During the 19th century, students of l’Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris would ride in the cart sent to retrieve their final art and architecture projects.

 

While en route to the school in the cart, students frantically worked together to complete or improve these projects.

 

The meaning of the word has evolved to imply a collection of ideas or a session of intense brainstorming.

 

3. An intensely focused activity intended to build consensus
among participants and to develop specific design goals and solutions for a project, and motivate participants and stakeholders to be committed to reaching those goals.

Participants represent all those who can influence the project design decisions. [Fr. charrette]”

from
A Handbook for Planning and Conducting Charrettes for
High-Performance Projects, 2003, by
Gail Lindsey, FAIA