasarig.
In addition, FRONT London will be introducing their exquisitely designed and hand-tufted rugs; contemporary furniture brand Dare Studio is to launch its ‘Wire’ tables and ‘Hive’ pendants; The Little Greene Paint Company will preview their eco-friendly paint finishes and stunning portfolio of archive wallpaper designs; while TUUCI will showcase a range of super stylish outdoor sunshades.
Leading the field with hi-tech advances in hotel bathroom design will be some of the industry’s finest suppliers launching new products designed to enhance functionality and, ultimately, the guest experience.
Headline sponsors GROHE return this autumn for the seventh year running and will be exhibiting their beautiful GROHE GranderaTM collections as well as launching a groundbreaking Water & Energy Audit service that will be offered to hoteliers.
Laufen will be unveiling their super slim basins made from Saphirkeramik, a revolutionary lightweight material; Roman Ltd will be launching a new luxurious range of shower enclosures aimed at the high-end specification market while Keramag will be previewing its stunning sculptural free-standing ‘Mattis’ bath. And debuting at Sleep are ultra-modern bathroom brands Bette UK and Roca who will each be showcasing their unique ranges of design-led bathroom solutions.
This year also sees the introduction of Newcomers Gallery, a platform highlighting emerging companies at the forefront of contemporary design. Assemblyroom, Decode, Punkt, Prooff, Shanko Rugs and Sonoro Audio will all be debuting with their cool and innovative designs.
Amongst the 130 exhibitors there are also many well-known names returning to reveal their latest products including 427 Textile Solutions, Agua Fabrics, Delius Textiles, Edmund Bell, Encompass, ultra-thin porcelain specialists FEET International, Gervasoni SpA., Kobe, Lyndon Design, Morgan Contract Furniture, Muehldorfer GmBH, Muraspec, OW Hospitality, PTT Design, Romo, Saniharto, Skopos, Today Interiors, Vescom, Very Wood and Walker Greenbank. The exhibition also plays host to bespoke furniture and design service companies such as First Manufacturing and interior design consultancy Alexander James International.
Two spectacular lighting installations are set to create visual drama – Lasvit’s ‘Bamboo’ in hand-blown crystal glass tubes exquisitely sculpted to suggest woody bamboo stems will preside over the main entrance, while Preciosa Lighting has designed a breathtaking piece which will ‘float’ above the main hall. ‘Hurricane of Inspiration’ combines 4,000 crystals with RGB LED lighting to create a 38-metre spiralling form.
For several years now, Sleep has been recognised as the event where business is done, contacts are made and orders placed. This year, there will be the chance to do this party-style. A late night opening, until 8pm on 20th November, will give visitors the chance to take in the show and enjoy a complimentary drink or two while Michaelangelo L’Acqua, CEO and Chief Creative Officer, Soniq, and Global Music Director at W Hotels Group, performs a live DJ set from 6-8pm on the slickly designed Evoni DJ table in the main exhibition hall.
On the same evening, the winner of Sleep Hotel will be announced at 7pm. The competition to create concept room sets has now been joined by a sixth contestant in the stellar line-up: Infinite Architecture, a young practice based in the UAE, and their partners Cullinan Interior. A much-anticipated highlight of the Sleep Hotel rooms will be the opportunity to see how Purpose Design is exploring 3-D printing in its room set.
Also on display will be a gallery of the winners of the European Hotel Design Awards, revealed at the awards dinner on Tuesday 19th November, at the Park Plaza, Westminster Bridge, London.
Sleep dates at a glance:
The European Hotel Design Awards dinner – Tuesday 19th November, Park Plaza, Westminster Bridge, London.
Sleep exhibition, Conference and Sleep Hotel – Wednesday 20th & Thursday 21st November, Business Design Centre Islington, London N1.
Open from 10am-8pm on the 20th with complimentary drinks and networking from 6-8pm, and 10am-6pm on 21st Nov.
Sleep Hotel Award 2013 – Wednesday 20th November, 7pm, Business Design Centre, Islington, London.
