Internationale Handwerksmesse - IHM Privat

Munich's annual trade fair for the craft trades, the "Internationale Handwerksmesse", takes place this year from Thursday 28th Feb to Wednesday 5th March at the trade fair centre (Messegelaende) in Riem. A large section of it, the "IHM Privat" in halls A1 to A4, is aimed at small businesses and especially non-commercial visitors - just ordinary folk looking for something stylish and well-crafted to beautify their homes or enhance their lives. There is also a separate section, the "IHM Profi" in halls B1 to B3, aimed at professionals in the craft trades. (Note that IHM Profi ends already on Monday 3rd March).

So, whether you're into cool, trendy lighting systems or Feng Shui, finely crafted jewellery, applied arts and design, musical instruments, traditional, modern, or ergonomic furniture, interior design, stylish kitchens, ideas for renovating and modernising your home, or just some fancy knick-knack for the mother-in-law's birthday, there's a good chance you won't go away empty-handed.

The fair is open every day from 9:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Entry costs 11.50 Euros for a day ticket, or only 7 Euros for an afternoon ticket valid after 2 p.m.
To get there via public transport, take the U-Bahn U2 to Messestadt-West.

Full details on the IHM PRIVAT web site.

I had a look around the IHM Privat yesterday. Last time I was at IHM was (I think) 3 years ago, and they seem to have changed the concept a bit - more focussed on a few specific areas, and arguably tending more towards quality rather than quantity. Hall A1 offers an rather artsy exhibition of "applied art", as well as the opportunity to watch the craftsmen/women at work. There's also a section with jewellery, and textile/fashion design. The "slogan" for this hall is - wait for it - "Leben nach allen Regeln der Kunst" ("Living in accordance with all the rules of art"). Only the Germans could come up with that!

Hall A2 seemed to be full of furniture and soft furnishings - some of it conventional stuff, but if you fancy something a bit out of the ordinary, how about a marble table top made from millions-of-years-old fossilised tree-trunks? Only had a quick look round, so there may be some good stuff that I missed. Hall A3 has everything for your dream kitchen, and you can also discover the secrets of industrial production of sausages and buns - butchers and bakers also fall under the definition of "Handwerk". Towards the rear of the hall is an "international crafts market" - rather smaller than in past years, but then there has to be a limit to how many African masks, Australian digeridoos, Moroccan lanterns, etc, etc, one can clutter up one's home with. Hall A4 looked to be mainly of interest to those planning major home improvements, renovations, or even building from scratch.

Those who are into this kind of stuff may also like to take a look at Designparcours Muenchen, various design-related events and exhibitions taking place at various locations in Munich between 28.2. and 9.03.2008. Check out the link for more info.