PUBLIC BUILDINGS

Dear Readers,

Sitting still, as here in the Big Easy by Ron Arad at the Moroso stand, was definitely a rare occurrence during the Salone del Mobile in Milan. To get an impression of the latest international furnishing trends walking was the order of the trade fair. Our comprehensive trade fair report (starting on page 44) features the things well worth seeing; additionally you find numerous photos of our personal impressions and meetings on our Editor’s Blog on facebook. An overview of Euroluce, which takes place every two years in the context of the Salone, will be included in our June issue. Our selection of the most spectacular luminaires is supported by interior and lighting designer Heiko Gruber (photo at the right), who explored the Euroluce as a trend scout. In the meantime, our colleagues in the editorial office dedicated themselves to the current AIT issue: public buildings – kindergartens and schools. Changing demands on childcare facilities, education policy reforms such as all-day schools, inclusion and interdenominational schools as well as a renovation backlog built up over decades have brought professional circles to realise that half-hearted touching-up can no longer be a solution. Instead, so the association of primary schools, special demands regarding the interior design and architecture of learning and living environments in schools have to be defined: “Moving away from inflexible standard rooms and standard furniture and towards flexibly adaptable room typologies, towards a design of architecture and equipment as if made from one piece!” We happily took note of this and made it the basis for our project selection. Besides day care centres, kindergartens and schools in Germany, Austria, Great Britain, Finland, Spain, Lithuania, and China (as from page 92), we also feature a small but mighty selection of churches and cultural institutions (starting on page 122). Provided that early summer has meanwhile asserted itself: A weekend in … Leipzig (from page 60) is worthwhile! I explored it myself over the Easter holidays!

Best wishes
Petra Stephan, Dipl.-Ing.
Chief Editor
Architect