CAMERICH and SEMESTER Studio Collaborate Again to Unveil “The Travelling Warehouse” at the 54th China International Furniture Fair (Shanghai) 2024
For the second year in a row, China’s renowned furniture brand CAMERICH partners with SEMESTER Studio to present “The Travelling Warehouse” pavilion at the 54th China International Furniture Fair (Shanghai) in 2024. The pavilion introduces an innovative, dynamic display that emphasizes motion and flexibility, reflecting a behind-the-scenes view of the furniture industry.
Continuing the “Zero-waste” ethos established by the 2023 “Temporary Storage Garden,” all materials used in the pavilion will be returned to CAMERICH’s campuses after the fair, where they will be repurposed. This sustainable approach highlights CAMERICH’s commitment to reducing waste and promoting eco-friendly practices.
The pavilion is designed as an interactive public space, inviting visitors to linger, relax, and engage in conversations or unexpected encounters. SEMESTER, a research-driven design studio founded by Manus Leung, Wenting Guo, and Yun Fu at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design, has collaborated with CAMERICH on multiple projects since 2020. This includes the zero-waste pavilions at the 2023 and 2024 China International Furniture Fairs, a water tower for the CAMERICH (Jiaxing) Mega Factory, and the TOASTER sofa series.
Over 98% of the materials used in the pavilion will be recycled and returned to the production lines for further use. As a continuation of the “Zero-waste” design philosophy, “The Travelling Warehouse” draws inspiration from CAMERICH’s R&D workshop, utilizing industrial materials such as factory lights, timber panels, and fabric used in prototypes to create a functional warehouse-inspired space. Visitors experience this warehouse environment through the products’ storage shelves, which showcase intricate product details often overlooked at fairs.
At the pavilion’s heart are eight “stages,” each illuminated by adjustable factory lights that shine brightest when a new product is placed on the stage. This reimagined lighting setup, used traditionally in CAMERICH factories, enhances the theatrical atmosphere of the pavilion. Surrounding the central stage are draped fabrics, repurposed from the bases of CAMERICH sofas, creating a semi-enclosed space that encourages visitors to immerse themselves in the exhibit. The experience is dynamic as boxes on the shelves are unboxed and revealed throughout the fair, adding an element of surprise.
From September 11 to 12, CAMERICH staff will unbox new products every ten minutes, placing previously displayed items back on the shelves to keep the experience fresh for attendees. The pavilion’s program guide, printed on a folded paper resembling a newspaper, follows the same format as last year’s “Temporary Storage Garden,” featuring a timeline of the unboxing events. The kraft paper and silver ink used in the guide echo the sustainable materials and design elements of the pavilion.
The CAMERICH (Jiaxing) Mega Factory, soon to open, represents a forward-thinking vision for sustainable, human-centered manufacturing. This visionary project is a collaboration between CAMERICH and ZAO/standardarchitecture. The factory will be a hub for CAMERICH’s furniture production lines, combining efficiency with a focus on sustainability.
“Zero-waste” extends beyond the design of the pavilion to include CAMERICH’s products, like the TANGO chair, which challenges the limits of traditional wood structures, and the ISLAND bed, designed to activate space through the combination of a bed and desk. The SEM series, born from CAMERICH’s collaboration with SEMESTER, explores playful and sustainable living, with practical and modular furniture such as the TOASTER series that adapts to modern, mobile lifestyles.
“Packaging,” a frequently overlooked aspect of industrial design, takes center stage in “The Travelling Warehouse.” By optimizing packaging materials and printing methods, CAMERICH strives to improve sustainability while ensuring product safety during transit.
“The Travelling Warehouse” is more than just an exhibition—it’s a statement on the future of design. With architecture as a subtle backdrop, the pavilion facilitates interaction between people and their environment, offering a glimpse into the creative processes at CAMERICH and a vision for the future of high-end manufacturing at the CAMERICH (Jiaxing) Mega Factory.
