In 2021, Shenzhen Fashion Home Design Week, IMG Comfort, and the Dai Bei Salon jointly presented the exhibition One Square Meter: The Book-Comfort Sanctuary. Conceived as a space for inner dialogue, the exhibition redefined reading—not merely as an act of engaging with texts, but as an integral mode of daily life for perceiving the world and understanding oneself.

Everyone holds a spiritual coordinate. The physical space we stake out, however small, invariably points to our inner world.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                   — Curator: Xu Gang

The square meter beneath your feet mirrors every corner of the world. Every spot you pass or linger in shapes the story of your life. Within this exhibition, each square meter bears its unique face and expression.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                     — Curator: Dai Bei

Reading is a way to inhabit oneself. For this open-ended proposition, the guiding principle is a philosophy of living, rather than a doctrine of design. The "one square meter" is not a literal measurement, but a demarcation of compact space. A sanctuary for solitude needs no grand scale; it demands a reimagining of limits—to turn the small into something expansive, rich, and compelling. Through this project, we explore how small spaces link to larger worlds, and how objects refract the spirit, inviting visitors to find their own rhythm of self-dialogue.

True life resides in individual experience; it must possess a certain warmth. The exhibition started with material selection: adhering to sustainable design principles, we constructed an architectural installation entirely from reclaimed packaging wood. Ten small cabins are arranged to form a miniature community, signifying that everyone deserves a personal sanctuary for solitude. Wood, as a living material, delivers immediate tactile intimacy — precisely the warmth and tranquility required for a reading space.

Packaging wood is inherently recyclable. Utilizing it in design to mitigate waste and pollution caused by consumerism stands as one of our core missions. Furthermore, this material symbolizes protection and logistical stability. The scars and marks left on reclaimed timber are not flaws, but records that invite observation and reverie. Staying true to its original vision, the exhibition serves as a space for self-conversation, extending the essence of reading to all aspects of life.

After the exhibition concluded, all structures were dismantled and the wood reclaimed on-site. The retrieved material will be redesigned and reused, allowing its story to carry on.

Project Director: Xu Gang

This project constructs spiritual sanctuaries of one square meter from reclaimed packaging wood. It integrates reading into everyday life, preserves material traces through circular design, and fosters inner dialogue and reflections on life within a modest space.