The creative conversion of a decommissioned Safmarine shipping container into a much-needed classroom for a rural South African school – undertaken by Tsai Design Studio on behalf of Safmarine and its retail customer, Woolworths – recently won a Loerie award.

The multi-functional Grade R container classroom facility at the Vissershok Primary School in the Western Cape won silver in the Loerie’s 2012  ‘Communication design: three dimensional and environmental design/ architecture’ category.

Commenting on the award, Y. Tsai, owner of Tsai Design Studio, who has been involved in various Safmarine Containers-in-the-Community projects, said:  “I am very proud to be using design in such a positive and sustainable way and to the benefit of the community. This may be a small project, but the fact that it has competed, and succeeded, against larger projects is proof that small ideas can make a big impact.”

According to Patricia Simons, Safmarine Southern African PR and CSR Manager:  “The silver Loerie is one of many awards presented in the past year to the Tsai Design Studio and we, as Safmarine, are immensely proud to have been part of a collaboration which has helped to improve access to early childhood education.”

The container classroom facility was built in 2011 as part of the Safmarine-supported Woolworths ‘Making the Difference Through Design’ competition aimed at 15 to 18 year olds. The winner was given the opportunity of working with the award-winning Tsai Design Studio in bringing his/her ideas to life.

According to Woolworths’ Educational Programme Manager, Pieter Twine: “Since 2006, the Woolworths ‘Making the Difference Through Design’ programme has taught learners about design and also involved them in projects to foster their talents and give them real-life experience in the design world.”

The Vissershok Primary School container classroom complex features an outside jungle gym , colourful windows on both sides of the container which allow for cross ventilation and a dramatic steel roof that also encourages the collection of rain water.   A small amphitheatre, courtesy of cement and aggregates producer AfriSam, has provided a space where events, such as school theatrical productions, can be held.

The Vissershok container classroom is one of more than 8000 decommissioned containers which Safmarine has donated to more than 3000 projects in the past 20 years.  The majority of these CSR-related projects are based in South Africa and support education.