Camper Showroom by Neri&Hu: A Recycled Shanghai Lane House
A house inside a warehouse
Camper Showroom & Office is an unusual retail and workplace project that recalls Shanghai's traditional residential lanes. Neri&Hu placed a two-storey structure made of reclaimed timber and grey brick inside an existing warehouse, transforming the interior into a new interpretation of the nong-tang urban typology. Completed in 2013, the project links the brand's activity with the layered life of its surrounding city.
The urban lane as a plan
The architects extended the idea of an exterior alley through the showroom, physically dividing the inserted house into two parts. Visitors encounter shop displays, shared areas and work-related functions along a passage that behaves like a compact street. Its circulation becomes part of the project's identity rather than a neutral route between rooms.
A mirror that extends the passage
A mirrored end wall gives the impression that the lane continues beyond its physical boundary. This device lengthens the view and brings attention to the sectional cut through the inserted house. The exposed edges are painted vivid red, connecting the architecture to Camper's visual identity without turning the entire interior into an advertisement.
Reclaimed timber with a past
The structural timber comes from demolished local lane houses. Salvaged boards retain traces of paint, wallpaper and paper, carrying visible evidence of their former use. Grey bricks fill the timber frame, creating a tactile architectural fabric whose warmth and irregularity contrast with the larger warehouse shell.
Skylight and shadow
A new skylight above the internal lane draws daylight deep into the project. As light moves across the passage, long shadows appear on the reclaimed wood and brick surfaces, reinforcing the sense that visitors are standing in an exterior street despite being inside an existing warehouse. The effect changes throughout the day.
Shoe display as part of the architecture
The new framework creates an unusual hanging display for Camper footwear. It is integrated into the timber-and-brick enclosure instead of relying only on freestanding retail shelves. The product presentation is consequently inseparable from the spatial concept, making the building itself part of how visitors encounter the brand.
Furniture made for the setting
Neri&Hu designed objects specifically for the showroom, including perforated bronze shelving, Solo Chairs with red legs and a Lazy Susan table for the press room. They share the larger project's attention to material and crafted detail, connecting individual furniture elements with the overall architecture.
An example of adaptive reuse
The project combines an existing warehouse with a newly constructed house made of elements that were previously part of other buildings. This creates several layers of reuse, allowing old materials and forms to support a contemporary programme. Camper Showroom is memorable because it makes the connection between a city's domestic history and its present commercial life tangible.
Project information and photography
The Recycled Lane House | Camper Showroom & Office, 101 Gao-an Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai. Architecture and interiors: Neri&Hu Design and Research Office. Area: 300 square metres. Completed July 2013. Photography: Shen Zhonghai and Dirk Weiblen. Each photograph is credited in its caption.
Comments