Anja Lareman at the shelter built by her and one of her fellow students, Louis Boshoff. Photo: Supplied

At the University of the Free State’s (UFS) Department of Architecture first-year students learned early in the year that four walls around you are not always a given. With only reeds, rubbish bags, rope and wire at their disposal, they had to build shelters on the Main Campus. The shelters had to keep them safe, warm and dry during the night, while protecting them from the sun, wind and rain during the day. Moreover the shelters needed to be collapsible and portable.

The first-year students impressed everyone with their creativity and inventiveness and proved that they are suitable candidates for this challenging course and career.