Making-of: Pop up my Bathroom exhibition at the ISH digital 2021
They are not yet hanging: The bunch of rice paper lamps from Hay in the Living Bathroom provided a visual attraction of the Pop up my Bathroom exhibition at ISH digital 2021.
Photo: FAR.consulting, VDS
When it came to implementing the Pop up my Bathroom trend showcase for
the ISH digital 2021, the challenge lay in activating the construction crew and
the necessary infrastructure at Messe Frankfurt. Furlough schemes, lockdown, hygiene
regulations and an extremely short timeframe of just 6 weeks meant that
creative and budget-related decisions had to be made at short notice.
On top of that, the mission to integrate as many trade fair launches
from the ISH digital 2021 exhibitors as possible wasn’t just a vote of
confidence for creative director and curator Frank A. Reinhardt
(FAR.consulting), it was a logistical problem as well. That was why VDS involved its
partners’ fair construction departments in the creative process. The challenge was
taken up with a great deal of enthusiasm, with the result that the exhibition
was ready on schedule.
In addition, the manufacturer-independent team that took shape during
the implementation process pulled together and coordinated with one another despite
usually being competitors – a unique effect that many experienced booth
builders will remember as a special experience and stark contrast to the usual
stress during a large-scale ISH setup. Up to 40 tradespeople, fitters,
lighting planners and interior designers were involved – all while ensuring
strict compliance with Messe Frankfurt’s corona precautions.
Geberit's GIS system was the basis for setting up the VDS exhibition Pop up my Bathroom at ISH digital 2021.
Photo: FAR.consulting, VDS
The GIS system (main sponsor: Geberit) provides the basic structure of
the booths. Normally used as a system for bathroom renovations, in this case the
product was “repurposed” as an exhibition system. In some cases the walls were closed
using cement boards (Knauf), made transparent with a see-through fabric (using
an innovative tensioning technique developed by the fair construction company)
or simply left completely open. Suitable elements from various ISH
exhibitors were then planned into this open booth structure in keeping with the
defined trends.
The consistent styling by Alexander Schneider defined a colour concept
for the individual trends. Fairconstruction, a brand of Messe Frankfurt
Medien und Service GmbH, was responsible for building the exhibition. During the
trade show, the showcase also served as a backdrop for numerous TV broadcasts,
live tours and the one-hour Pop up my Bathroom Magazine show that was broadcast
live from the neighbouring TV studio every day.