cuarto orden designs low-cost/zero-waste displays for libros mutantes

cuarto orden designs low-cost/zero-waste displays for libros mutantes
all images courtesy of cuarto orden

the independent book fair libros mutantes takes place annually at la casa encendida in madrid, spain. the cultural event brings together spanish and international publishers, gathering important guests and continuing the discourse of all things books. every year, libros mutantes holds a public competition to design the stands that will be utilized by exhibitors. the brief stresses aspects like sustainability, reutilization of materials, do-it-yourself ideology, and most of all, low material and installation costs. for the 2015 event recently founded studio cuarto orden (fourth order) won with a project that utilized low-cost materials to create a simple, zero waste display system.

scaffolding structure, canvas and bridles 

cuarto orden’s scheme combines two materials on opposite sides of the spectrum, scaffolding and canvas. aside from being easily repurposed — to keep in line with the brief — it turns out that both are perfectly suited to house and present items. a single scaffold can accommodate two exhibitors and give them three areas to exhibit: a back stock, multi-purpose shelf at 0.5m, a main shelf at 1m, and strips of material to hang at 2m height. movable wooden elements are also available to handle heavier books and publications. 

canvas and wood surfaces for publication display 

surfaces consist of sewn canvas pieces that are attached to the metal racks via plastic zip ties. above, tensioned strips can be used to hang up various materials at eye height. fabric with a basic color palette fits the festivity of the fair without adding costs or additional elements. extending the life of items used in the design was a key issue in the development of the design. the scaffolding, which was rented for the event, can simply return to the warehouse or continue on to other events. canvas, though a bit more tricky, is relatively easy to reuse. possibilities include becoming a base material for a designer, signage or displays for other fairs, or transforming into curtains, table clothes, or beach bags. in total, the displays are simple, reliable, and most importantly, devoid of waste. 

the stands offer allow the exhibitors to arrange the stands to their liking 

color bridles attach the canvas to the structure configuring a tensile surface

vertical and horizontal bars, and rosette of the scaffolding system

the canvas floods the space with color

special unit for children’s publications

solid color and striped canvases are used in each of the stands 

wooden boards for publication display

diagram showing the assembly system of one unit

general floor plan

designboom has received this project through its ‘DIY submissions’ feature, which welcomes readers to submit their own work for publication. see more designboom readers submissions here.