GAIA: A Symbol of Sustainable Design at TEM 2022
“We are all in the same armchair. Our world is being shaped by our weight. If we treat it with respect, we can live in harmony. If we keep crushing it, it will no longer support us.”
— Arch. Nir Sivan
This was the powerful message behind GAIA, the eco-sustainable armchair that stole the spotlight at TEM 2022 – Tourism Experience Management, the first international fair on experiential tourism held in Cagliari. Designed by architect Nir Sivan in collaboration with Character, GAIA became the symbol of the event’s commitment to sustainability, circular economy, and design with meaning.
The event, spread across 4,000 square meters in the monumental Saint Remy Bastion, welcomed over 15,000 visitors in just three days. With 25 themed pavilions, two stages, six maxi screens, VR experiences, and over 55 international B2B stations, TEM 2022 celebrated the best of Sardinian excellence: food and wine, archaeology, religious paths, folklore, and outdoor sports. But what united all spaces was a common language—cardboard. All installations and interior furnishings were made from recyclable materials, with GAIA as the centerpiece.
GAIA is not just an armchair—it’s a philosophy. Built from 100% recycled and recyclable structural cardboard, it reflects a complete circular process: from conception and production to disassembly, reprocessing, and rebirth. Its design is deeply symbolic: a circular base supports a spherical form, which deforms under the seated weight—turning a simple act into a metaphor for the planet’s fragility.
At TEM 2022, GAIA became a shared seat of awareness, where visitors were not just observers but participants in a collective experience of sustainability and design innovation. As the first project of its kind in Sardinia, it signals a powerful step toward responsible architecture, where emotion, ecology, and engineering converge.