Design Post Cologne’s 2026 anniversary exhibition ICONIC PIECES – Design Post Celebrates 20 Years of Design History celebrates two decades of European design culture within the historic Cologne-Deutz postal building. The immersive exhibition brings together 34 international brands across four thematic areas, creating a narrative of design evolution that bridges classic furniture icons, material craftsmanship, contemporary experiments, and atmospheric spatial compositions.
The curated show highlights how design objects, through their shape, material, and context, continue to shape how people live, work, and engage with space. Running until March 29, 2026, the exhibition includes pieces from historic manufacturers alongside present-day innovators, forming a dialogue that acknowledges the past while pointing toward the future of European furniture design.
Key Pieces from Our Supplier Partners
Andreu World Nuez Chair
The Nuez chair from Andreu World is characterised by its three-dimensional, modulated shell that folds and curves like a sculptural form. Designed by Patricia Urquiola, it conveys an enveloping sense of comfort and visual warmth. The shell is constructed from thermo-polymer and is available fully upholstered or padded in a variety of finishes. Its conceptual origin, a seat that feels like a sheet of paper shaped into form, reflects a contemporary approach to both material and ergonomics.
Nuez bridges material innovation and tactile experience, making it a fitting representation of how furniture can express both personality and utility in curated spaces such as the ICONIC PIECES exhibition.
HOWE 40/4 Chair
A true staple of functional modern design, the 40/4 chair by HOWE is one of the most enduring multifunctional chairs of the 20th century. Conceived by designer David Rowland in 1964, it revolutionised seating with its ability to stack 40 chairs within a 4-foot height, an ingenious solution for flexible, high-density environments.
The design’s clean lines, ergonomic comfort, and robust engineering allow it to be used in a wide range of settings, from institutional spaces to contemporary interiors. Its presence at the exhibition underscores how thoughtful design can combine practicality with aesthetic value.
Prostoria Polygon Chair
Represented within the Innovation & Avantgarde section of the exhibition, the Polygon chair from Prostoria offers a contemporary reinterpretation of the classic modernist seating typology. Designed by Numen/For Use, Polygon engages with traditional chair geometry and reconfigures it into a form that feels both familiar and forward-looking.
Its precise balance of structure and expressive lines gives the piece a strong spatial presence while retaining visual clarity and functional integrity. As a piece that reflects both heritage and experimentation, Polygon highlights how contemporary design can extend legacy typologies into new visual and functional realms.
Design, Context, and Experience
ICONIC PIECES celebrates design as a cultural and spatial force. Through thematic zones spanning the history of design, material craftsmanship, innovation, and lighting atmosphere, the exhibition invites visitors to reconsider how iconic furniture pieces dialogue with space, narrative, and human experience.
From historic classics to experimental contemporary work, the anniversary exhibition is a milestone for European design, making it a fitting venue to showcase standout products like the Nuez, 40/4, and Polygon chairs from leading contemporary brands.
Visit our showroom to experience these pieces firsthand!