Abitare il Tempo: Closing report

“Abitare il Tempo”, the international show of home decoration, closed last September 24 in Verona. There were 707 exhibitors, 148 from 26 countries outside Italy. Total visitors were 53,702, 10.629 foreigners from 97 countries. 

Italian style, classical, contemporary and design. The international scope was confirmed: a relaxed and positive business atmosphere for visitors and exhibitors, ideal to give maximum visibility to products on one side and to streamline the visitors’ experience on the other.

At the conference on Friday, September 21, one topic emerged: Italian design has achieved global success because Italian designers have promoted a cultural and innovative concept, that combined the quality of tradition with new emerging modern trends. Today, there is a strong drive for development and innovation, and in this situation, designers have a very open approach to new design horizons. We have to re-launch an idea of culture, an open concept that allows Italian design to present its own identity on a global market characterized by fierce competition. The role of schools, companies and cultural actors, like Abitare il Tempo, can be critical.

Besides seven “business” halls, Hall No. 8 hosted experimental shows and No. 9 showcased twelve Interior Decorations. In the brand new Hall 7b, “Linking People” was a project entirely dedicated to contract and hotels, which is going to expand in the future editions.

The 23rd event of Abitare il Tempo will be held again at the Verona fair from 18 to 22 September 2008.