Incorporating repurposed and reused elements, Alberto Caiola’s booth for furniture retailer Van Collection was a highlight of West Bund Art & Design’s 2021 edition in Shanghai. As well as highlighting the retailer’s commitment to sustainability, the presentation also amplified its creative flair through an innovative tribute to the venue’s fascinating history and important location.

Partition walls made from stacked cement bags guided visitors on a meandering path through the space. Arranged at varying heights, the barriers simultaneously opened and obscured guests’ views to create intrigue and entice fair-goers further into the booth. The make-shift material made reference to the venue’s historical function: a dome-shaped mixer that until 2009, stood at the heart of what was once Asia’s largest cement plant.

▼场地概览，overview of the site © Dirk Weiblen

Industrial features were deliberately left in view to take full advantage of the juxtaposition between factory and furniture. Moreover, the decision to decline fair organizers’ offer of temporary walls to conceal these elements significantly reduced the booth’s waste footprint.

Rented only for the days of the design showcase, the cement bags contributed to a zero-waste booth. For the studio, the intervention highlights the need for incentivizing reuse over single use across the industry. “The challenge was to find a building materials supplier willing to work with us,” he explains. “Fortunately cement isn’t really susceptible to getting damaged, and our usage didn’t affect its future resale.” With the environment high on the global agenda, and at an event that coincided with 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), our design hopes to mark a move towards a more sustainable approach to industrial fairs and trade shows.

▼保留⼯业特征，industrial features deliberately left © Dirk Weiblen