South African furniture brand Wunders has teamed up with renowned designer Heath Nash to permanently open its waste stores to Cape Town makers, marking a significant step towards sustainability in design. Following a workshop and exhibition that showcased the potential of reclaimed materials, Wunders launched MakeSpace, a public-access studio located within its factory, dedicated to upcycling production waste into creative works.
The collaboration, spearheaded by Wunders’ managing director Bianca Shapiro, arose from her initial shock at the volume of waste generated by the factory. Inviting Nash, a sustainability consultant and veteran in working with upcycled materials, the initiative quickly evolved into a year-long project aimed at transforming waste into artistic and functional pieces.
“Walking around the factory, the amount of waste caused me anxiety,” said Shapiro. “Heath has been at the forefront of sustainability for over 20 years, and his expertise has been pivotal in showing the value of waste as a commodity.”
MakeSpace: A Hub for Creativity and Sustainability
MakeSpace serves as a platform where designers, artists, and the public can access discarded materials like foam, fabric, leather, and wood to create innovative projects. With waste streams sorted by type and tools provided on-site, the space offers both accessibility and inspiration. Plans for expansion are already underway, with Wunders set to move to a larger factory in 2025.
The initiative debuted with a 10-day workshop at artist Igshaan Adams’s Breakroom space, involving 15 participants, including Wunders’ factory staff and prominent creatives. The resulting works were displayed at the Waste exhibition during Design Week South Africa, offering a glimpse into the transformative potential of discarded materials.
Highlights from the Waste Exhibition
The exhibition featured standout pieces like a chair crafted by fashion designer Nicola West-Morland, adorned with pastel foam tentacles, and a fabric-and-wood hut by artist Loyiso Botha, blending influences from AfrikaBurn and Xhosa initiation rituals. Other notable works included upholsterer John Davids’s vibrant layered chair and graduate Thato Makatu’s miniature replica of her childhood home, viewable only from a stool.
By involving factory staff in the process, the project not only fostered creativity but also underscored the value of sustainable waste handling. “For staff, waste was just something to dump,” said Shapiro. “Now, they see its potential to create something extraordinary.”
A Vision for the Future
Heath Nash sees MakeSpace as a unique opportunity to explore how art can divert materials from landfills while inspiring the next generation of makers. West-Morland is set to become MakeSpace’s first artist-in-residence, further solidifying its role as a sustainability-focused creative hub.
Shapiro envisions MakeSpace becoming self-sustaining, whether through selling one-off creations, generating new products, or offering the space for hire. Beyond profitability, the initiative has prompted Wunders to refine its manufacturing processes to reduce waste at the source.
“We will never eliminate waste, but we can design more consciously,” Shapiro noted. “This space demonstrates that waste is not just a byproduct but a resource.”
Through MakeSpace, Wunders and Heath Nash are redefining sustainability in the design industry, proving that creativity and conscious production can coexist harmoniously.
