Location: Wellington, South Africa
Program: Community project
Client: Ackerman Pick ‘n Pay Foundation
Area: 90sqm

In many areas across South Africa, the typical home is just 36sqm — yet these modest spaces are often shared by many people. The Ackerman Foundation Pick n Pay 36sqm Challenge invited designers to find innovative solutions to maximise space and improve comfort in small homes. Our winning entry, the Nested Bunk Bed system, addressed this challenge through a simple but ingenious design that makes the most of every square metre.

Following the competition, a new non-governmental organisation — Shoebox Homes — was established to manage the rollout of the bed system to orphanages and townships across South Africa, turning a design solution into a meaningful social impact.

The first project to adopt the bed system was an AIDS orphanage in Wellington. At just 90sqm, accommodating 20 children in a conventional layout presented a significant challenge. We redesigned the floor plan of the new orphanage around four sets of the Nested Bunk Bed system, demonstrating the remarkable space-saving potential of the design.

The result is a generous multipurpose room that transforms with the rhythm of the day. During daylight hours, the beds fold back into a single stack, opening up the space into a expansive playroom for the children. At night, they extend fully to give all 20 children a comfortable and dignified place to sleep.