red cantilevered volumes outline one house design's shanghai techstorm exhibition hall

One House Design Shapes Shanghai Techstorm Exhibition Hall

One House Design, led by designer Fang Lei, shapes Shanghai Techstorm Exhibition Hall as an immersive brand and eco-centric experience. The design draws from the Daoist concept of ‘Dao giving birth to all things,’ creating a space where brand experience, product display, and aesthetic value interconnect. The team’s approach blends artistic construction and logical design coordination to emphasize the relationship between people, products, space, and the natural environment.

Inspired by Dao De Jing’s philosophy that ‘Dao produced One; One produced Two; Two produced Three; Three produced All things,’ the exhibition hall embraces materials science as a metaphor for natural evolution. Drawing on Techstorm’s dedication to sustainable materials, the space reflects a commitment to innovation. Fang Lei’s approach incorporates the building’s unique architecture and ceiling heights, employing the design to integrate brand values and immersive experiences. The design focuses on materials, atmosphere, and symbolism to articulate connections between products and the environment. With Techstorm’s focus on new materials and sustainable energy solutions, One House Design developed a layout that guides visitors through curated ‘boxes’ that display products and offer a dynamic journey through material science. By dividing and connecting spaces with flowing routes, One House Design establishes immersive, interactive encounters that engage visitors with the brand’s innovations and values.

all images by Zhang Jing

One House Design creates an interplay of light, color, and space

As a starting point of the design, the architectural team introduces a bold, cantilevered structure, incorporating geometric elements and perforated surfaces to create an interplay of light, color, and composition. A vast expanse of red infuses warmth and fosters immersion, encouraging visitors to engage with the layered relationship between objects, materials, and space. Within the layout, display shelves serve as both carriers of the exhibit and decorative elements, bringing energy and spatial dynamism to the composition. Aligned with Techstorm’s sustainable vision, the design incorporates a carbon-neutral courtyard, enclosed within the building, adding a layer of virtual and real composition, and fostering a deeper integration between the space and nature through the concept of borrowed scenery. Minimalist geometric forms in the exhibition units evoke layers and textures that allow the space to feel both ordered and exploratory, leading visitors through interactive spatial experiences.

A flexible layout invites a mix of dynamic and contemplative interaction with the brand. Sightlines from the second floor reveal Techstorm’s research initiatives, creating visual connections that reinforce the brand’s mission. Connecting ‘boxes’ with covered bridges, One House Design forms a seamless spatial flow, balancing transparency with structure by using glass and metal mesh in handrails to reinforce visual coherence. The second-floor exhibition area features a mirrored ceiling, inspired by a kaleidoscope effect, enhancing the perception of spatial expansion while integrating recessed lighting. Vertical metal strips along walls serve both as structural support and as visual unifying elements that emphasize continuity and functionality. A balcony on the second floor extends this openness, bridging upstairs and downstairs while fostering contemplation and relaxation.

Shanghai Techstorm Exhibition Hall by One House Design embraces Daoist principles

Eco-Inspired Design Define Shanghai Techstorm’s Exhibition Hall

The journey culminates with sculptural installations within stairwells, creating a unique design element that mirrors Techstorm’s circular, eco-conscious approach. Variations in openings, forms, and colors guide visitors through sequences of intimate and open spaces, while lighting and contrasting shapes create a fluid rhythm within the enclosed layout. Reflecting Daoist philosophy, One House Design’s layout expresses architectural and exhibition aesthetics that are grounded yet dynamic. Integrating sustainable principles, the Shanghai Techstorm Exhibition Hall embodies a balance between spatial flow, brand storytelling, and ecological harmony, uniting the experience of nature, art, and sustainable design under one roof.

One House Design’s vision integrates brand experience with immersive spatial design

inspired by natural evolution, the exhibition hall embodies Techstorm’s dedication to sustainable materials

geometric elements and perforated surfaces create an engaging interplay of light and color

a vast expanse of red highlights the dynamic relationship between objects, materials, and space

curated display ‘boxes’ guide visitors through Techstorm’s innovations in materials science

glass and metal mesh handrails add visual cohesion, balancing transparency with structure

interactive paths connect spaces and offer a journey through Techstorm’s sustainable energy solutions

covered bridges connect each display area, creating a seamless flow of interconnected spaces

vertical metal strips unify the design, emphasizing continuity and functionality

sculptural stairwell installations mirror Techstorm’s commitment to eco-conscious design

project info:

name: Shanghai Techstorm Exhibition Hall

architect: One House Design

location: Shanghai, China

area: 400 sqm

lead designer: Fang Lei

design team: Meng Chengpeng, Xu Lei

photography: Zhang Jing

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edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom