ReLIFE
Design Shanghai

C L O U D I








In this particular project, we have been invited to collaborate with a prominent Chinese furniture manufacturing company. Our installation will be prominently located at the main entrance of the Design Shanghai exhibition. As I drove through the countryside one day, I observed many fallen and withered trees. It was in that moment that I decided to discuss with my team the idea of using this imagery to challenge the traditional conception of what an exhibition pavilion or art installation could be.
The theme of the brief is sustainability, which aligns with the focus of this manufacturer’s new collection. With this in mind, I decided to recycle 35 wilted birch trees that had fallen in a field outside of Shanghai. Once we collected the required quantity of trees, each around 2 meters in height, we constructed a steel structure finished with powder-coated white paint. Each tree was then suspended upside down, with the branches closest to the visitors entering the pavilion.
Upon completing the suspension process, we sprayed each tree with a special NASA-endorsed photocatalytic coating. Special UVC accentuated spotlights were then directed onto the trees, allowing the entire design to continuously cleanse the environment throughout the exhibition and beyond.
The display pieces of furniture, including some from our own collection, were strategically placed within the booth. Recycled particle board was used entirely for the solid surfaces of the pavilion design.
We have wholeheartedly embraced the forefront of sustainability in this creation. Apart from using all upcycled materials, the entire pavilion is activated to cleanse the environment using only natural light and moving air5.
As with many of our collaborative approaches, we convinced the client not to use predominant branding on their products. Instead, we showcased the actual design to provoke conversation and highlight the marketing potential of the brand. We believe this is a far more powerful and effective way to communicate the company’s business model, which is in harmony with the well-being of our planet.
We were fortunate to be nominated as the best design pavilion during this edition of Design Shanghai, as well as for the German Design Award for design and sustainability for this particular piece.