ROTTERDAM.- From Friday 9 to Sunday 11 February 2018, the design fair OBJECT Rotterdam takes place in the monumental HAKA building. Over a hundred well-known and upcoming designers will present their design objects. This edition is bigger than ever in both participants and size. The striking HAKA building has been reopened for the first time and OBJECT offers an extraordinary tour inside. A visit to the iconic Euromast is included this year.

After three editions on the former cruise ship ss Rotterdam, OBJECT Rotterdam moves to a new and exciting location: the industrial HAKA building in the bustling Vierhavens area. The HAKA building was designed by two Dutch architects in the 1930s: Mertens and Koeman. The property has been acquired by Dudok Group and will be developed into a dynamic office building with an attractive restaurant and a rooftop bar in the upcoming years. Before the renovation starts, visitors get the chance to see the shell building during OBJECT. The creative caterer Mess is opening a pop-up café on the ground floor. Dozens of design presentations can be found on the other floors.

Scoops 2018
This edition shows a variety of scoops and special collaborations. Designer Merel Karhof has explored the craft of conserving fishnets, sails and ropes for the Zuiderzeemuseum and presents her findings during the fair. The new Glaslab from Den Bosch shows a collaboration between the artists Marc Mulders and Jan Koen Lomans. The well-known label Gispen launches chairs from Bernotat&Co and designer Chris Slutter presents a new table for Pilat&Pilat. Under Anne van der Zwaag’s leadership, OBJECT Rotterdam has grown into a platform for contemporary design that features both well-known as upcoming designers. The work of young talents like Friso Wiersma, who graduaded cum laude at the Design Academy in Eindhoven, the geometric furniture designer Louis Bos, Lisanne Meester from Willem de Kooning Academy and Rood Kok, who graduaded last year at the Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Utrecht, looks promising. OBJECT Rotterdam is the place to be for talent scouting.

Multidisciplinary
The mix of design disciplines (product, industrial, architecture, fashion and graphic) and materials (wood, glass, textile and ceramics) makes the fair exciting. OBJECT Rotterdam presents big spatial works of Joris Kuipers and Jennifer de Jonge, but also textile installations from Anton Hendrik Denys and Fransje Gimbrère. Fashion is represented by novices Lizzy van Megen and Bobbine Berden and the subtle jewellery by Iris Claessens. Furniture will be shown by e.g. Just Haasnoot, Plaisier Interieur, Loof, Lensvelt. All objects are to be looked at and bought. The designers are present to elaborate on their works, which makes a visit all the more interesting.

On top of it: the Euromast
During this edition of OBJECT Rotterdam, a visit to the Euromast is complimentary. A unique construction that has been completed by the famous architect Hugh Maaskant in 1960. An OBJECT Rotterdam entrance ticket grants free access to this attraction, featuring an extraordinary design presentation and phenomenal view. Also, on Friday evening AVL Mundo is open for OBJECT Rotterdam visitors. Besides that, various design studios in the lively Vierhavens area are involved in this fair and can be visited by appointment.

Participants
MCDW, Just Haastnoot, ll’atelier, Gispen | Bernotat&Co, Ontwerpduo, Fransje Gimbrère, The Materialists, Cor Unum, Chris Slutter, Lieve Rutte, Tristan Frencken, Roxane Lahidji, Anne Rose Regenboog | GjaltProducties, Bas Vellekoop, LEO-NORE, Miriam Harig, Renate Vos | Inge Simonis, Anton Hendrik Denys, Superpower Studio, Tjimkje, Eline Kuipers | Rood Kok, Esther Stasse, Lizan Freijsen, Glaslab | Marc Mulders | Jan Koen Lomans, Tuttobene, Louis Bos, Iris Claessens, Mariaan van den Berg, Studio de Jonge, Plaisier Interieur, Wieland Vogel | Jori Spaa, Jule Cats, Zuiderzeemuseum | Merel Karhof, Petra Hart, Koen Jacobs, Post Modern, Juliette Warmenhoven, Jeroen Wand, Krisztina Czika, orange or red, Annelotte Lammertse, Studio Arntzen, Wandschappen, Sara ten Westenend, JavyDesign, Lisanne Meester, PaulSalet | Workingbert, Floris Hovers, Joris Kuipers, Lizzy van Megen, Makers Unite, Jessica den Hartog, Studio Kars + Boom | Luuk van Laarhoven, Loof, Marianne Kemp | The Soft World, Albert Lieuwe, Sander Bokkinga bok., Friso Wiersma, Michael Barnaart van Bergen, New Citizen Design, Lensvelt and more.