Billboard homes for the homeless

Forward-thinking group of designers devise innovative solution to homelessness

Design Develop, a group of architects and designers based in Slovakia, have devised an innovative solution to one of London’s most long-standing and complex problems- homelessness. 

Recent government figures show that the number of people sleeping rough in the City increased by over one-third last year. The statistic has led many of the UK’s leading homelessness charities to call for reform. 

Design Develop’s plan, entitled ‘Project Gregory’, proposes transforming roadside billboards into permanent shelters for the homeless, with the hope that maintenance and living costs could then be covered by the advertising revenue generated.

Shelter designs have already been drawn up; the interior will be modern in style and encompass a kitchen, office space, sleeping area and bathroom. The structure will be wooden, supported by a concrete base and designed to preserve the billboard dimensions. 

The project has been designed with the Slovakian city of Banska Bystrica in mind, where the existing energy and water grids would facilitate a quick and easy implementation.

However, the group believe that the model could be easily adapted to work in many other major cities across the globe. 
ludlowthompson is committed to the fight against homelessness and has now been supporting Centrepoint, the UK’s leading charity for homeless young people, for ten years. 

We have now raised over £100,000 in total for the cause. Our staff have taken part in  sponsored street sleepouts, fantasy football leagues, cycle rides, dragon boat racing and fancy dress days. Next up, we have a 10k sponsored run.

Stephen Ludlow, Chairman of ludlowthompson, commented: “Centrepoint does a really great job of helping some the UK’s most vulnerable people and I am immensely proud of the efforts ludlowthompson staff have put into our fund-raising work with them.”