Artek

Among a number of Finnish furniture and accessories purveyor Artek debuted the Riihitie Plant Pots. Created by Aino Aalto – architect, designer, and one of the brand’s founders – the planters were presented at the Paris World Fair and featured on the terrace of the Aalto family home at Riihitie Road in the suburbs of Helsinki. However, the piece never went into serial production – until now. Both original shapes of the handcrafted ceramics were revealed at the fair, available in three different sizes and two shades. Snap up this piece for your garden and you’ll truly possess a piece of design history.

Molteni&C

Italian furniture brand Molteni&C tapped Belgian architect and designer Vincent Van Duysen to create its 7,500sqft booth. It comprised interconnected living and dining areas for a cosy vibe and large windows that added a striking visual impact. Each area of this ideal house was defined by natural and sophisticated materials such as glass, oxidised wood and raw metal. The setting displayed Molteni&C’s new collection, as well as its Chelsea chairs designed by Rodolfo Dordoni, re-invented for the fair with a new glossy lacquer finish in three different styles.

Cristian Zuzunaga

Showing for the first time at the fair was Spanish designer Cristian Zuzunaga, well-known for his gender-neutral and sustainable home and fashion accessories. His Barcelona-based studio creates objects you can possess in good conscience – all of them are made in collaboration with local craftsmen using high-quality, organic materials and sustainable processes. Zuzunaga presented the new Inca textile collection – perfect for lampshades and upholstering armchairs. He also introduced two new furniture pieces that echoed the Inca pattern in glass and concrete.

nanimarquina

Also based in Barcelona is family-owned rug brand nanimarquina, which showcased one of its most successful collections, Tres. Named for the Spanish word for three, the collection was created from three fibres – New Zealand wool, felt and cotton – and includes three different rugs in addition to two poufs. The unique pieces play with shape, colour and texture to add warm and depth to any room in the home, and are available in seven different shades.

Skagerak

Last but not least, we immersed ourselves into Scandinavian style by paying a visit to Skagerak’s booth. The Danish company – that celebrated its 40th anniversary last year – presented a plethora of indoor and outdoor items, with a particular focus on kitchen accessories. The pieces are elegant, simple, and feature clean lines that exemplify the quintessential Scandinavian aesthetic. The wire shelves, for example, feature an understated design that allows its functionality to shine and presents a wealth of decorative possibilities. The Overlap and Hven tables are also more than worth a look.