Architecture students display shelter in a cart designs

Dundee City Square recently became the focus point for a convoy of 30 ultra-adaptable carts and trolleys being displayed by second-year architecture students.

The carts are the result of a major design project by the students, who are based in Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, in response to a competition being staged by the influential website www.designboom.com.

The website has set the challenge of designing and building "shelter in a cart" - portable, adaptable trolleys that can provide shelter and storage for homeless people.

"It's a common sight, particularly in North America, to see homeless people moving their possessions around in a shopping cart," said Joseph Thurrott, Year 2 leader in the School of Architecture.

"What the students are being challenged to do in this competition is establish a more adaptable level of transportable architecture which can provide shelter as well as storage. The range of styles and designs they are producing is really interesting."

All of the second-year, 60 students in total, are taking part and it is expected there will be 25 to 30 complete carts submitted for the competition.

In order to assess how easily the carts could be transported and provide shelter, the students were required to transport the carts from the University to City Square where they were reviewed by Joseph and other lecturers.

"Part of the competition is to show that the carts can be easily transported and can provide shelter, so having the students travel through the city centre from the college to City Square was ideal, and hopefully it will also raise awareness of some of the issues facing homeless people," said Joseph.

Full details of the `shelter in a cart' competition can be viewed at www.designboom.com.