PROTOTYPE XYZ

Designed with the AMV residents, built for belonging.

Prototype XYZ brings atmosphere, a sense of belonging and personal expression back into the bedroom for unaccompanied minor refugees.

Through design research within the Young Innovators Programme of the College of Government Advisors, A SENSE OF_ investigated how living conditions at AMV reception locations can be structurally improved. The findings were compiled into a strategy for the optimisation of AMV locations. COA and A SENSE OF_ are building on these findings by developing a prototype as a concrete realisation of that strategy — six units for three bedrooms across two AMV locations in Katwijk aan Zee and Gouda, where two residents share each room.

Through multiple user sessions with young residents at various AMV locations, input was gathered to inform the design of the furniture piece. Aspects that recurred consistently were explored together with the young people and have directly shaped the design. The focus lies on four qualities that are often absent in current reception facilities: atmosphere, a sense of belonging, storage space and the opportunity for personal expression.

The prototype is a compact enclosure for the existing steel bed frame: an object that sits quietly within the bedroom without dominating it. It creates a sheltered, personal space within the shared room. The load-bearing frame is constructed from 45×45 mm planed, impregnated timber battens — a profile that provides a robust yet slender structure sitting naturally alongside existing furniture. Fire-resistant curtains form the walls of the sleeping space: they establish an intimate atmosphere, reduce noise and meet the fire safety requirements applicable to reception facilities. A reading light on the inside makes it possible to study or unwind without disturbing others. The back panel is fitted as a pegboard, a perforated surface to which shelves, hooks and storage accessories can be attached and rearranged freely. Dedicated storage for both clean and dirty clothing addresses a practical need that is rarely met by standard furnishings in reception rooms.

The structure is designed for rigidity in three directions — stable along its length, width and height. All joints are connected with bolts and barrel nuts, distributing forces optimally and ensuring the unit stands without play. A grid system of pre-drilled holes runs throughout the construction, making the system fully adaptable and demountable without additional machining. The object adapts to the user, not the other way around.

The development unfolds in three phases: critical design elaboration informed by user sessions, prototype construction and joint testing at a woodworking workshop in Sneek, and participatory installation by the residents themselves — guided by a clear manual that strengthens their sense of agency over their own living environment.

The intended result is six fully functional prototypes that enhance atmosphere and belonging in the bedrooms, and strengthen the feeling of autonomy and self-worth among the young residents. Following installation, experiences from both residents and staff will be collected and incorporated into future iterations — with the ambition to upscale the design nationally in the future.

Funded through AMIF Sustainable and Hybrid Reception, with support from the European Union.

Program: Installation

Completion: 2026

Location: The Netherlands

Client: COA

Location: Katwijk aan zee and Gouda

Design: A SENSE OF_

Visuals: A SENSE OF_

Builder: A SENSE OF_ with AMV