Interior Design Exhibition
New furniture for neue räume: Foyos visits Zurich
Four days in Zurich in September? Not a bad idea. So we packed our bags (and a bit more) and set off into uncharted territory. Switzerland and Foyos: that sounded promising to us. And, fortunately, it was.
Since its first edition in 2001, neue räume has grown into Switzerland’s leading fair for the interior and design industry. This year, for its 13th edition, Foyos was there too.
It became clear that Foyos brings a genuinely new approach to the furniture industry. The conversations with visitors were correspondingly intense and varied. They were less about the quality of the furniture, which was evident, visible and tangible. What interested people far more was the appreciation of hobbies, hands-on making and everyday creativity that Foyos makes possible.
Historic engineering vs. modern furniture
Hall 550 in Zurich-Oerlikon is strikingly beautiful. This engineering hall from the late 19th century is a fitting setting and an exciting contrast to furniture from 2026: rounded forms meet typical industrial architecture, and modern lighting concepts harmonise with the natural light from the skylights.
The generous exhibition space convinced us to go for a stand concept with mostly open areas. Approachable is how we see ourselves, and that’s how the stand should be.
It became clear that Foyos brings a genuinely new approach to the furniture industry. The conversations with visitors were correspondingly intense and varied. They were less about the quality of the furniture, which was evident, visible and tangible. What interested people far more was the appreciation of hobbies, hands-on making and everyday creativity that Foyos makes possible.
Centre stage I
The Foyos space then became a stage as well. On Saturday, Cee Double-U took over for several hours and turned the stand into her jewellery studio. Tools, blanks, models and a selection of the collection were set up and put to work.
Celine, founder of Cee Double-U, filled the space with energy and a passion for her art.
Centre stage II
On Sunday, Sere Rivérs turned parts of the exhibition into an art installation. Covering, then colour: it brought spectacularly into view what usually stays hidden. We watched art come into being. The process, the intermediate steps and the interplay with the setting were laid bare. Sere gave the audience a great performance and an experience to remember.
How was it?
Four very intense and positive days in sunny Zurich. It became clear that Foyos was right to show at this fair. And it is increasingly obvious that the desire to bring creative making and craft into our living spaces is spreading ever further. Even an architecture competition held as part of neue räume 26 picked up the theme in several entries.
What’s new is that Foyos has understood this shift, is putting it into practice and is now opening up possibilities in Switzerland too.
New spaces, indeed.
