The Surface Design Show comes of age

Now in its third year, The Surface Design Show, proved a huge success.

Now in its third year, The Surface Design Show (Business Design Centre, 1-2 March 2006), proved a huge success and has established itself as a must-visit event.

Aimed at architects, interior designers and specifiers, the show boasted a 20% increase in stand space and over 3,500 visitors.

Twelve of the top 20 architectural practices (Building Magazine January 27, 2006) were represented including BDP, Burks Green and Partners and Wilkinson Eyre, along with 8 of the of the UK's leading interior design consultancies (Design Week March 16, 2006), including Conran and Partners and HMKM.

Balfour Beatty, Bovis Lend Lease and Skanska were amongst the many leading contractors who attended the event.

As the only UK event dedicated exclusively to the interior shell and exterior building envelope, the calibre of visitors is crucial to its success and it's clear that exhibitors view the show as a place to talk business with decision makers.

Jose Angel Fiallegas, Sales Director of Saloni UK, said: "The show was successful for us given the quality and quantity of visitors to our stand".

"It gave us a good opportunity to present our latest ranges." For many leading suppliers the show is now an essential part of their marketing campaign, Martin Corton, Director of Rainleaf Flooring, said: "This was our third year at The Surface Design Show and the best to date".

"We found the quality of visitors exceptional and we have already generated new business from the show just two weeks after close".

Paul Blackford, Managing Director of EME-UK, the new owners of The Surface Design Show, said: "We are delighted to add The Surface Design Show to the Expomedia portfolio".

"The show again proved itself a winner with exhibitors and visitors impressed with the overall quality of the show".

"Custom-built stands featuring innovative and eye-catching designs from exhibitors such as Porcelanosa, Altro and Tektura Wallcoverings also contributed to the high standard of the show".

"Already over 50% of exhibitors have reserved spaces for next year and the goal for 2007 is to build on this with a greater selection of new products.

Expomedia already operates within this sector in 12 countries including Russia, Poland and India.

Using this international network we will increase the number of international exhibitors whilst maintaining the clear niche profile and providing an even more comprehensive showcase for our exclusive audience".

"As The Surface Design Show has proved so effective in the UK we are already looking at similar specialised events in other markets such as Germany, France and Spain".

Do Londoners want change or protection?.

This was one of the questions posed during The Surfaces Debate, entitled Head in the Clouds? Steve Bee of English Heritage, Rab Bennetts of Bennetts Associates, Daniel Ringelstein of Skidmore, Owings, Merrill and Ken Yeang of Llewelyn, Davies,Yeang participated in the debate covering such issues as aesthetics, sustainability, urban regeneration and strategic guidance proposals.

Concluding the debate, the participants agreed that above all else a clear strategy on where tall buildings should go rather than where they shouldn't was paramount in preventing London losing its world famous skyline.

As an integral part of the show, the Surfaces Talks again proved to be enormously popular with the visitors.

Designed to inform and challenge, the talks were presented by leading visionaries in architecture and design and focussed on the themes of style, sustainability and substance.

Amongst the speakers was Sir Richard MacCormac of MacCormac, Jamieson, Prichard whose talk, entitled "Surface", was attended by nearly 100 people.

His talk investigated the old and new from Venetian facades through to the Southwark Underground station, looking predominantly at glass as a surface.

Other speakers included Richard Scott of Surface Architects, Alex Mowat of Urban Salon and Philip Gumuchdjian of Gumuchdjian Architects.

** Next year's show will be held on 7-8 March 2007 with a preview evening on 6 March.

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