Explore the architectural legacy of Charles and Ray Eames in the context of contemporary spatial design
Photography courtesy of ORGATEC
Orgatec, which runs from 27 to 30 October, will present a special exhibition showing the Eames Pavilion System, produced by Kettal in collaboration with the Eames Office.
Two walk-in versions of the Eames Pavilion System will be on show, alongside selected exhibits and materials from the Eames Office archive to offer insights into the work of the famed architects.
The question of how spaces can adapt to the changing needs of their users continues to make the architectural thinking of Charles and Ray Eames relevant today.
Photography courtesy of ORGATEC
“With the Eames Pavilion System, Oragetc is presenting a piece of design history,” says Maik Fischer, director of Orgatec. “This flexible modular system, which can adapt to various uses and continuous change, ties in directly with our central theme, ‘From rooms to relationships: designing spaces in an ever-changing world’.
At Oratec, we aim to make this dialogue between design heritage, innovation and the demands placed on the spaces of tomorrow visible.”
Photography courtesy of ORGATEC
The concept of adaptable architecture is deeply rooted in the work of the architects.
Their residential projects from the 1940s and 1950s – including their own home, Case Study House No 8, now known as the Eames House in Los Angeles, as well as a series of experimental homes featuring steel- and timber-frame construction – exemplify their understanding of architecture as a flexible framework for contemporary living.
Photography courtesy of ORGATEC
The Eames Pavilion System is based on the principle of achieving maximum volume with a small footprint, paired with a clear grid and an understanding of architecture as an adaptable system.
Repeatable structural modules can be combined with different roof types, façade elements, glazing, textiles and accessories, allowing the modular building system to be configured flexibly for a wide range of applications, from residential and hospitality settings to workplaces, events, retail environments and exhibitions.
*add img*
The Eames Office worked closely with Spanish manufacturer Kettal to study the Eames’s completed and unbuilt residential projects. “We approached the Eames House not as an object to reproduce, but as the prototype of a system.
We studied every component, then translated its logic into contemporary materials and production,” says Antonio Navarro, creative director at Kettal. “The aim was to make that technical work disappear, so the clarity and modularity of the original design remained intact.”
Photography courtesy of ORGATEC
Alongside the Eames Pavilion System, the exhibition will display extensive archival research to provide a window into previously little-known projects and materials from the Eames Office collection.
Historical designs, archival drawings, films and photographs will engage in dialogue with contemporary developments, allowing visitors to explore the origins of the system in greater depth.
Photography courtesy of ORGATEC
From 27 to 30 October 2026, trade visitors can experience the special exhibition in Hall 10.2, Stand N-048. Tickets and more information are available at www.orgatec.com
