HUT Design Challenge: “The Everyman” by Cara Grace

INTERVIEWED BY Steve Smith PHOTOS Jan Ras

Outlining the creative journey behind her unique design, Cara Grace shares insights into The Everyman created for the HUT X Always Welcome Design Challenge.

Launched at Cape Town Furniture Week 2024, the HUT x Always Welcome Design Challenge invited seven innovative designers to create limited-edition pieces using material reclaimed from the iconic Muizenberg Huts, which were undergoing refurbishment.

We chatted with Cara Grace to dive deeper into the inspiration, design processes, and challenges she faced while working on this exciting project.

Do you feel you have preserved the story and character of the Muizenberg beach huts in your piece, while also ensuring the design remains sustainable and functional? If so, how?  

This design challenge was a powerful reminder that as designers, we have a responsibility to create bodies of work that serve not only our personal vision but the broader community’s. Balancing maximising historical and nostalgic relevance with minimising environmental impact was both challenging and rewarding. In manufacturing the design, I gained a deep appreciation for the material’s history, and we worked hard to preserve as much of the original wood as possible to maintain sustainability. It was a lesson in ensuring quality extends past material composition and is an amalgamation of history and longevity as a result of sustainable practices within the scope of the design as well as the context in which it presides.

Walk us through your design process when working with reclaimed materials, particularly those as unique and iconic as the wood from the huts?  

My design process is centred around honouring the material at every stage. It was essential to preserve the integrity of the wood, which holds so much history and significance. Each decision I was influenced by the desire to respect and enhance the material’s story while creating something functional and meaningful.  

What challenges did you anticipate when working with these specific materials, and how did you overcome them?  

My initial hesitations when working with the material were potentially damaging the heritage of the beach hut wood. There were some pressures in having to achieve the best result with as little waste as possible, which was intimidating as I have never personally worked with a material like this before. That is why I entrusted the highly skilled team at Leafy Tech to help execute my vision. It was amazing to be able to be in the factory as a witness to their manufacturing process. The team treated the material with so much care and patience in order to complete the project successfully.  

What emotions or memories do you hope your piece will evoke in someone familiar with the huts?  

I hope that “The Everyman” unit will evoke a sense of familiarity. Its design serves as a functional solution for small-space living, where it can transform from a shelving unit into additional seating as needed. The versatility of the piece makes it adaptable to any space or occasion, fostering a sense of connection with the user. Just as the beach huts are a nostalgic and familiar sight for many, I hope this piece will carry that same sense of comfort. 

Visit the Exhibition

All the pieces from the HUT x Always Welcome Design Challenge are currently on display at Cape Town’s St George’s Cathedral for several months and will be accessible to holiday goers, locals, press and creative communities alike.

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