ORGATEC 2026 to Showcase Eames Pavilion System at Cologne Design and Architecture Exhibition

ORGATEC 2026 will bring the Eames Pavilion System into focus in Cologne, creating a direct link between historic architecture and contemporary spatial design. From 27 to 30 October, the exhibition will showcase the Eames Pavilion System by Kettal, developed in collaboration with the Eames Office. The special presentation will also explore the architectural work of Charles and Ray Eames through archive material, drawings, films and photographs. Importantly, the exhibition will show how their ideas about adaptable architecture remain relevant to modern workplaces, hospitality, retail, events and residential environments. As a result, ORGATEC 2026 offers visitors both design history and contemporary architectural thinking.

ORGATEC 2026 Brings Eames Architectural Legacy Into Contemporary Workspace Design

ORGATEC 2026 will use a special exhibition in Cologne to examine how the architectural principles of Charles and Ray Eames continue to influence flexible spaces. The presentation, titled ORGATEC 2026 presents the Eames Pavilion System by Kettal in collaboration with the Eames Office, will take place in Hall 10.2 from 27 to 30 October 2026.

The exhibition is part of ORGATEC, the international trade fair focused on workspace and contract solutions. It will connect the Eameses’ architectural legacy with the changing requirements of contemporary workplaces and other commercial environments.

What will visitors see at the ORGATEC 2026 exhibition?

Visitors will encounter the Eames Pavilion System through two walk-in pavilion structures, while archival material will provide additional context about the architectural work of Charles and Ray Eames.

The exhibition covers approximately 132 square metres in Hall 10.2, Stand N-048. Alongside the contemporary pavilion system, the presentation will feature selected material from the Eames Office archive, including historical designs, drawings, films and photographs.

This combination is intended to show the development of the Eameses’ architectural thinking rather than presenting the pavilion simply as an isolated design object.

How does the Eames Pavilion System connect with Eames architecture?

The system draws on principles evident in several residential projects designed by Charles and Ray Eames during the 1940s and 1950s.

Their own residence, Case Study House No. 8, commonly known as the Eames House, is among the projects associated with this approach. Other experimental houses explored steel- and timber-frame construction and demonstrated an interest in architecture as a flexible framework.

The new pavilion system translates these principles into a contemporary industrialised building system, developed through nearly three years of research and development involving the Eames Office and Spanish manufacturer Kettal.

Why is modularity central to the new pavilion system?

The Eames Pavilion System is based on a clear structural grid and the principle of creating substantial usable volume from a relatively small footprint.

Its repeatable structural modules can be combined with different roof configurations, façade elements, glazing, textiles and accessories. This enables the system to be adapted for different purposes rather than being restricted to one architectural application.

Potential uses include workplaces, hospitality venues, residential settings, events, retail environments and exhibitions. This adaptability directly connects with ORGATEC’s wider 2026 theme, From rooms to relationships: designing spaces in an ever-changing world.

How was the Eames Pavilion System developed?

The development involved extensive research into both completed and unbuilt residential projects by Charles and Ray Eames.

Eckart Maise, a long-standing Eames Office collaborator and design consultant, led the project from the Eames Office side. Kettal then worked with the Eames Office to translate the underlying architectural logic into contemporary materials and industrial production.

Kettal Creative Director Antonio Navarro said the Eames House was approached as a prototype for a system rather than simply an object to reproduce. The resulting system is intended to retain the clarity and modularity of the original architectural thinking while incorporating contemporary manufacturing techniques.

What will the Eames archive add to the exhibition?

The archival section, titled The Eames Houses, will broaden the exhibition beyond the pavilion itself.

Research from the Eames Office collection has uncovered drawings, studies and proposals connected with the residential architecture of Charles and Ray Eames. Some of these materials have received limited public exposure previously.

The same research also informed The Eames Houses, described as the first comprehensive sourcebook dedicated to the Eameses’ residential architecture. Published by Phaidon in summer 2026, the book provides additional context for understanding the architectural foundations behind their broader design practice.

Why does Eames architecture remain relevant to today’s travel and hospitality industry?

Flexible architecture has particular relevance to hospitality, events, exhibitions and commercial spaces, where requirements can change according to occupancy, function and user expectations.

The Eames Pavilion System demonstrates how a modular architectural framework can accommodate different configurations without abandoning a consistent structural language. For the travel and hospitality sector, such flexibility can support changing uses ranging from guest-facing spaces to event environments.

ORGATEC 2026 therefore positions the exhibition not only as a historical examination of Eames design, but also as a contemporary discussion about how built environments can respond to change.

When and where can visitors experience the exhibition?

Trade visitors can experience ORGATEC 2026 presents the Eames Pavilion System by Kettal in collaboration with the Eames Office from 27 to 30 October 2026 at Hall 10.2, Stand N-048, at Koelnmesse in Cologne, Germany.

The exhibition brings together architectural history, archival research, industrial design and contemporary spatial planning. Its central proposition is that ideas developed decades ago can still inform how flexible environments are conceived today.

ORGATEC 2026 will place the Eames Pavilion System within a wider conversation about adaptable architecture, workplace design and contemporary spatial planning. The special exhibition will combine two walk-in pavilion structures with archival material from the Eames Office, allowing visitors to examine both the historical foundations and present-day application of the system. Charles and Ray Eames’ architectural approach provides the central connection, particularly their interest in modular construction, efficient use of space and adaptability. Kettal’s collaboration with the Eames Office has translated those principles into an industrialised system designed for multiple applications. Consequently, the exhibition extends beyond design history. It provides a practical look at how architectural concepts can respond to changing requirements across workplaces, hospitality, events, retail and residential environments. From 27 to 30 October 2026, ORGATEC will therefore present the Eames legacy as an active reference point for contemporary spatial design.