Arper opens a new Chicago showroom during Neocon, 10-12 June 2013, Industry News, Articles, Press Releases & Announcements, Architecture & Design, Materials

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Arper opens a new Chicago showroom during Neocon, 10-12 June 2013

Chicago, 10 June 2013Arper opens a new showroom during the Neocon Fair, which will take place at the Merchandise Building in Chicago from 10 to 12 June 2013.The Chicago showroom opening fits into the company’s global expansion plan that was launched with the opening of showrooms in Milan, Cologne, Stockholm, New York and London, and highlights the company’s strategic approach to the North American market. The goal is affirming Arper’s position in central markets such as the United States and Canada, and, more generally, the Americas, which since 2008 has already benefited from the presence of a subsidiary, Arper USA Inc.The location chosen for the new Chicago showroom is the historic Merchandise Mart, one of world’s largest commercial buildings with an over 372,000 m2 surface. Since 1930 it has been hosting shops, showrooms and permanent and temporary architecture and Interior Design exhibition areas. The Merchandise Mart also hosts Neocon, the most important international event in America in the context of corporate contract, attracting architects, dealers, designers and press from around the world.In fact, during the fair, which takes place from 10 to 12 June, Arper will open the doors of the new exhibition facility, which will house, in about 150 m2, the 2013 product innovations as well as the major collections in the catalogue. The Arper’s exhibition space (no. 339) is hosted on the 3rd floor, one of the most coveted and prestigious floors of the structure.The architectural project of the showroom was developed by the architect Solveig Fernlund, while the layout of the showroom was realized by Studio Lievore Altherr Molina.About the poject, Solveig Fernlund said: I wanted the showroom to feel like a gallery, with the chairs being displayed like sculptures on slightly raised platforms. They are grouped in a diagonal pattern following the shape of the showroom wall at the end of the space. The square platforms form a faceted silver surface reflecting the outline of each chair. I love working with people and companies involved with art and design and the dialogue that is integral to these projects. Arper is an inspiring company with a good eye for clean strong design and I enjoyed the collaboration very much. I think the Arper showroom is very close to my working philosophy and what I try to achieve ”.Arper will also take part in the “Best of Neocon” prize, where it competes with Juno in the “seating category: stacking” and with Aava and Saya, in the “seating category: guest”.The Arper stand is futhermore also competing for the “Booth Design Competition” prize, organized by IIDA/Contract Magazine.Arper ChicagoThe Merchandise Mart222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, Suite 470 Chicago, IL 60654Space #339, Third FloorChicagoMonday Wednsday9.0017.00infousa@arper.com

Arper S.P.A.

Arper is an Italian company producing and distributing office, home and contract sector furniture worldwide. With an annual turnover of over 53 million Euros in 2013, 120 employees and huge future development potential, Arper is fulfilling an entrepreneurial project dating to 1989 that grew out of leather workshop founded by Luigi Feltrin, the company President.The creativity and passion of the founder together with the research and innovation promoted by his sons Mauro and Claudio – now company Managing Director - are the qualities distinguishing a company offering interdisciplinary expertise and strong organisational and managerial skills.At the end of the 1990s, Arper launched an industrial project that took the company into the design field and led to the use of new materials and technologies and a marked change in scale. The encounter with the Lievore Altherr Molina design firm was another important milestone for Arper resulting in a fruitful collaboration leading to a series of new products that would turn out to be classics. They include the collection of Catifa chairs which are available in 5 different versions and have sold over a million units since 2001.Arper has called upon other leading international designers to create its chairs, tables, sofas, stools and small armchairs. Jean-Marie Massaud, Simon Pengelly, Ichiro Iwasaki, James Irvine, Antti Kotilainen and Rodolfo Dordoni, have all brought their different cultural backgrounds, thoughts and languages into the company while interpreting the distinctive Arper style: a sleek, sophisticated, contemporary style assuming timeless universal forms capable of fitting perfectly into all settings.Although Arper products resemble spontaneous creations obtained without any apparent effort, they are all the result of rigorous mix of technology, costs, materials, function, use and taste. Environmental quality and sustainability together with the use of low-emitting recyclable materials are the cornerstones of Arper’s production policy. This is why in 2005 Arper set up an environmental team dedicated to controlling and managing product environmental impact from cradle to grave. Arper's environmental commitment has led to ISO 14001 certification and use of the LCA - Life Cycle Assessment - method. Various Arper products have received leading international certification including EPD, GreenGuard, GECA, and Greenstar.Arper collections are distributed via an international sales network and displayed in single-brand showrooms situated in strategic cities worldwide: Milan, London, Cologne, Stockholm, Amsterdam, Oslo, Copenhagen, New York, Chicago and Dubai.Since 2012, all of Arper collections have been also displayed in the in-house showroom, inside the company’s headquarters in Monastier di Treviso.

Address:

Via Lombardia, 16
Monastier di Treviso Treviso 31050
United States
+39 0422 791847
http://www.arper.com