“While Moroccan architects flock to French or German fairs, the Valencia show is quietly growing. Major investments have allowed furniture companies to consolidate their gains and aspire to new markets. Backed by the state…
“While Moroccan architects flock to French or German fairs, the Valencia show is quietly growing. Major investments have allowed furniture companies to consolidate their gains and aspire to new markets.
Backed by the state through the government agency ICEX, which promotes Spanish exports, it is in Valencia that the buzz of a fast-expanding industry gathers. The celebration spreads across the city, where concerts and guided tours enrich the professional encounter. This year, the stands took on exceptionally creative forms. The presentation by selected designers ensured a high quality of representation for more than 900 brands. Arts-and-crafts schools rewarded promising young talents in competitions championing innovation, and were invited to showcase the best in the “Nude” exhibition upstairs.
The fair’s four pavilions displayed mostly Spanish production, largely from Catalonia and the Basque Country. Notably, 2024’s furniture, décor, home textiles and kitchen furniture reinforced a discreet, minimalist and practical modernist trend, with appreciable modularity in the Espacio Cocina. The Andreu stand chose a vast stretched canvas depicting the Mediterranean shoreline, refreshing the atmosphere. With more than 60,000 professionals, Feria Hábitat housed five shows in one space: SICI for kitchens, Textilhogar Home, Iberflora and Eurobrico for décor.
Foreign visitors — 15% of the total — came to shop at this fair, which drew some 70 countries, a sector taking a positive turn after 60 years of existence. The stated ambition is clear: Valencia will be the home of an international expansion of furniture companies. Thanks to the work of the ANIEME association and the impact of its president Juan Carlos Muñoz — whose credo is to “promote innovation, develop the online sales channel… and unite multidisciplinarity” — Spanish family businesses have strengthened their shift toward a modern, even avant-garde approach.
Feria Valencia’s Director General, Jorge Fombellida, noted that beyond the excellent attendance, “what is really significant is the quality of these people, which made a considerable volume of business possible.” The furniture industry of the Valencia and Basque regions is thus growing more prosperous internationally thanks to the fair held each year in Valencia. Exhibitors and visitors alike were satisfied with the organisation of the shows and the events that energise the industry, and have already booked the same dates for the next edition.
Selma Zerhouni
On office furniture, the Andreu brand has become a high performer, now working with design stars such as Philippe Starck to win markets worldwide. Its success in Morocco keeps growing; tours of its factories and of the spaces it has designed in Valencia reveal 70 years of craftsmanship in turned, moulded and curved wood — set to music!
Modern, sometimes avant-garde, Spanish design is moving beyond its classic tendency to reach high-end décor without sacrificing comfort — here, the Famaliving brand, represented in Morocco (Marrakech and Casablanca) by Aziz Bensahraoui.
Stand design is entrusted to architects. Sellex’s modular furniture stands out for its efficiency in small spaces — a modularity combining four functions. Design: Carlos Tiscar.
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