Events 2018

WELCOME TO GROUP 16//
We are excited to meet you all and start working on our project. Keep checking back on the blog for more updates on our progress.

OH OK WORKSHOP//
Great news! We have managed to secure a space in the 'Plant' workshops run by Oh Ok. We will be using this space during the events weeks to produce a model of our final proposal.

EVENT PLANNING SESSION// Initial planning is underway for the event in preparation for our meeting with the Town Hall team. We discussed potential project outcomes, researched the civic quarter and negotiated workshop use.

FIFTH YEARS MANCHESTER TOWN HALL TOUR// A glimpse inside the Manchester Town Hall. The building is currently closed for building work but we are lucky enough to be working inside during the project.

ORGANISATIONAL MEETING WITH THE TOWN HALL// Looking down onto Albert Square through the original windows of Manchester Town Hall. This also happens to be one of the rooms secured in partnership with the town hall for us to work in during the events weeks. We will work alongside three other events groups on the project in these spaces. Albert Square is the epicentre of our particular project so check it out when you can.

24//Detroit – Manchester - Zones of Urban Experimentation

Through our own photographic analysis we will capture how modern art movement in Manchester hopes to continue to drive creativity within this very unique neighbourhood. We will also cross the invisible wall to Ancoats known as Great Ancoats Street and investigate how art and architects worked together to create a cohesive space for living in.

23//Detroit – Manchester - Zones of Urban Experimentation

Excursion III: On this tour, we will learn about the creation of the Norther Quarter as we know it today. We will find inspiration in the lesser known heritage sites, public art and sculptures which are threatened by new developments.

“The best way to get to know a place is through its art and its artists.” - East Street Arts.

22//Detroit – Manchester - Zones of Urban Experimentation

Excursion II: We will undertake a walking tour through the streets of Manchester and reveal how the power of the world has shaped the city. You are welcome to use photography, sketching and painting to capture the vibrant city. The outputs of the tour will be included in the final publication.

21//Detroit – Manchester - Zones of Urban Experimentation

Excursion I: In order to obtain the necessary content for the publication, as a group we will be visiting archival collections at MOSI, People’s History Museum and the Central Library. The exciting tours will require you to collect archival footage, maps, statistics, historic photographs and written content in regards to the topics that we are exploring.
Keep an eye out for the upcoming detailed schedule that will have a clear introduction to the first days of the Events.

20//Detroit – Manchester - Zones of Urban Experimentation

Motor City: Detroit’s automotive history starts in the 1890’s. Henry Ford, the founder of the Ford Motor Company, has helped Detroit obtain the nickname ‘Motor City’ due to the company’s vast success. Even today you can find Detroit’s historic automotive manufacturing facility amongst many of Manchester’s industrial buildings.
Prior to the Events Weeks, we will provide you with the exciting information to get started. Check your emails and the Facebook Group regularly for updates and the content that we would like to share with you.

19//Detroit – Manchester - Zones of Urban Experimentation

King Cotton: Manchester’s cotton history starts in the 1830’s. In 1835, the French historian and social observer, Alexis de Tocqueville, visited the growing Industrial City – Manchester and recorded in his diary these words: “From this foul drain, the greatest stream of human industry flows out to fertilise the world. From this filthy sewer pure gold flows”.
We would like you to immerse yourself in the history of the Industrial Revolution and how in particular it has shaped Manchester to be the Industrial City it was considered to be.

Further talks with Manchester City Council regarding the location of the exhibition. Exciting plans in the pipeline for a future tour of the work and exhibition! Watch this space…

#THANKS

A big thank you to Plant Noma who have donated some clay to our Events programme.

We are looking forward to see how the participants incorporate this material into their intervention designs.

Keep an eye out next week when we'll be posting some inspiration / precedent designs.

Name: Gabriel Wyderkiewicz
Graduated from: Robert Gordon University
Experience: Major Architects, Modulo Architects
Atelier: qed
Interests/bio: I love cooking and architecture, both disciplines being very different yet so similar. My main interest is how spaces affect the human behaviour. Creating spaces with a purpose of enhancing the psychical and psychological needs or their users. Looking forward to working on these ideas with you guys

SPATIAL ASSESSMENT

Today the team met with Louise Neilson and George Allison to discuss fire regulations and to establish the parameters for the events proposal.
We are designing in accordance to health and safety and fire regulations to ensure that only the design will be "fire".

Today we spent the morning discussing various design opportunities incorporating modular and flexible design spaces. This allowed us to revisit both the brief and the risk assessment and finalise them.

Name: Joe Shenton
Graduated from: Sheffield Hallam | 2014
Experience: Hewitt & Carr Architects
Atelier: qed
Interests/bio: My main interest is in environmental/sustainable design, love to sketch and generate ideas, usually the mad stuff that never works, looking forward to working on these ideas with you guys

We all love a bit of social media. Join our FACEBOOK page to get all the scoop and information about our group's progress into the making of the MSSA desk. SNAP it, POST it, MAKE it!

MEET THE TEAM!

Name: Vessi
Atelier: CPU
Experience: Studied at MSA for undergrad and works at TP Bennett.
Greatest achievement: Becoming vegan.
Future goal: Visit every capital city in the world!

MEET THE TEAM!

Name: Tika
Atelier: CPU
Experience: Studied at Liverpool John Moores University for undergrad and spent two years in practice.
Greatest achievement: Completing Tough Mudder.
Future goal: To go alpaca walking!

MEET THE TEAM!

Name: Reshmy
Atelier: IS
Experience: Worked at X Architects in Dubai
Future goal: To eat as much as she wants and to never get fat!

MEET THE TEAM!

Name: Lina
Atelier: CPU
Experience: Worked at ADP Architecture on large-scale education projects.
Greatest achievement: Can lift the MSSA desk on her own.
Future goal: Set up her own practice where everyone would be on a four day week 11-6!

Hey guys! Please see the proposed schedule to have a brief idea of our plan for the events weeks. It highlights the key activities including meetings with Centerpoint staff & the target young people, design workshops and presentations. Details of the activities and venue will be updated once confirmed. Stay tuned for more updates!

MEET THE TEAM!

Name: Christian
Atelier: CPU
Experience: Worked at Sweco and A-Sidan.
Greatest achievement: Being a cowboy.
Future goal: To ride off in to the sunset!

MEET THE TEAM!

We are Group 10, Lobby Line Up! We are planning to redevelop the MSSA desk on the sixth floor! We come from various backgrounds and will use our skills and experience to create a engaging space for the MSSA and you!

We’re excited to work with you all!

18//Detroit – Manchester - Zones of Urban Experimentation

Connections: Seen in the image above is the reflection of the Detroit Bridge in Salford. This is just one of the links connecting Manchester to Detroit. Now with the recently created Facebook group, use this as an opportunity to discover more links between the two cities and if you wish, post them to the Facebook group for discussion.



Here is the link to the Facebook group to join; https://www.facebook.com/groups/1973582952716615/

#Social

Hello People!! Our Facebook page just launched !! Join the team for regular updates regarding meetings and changes to the plan!

Keep checking the blog guys, is a busy week and we've got a lot of cool things to share with you!

Morning meeting!

We have spent the morning drafting some possible design outcomes which allowed us to finalise our brief. Keep your eyes peeled for our introductory email which will include the brief itself and details of where and when our first get together will be.

Look forward to meeting you all!

Name: Joey Mok
Graduated from: Chinese University of Hong Kong | 2016
Experience: LAAB Architects (Hong Kong)
Atelier: qed
Interests/bio: I love music, travelling and volunteering. During my year in practice in a design-led firm, I worked mainly in the commercial sector, with additional experience in installation art and pavilion design. I found it immensely rewarding seeing the public engagement with the completed design projects after they were turned into reality!
I look forward to meeting you guys soon!

Name: Lingling XIE
Graduated from: Xiamen University of Technology (China)
Experience: Imagine Architects (China)
Atelier: qed
Interests/bio: I am interested in art, music and travel! I have designed some commercial buildings and office buildings during my works. But now I wanna to explore more on spacial design. This is my first year study in UK, I am looking forward to work with your guys to create more interesting stuffs. :)

17//Detroit – Manchester - Zones of Urban Experimentation

Facebook Group: Be sure to check your emails as we have just sent you the link to our new Facebook group to keep you updated with everything that’s going on. The group is called; Detroit – Manchester - Zones of Urban Experimentation. We will be using this Facebook group to keep in contact with you throughout the Events week. Feel free to use it post any ideas you have before the Events week starts that could possibly enhance the 9 days.

Here is the link to the Facebook group to join; https://www.facebook.com/groups/1973582952716615/

Design Iterations - Looking at using different light sources and colours as options for the Festival Promoter to view and give us feedback in order to progress.

Name: Justin Tan
Graduated from: National University of Singapore | 2016
Experience: Ong & Ong (Singapore)
Atelier: qed
Interests/bio: I love cars, and architecture of course. I enjoy designing for a purpose, to create usable, functional building and quality, invigorating spaces. In other words, I always aim to create 'Architecture for the People', architecture that embraces the needs of the end-users. And thus my passion for our project theme 'Supporting Homelessness'. I look forward to working with you guys!

The skylight is a huge asset to the quality of the existing space. The atrium retains the original industrial fabric of the building, which was previously used as a textile factory.

..as well as for training purposes for the young people, to provide skills and knowledge support.

Start Imagining!

The atrium is currently used for events and drop-in sessions..

Getting to know Centrepoint

Getting to know Centrepoint: An introduction to the services and people they support, and our fellow peers whom we would be supporting through our project.

Design Iterations - 04

Hi Guys- A little intro to the MSAp Atelier here at the Manchester School of Architecture and to give you a flavor of what us MArch students get up too!

Design Iterations - Working through different material combinations.

#Social

We are officially on Instagram! Check out our page for, stories from our meetings, site visits and many more!

Keep checking the blog for updates regarding our progress and more details for meetings and collaborators!!

Dear team!
We are planning on running an introduction session and design smash this Thursday 4-5pm in CH513/ 514. You should have received an email, which will give you the information.
We would like this to be a productive session, so please come prepared with some ideas or precedents for exhibitions, and have an understanding of who the collaborators are.
See you all on Thursday!

Design Iterations - Working through the factors that influence our design through day and night in order to produce the desired outcome for our client.

Great meeting with our client earlier this week!

After taking our approved final scheme forwards, we have began resolving its means of construction! This has been a carefully considered process that takes into account the installation within the university as well the at the festival. The agreed approach has been to create a durable, lightweight and easily adaptable structure that enables a playful assembly of neon cord that will resemble the Big Bang!

Having now resolved the structure through technical drawing and modelling it will now be in the hands of our manufacturer who will look to bring our idea into reality!

Today we’re in the studio discussing our risk assessment and refining the detailed schedule for our event!

Design Iterations - Following our productive meeting at Decordia Head office, we have been working through design options in order to get the design signed off by the Festivals Promoters.

We are planning on running an introduction session and design smash this Thursday 4-5pm in CH513/ 514. You should have received an email, which will give you the information.

We would like this to be a productive session, so please come prepared with some ideas or precedents for exhibitions, and have an understanding of who the collaborators are.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT!

Team 5

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT!

Team 4

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT!

Team 3

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT!

Team 2

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT!

Team 1

Great meeting with the collaborators & fabrication today!

The Northern Soul EVENTS programme will be split into 4 areas which will cover the elements of:
- Physical curation
- Digital curation
- Marketing
- Digital documentation

We have split the programme into these groups to ensure each student gets an opportunity to experiment with new skills and build on existing strengths.

If there is any group which you would particularly prefer, please send an email to northernsoulcharrette@gmail.com and we will consider it when we allocate the groups!

Today we're in the studio to discuss the schedule and make confidentiality agreement.

#Hi

Hi, my name is David, I'm 24, Welsh and initially got interested in Architecture after reading up on Frank-Lloyd Wright. I am particularly interested in future-adaptable design especially in a world with Global Warming and find our course particularly useful when the building picture round comes up at the pub quiz

#Hi

Hi everyone. My name is Yuchong QIAN, but you can call me Mike. I am from China. I completed my first two-year study at Nanjing University and moved to Manchester School of Architecture from Year 2. I got my BA degree here and went back to China for a one-year internship. I have worked in Urban Architecture in Shanghai for half a year, mainly focused on residential. Then I moved to the architecture design institute of Southeast University to have a practice on public architecture like schools, and football stadiums.
I recently came back to Manchester to do my Master and kept my BA choice: QED atelier. I am comparatively interested in the user-centred architecture, aimed to make building serve the public all-around with eco-friendly theory. I am looking forward to seeing you in April and have a great time with you and the kids.

An important part of our EVENT involves working closely with the RIBA, specifically their regional team who are located at RIBA North, Mann Island, Liverpool.

The success of the 2018 RIBA Northern Soul Charrette relies on keeping in regular contact with the team, and making sure they are updated on all our plans for the day and letting them know if we need anything from them- and vice versa.

At the moment, we are liasing with the regional director team to gather interest for the charrette from the 13 northern schools of architecture that will be involved on the day.

Our team created a poster for the RIBA to publish to all schools as a way of gathering interest from students with the respective schools, with our EVENTS team being the organisers for pulling together a team representing the MSA- before the deadline of Friday 13th April.

#reimaginingmcr #northernsoulcharrette

Name: Adithya Vairav Vijayabhaskar
Atelier: ISR
Graduated: National Institute of Technology, Patna, India
Work Experience: Chawla architectural and Consulting Engineers, Dubai, U.A.E

Bio: I am fairly new to the UK and have always been an architect who is up for crazy ideas and the Merz movement is pretty crazy I guess.Looking forward to working with a new group on a crazy art movement.

After our Site visit and discussions on how to get going with our Event, we had a small sit out at a Cafe close to our Site, to discuss the probable risks and liabilities that may come across.Well, we aim to give you guys a harmless and risk-free Working experience whilst having a lot of fun!!!

So we have put together a list of all risks and hazards that we will discuss tomorrow with Becky, alongside itineraries, drawings and probable materials for Events which we will be uploading soon.

Stay tuned for more updates !!!

Name: Marcus Yeomans
Atelier: MSAP
Graduated: University Of Liverpool
Work Experience: ASA + Atlas Industires

Yo. If you've ever seen a guy looking like a homeless Jesus walking around Benzie that is probably me and yes I am the Architectural Messiah. I like buildings that make a difference to people and can effect the communities they live in. I'll try to keep the sermons short.

Also I play keyboards.

This is a potential storage space for our workbenches.
Keep that in mind for tour future ideas!!

Fantastic meeting today with Tom Brown, our art collaborator, a very talented local artist. Some brilliant designs ideas developing.

Check out some of his work here:
http://browniy.wixsite.com/thomaswilliam

Name: Nathan Cowley
Atelier: MSAP
Graduated: University of Liverpool
Work Experience: ASA
Bio: I got into architecture to wear pretentious glasses without embarrassment, and i generally love buildings that other architects hate. I’m also interested in discussions about how Milton Keynes is the best city in the UK.

Name: Steffan
Atelier: QED
Graduated: Northumbria University
Work Experience: JTP
Bio: Hola. My interests lie in environmental design + architecture to suit a variety of people and needs. During my year out in 2017, I worked at JTP in London, specialising in masterplanning and residential design. I am excited to be working with all of you; discussing the creativity that can be applied to drawing and model making through combining the Merz art form and architecture.

Name: Jack Moloney
Atelier: QED
Graduated: Anglia Ruskin University
Work Experience: Chapman Taylor Architects
Bio: I'm into efficient, environmental design and generally into trying to save the world. I'm also a big fan of art and the Merz movement so I'm looking forward to creating something weird and thinking outside of the box.

Name: Joseph O'Brien
Atelier: QED
Graduated: University of Portsmouth
Experience: DSH Architects
Bio: Enjoys long walks on the beach, cold beers and strong spirits. Interested in art, music, travel and architecture and will debate anyone on these matters

#Update

Rooms for our presentation dates are now confirmed!
Keep an eye on the blog for full timetables and to your university email for invitations for our meet and greet session!

#Hi

Welcome all to our team!!!
We are very excited to meet you all experiment, research, design and have some FUN during our workshop event in April!
Keep Checking our blog for updates regarding key dates, new collaborations and progress!!

Name: Sean Martin
Atelier: MSAp
Graduated: University of Nottingham
Experience: Scott Brownrigg, London
Bio: Attempted to be a musician but failed. Attempted to play rugby but failed. I now stick to marathon running, a bit of travelling and navigating this architecture thing.

16//Detroit – Manchester - Zones of Urban Experimentation

Shrinking Cities: Seen in the image above is an aerial view of the city of Detroit. Classed as a ‘Shrinking City’, this notion will be heavily involved with the data we will obtain for the publication. Use this time before events week starts to look at trends and patterns in data surrounding Detroit. Is it still a shrinking city and if so, what makes it one?

15//Detroit – Manchester - Zones of Urban Experimentation

Foreshadowing: Seen in the image above is the old Haçienda in Manchester, demolished in 2002. Founded by Tony Wilson, the Hacienda became famous in the Madchester years of the 1980s and early 1990s. The yellow and black stripes became a brand which is now associated with the Haçienda. We intend use this style in our publication to pay homage to this iconic building which is such an important part of Manchester’s history.

14//Detroit – Manchester - Zones of Urban Experimentation

Publication inspiration: We are starting to formulate a series of precedents for which our magazine could look like. Seen in the image above is Issue 20 of ‘Hypebeast Magazine’, guest edited by Virgil Abloh. If you find any publications you think our one should be presented like, make a note of them and we will go through them during our first meeting.

13//Detroit – Manchester - Zones of Urban Experimentation

Why not start now?: Once again, as part of the brief we have to create a short film as a group. The film is meant to act as a document to show the work we have done throughout the 9 days, however as most of the work we will do will consist of research and data, there is no earlier time to start. Think of the film as a documentary which could include footage you have filmed, archive footage, clips from documentaries etc. We intend for the film to work hand in hand with the publication, so see this as an extension both in terms of content and style of that publication.

In the lead up to our two week EVENTS program, we will be posting photos of different parts of Manchester to remind you to keep your eyes peeled for any inspiration that could prove fruitful for the creation of your proposed exhibition.

We are excited to see what you take from these snippets and hopefully they will inspire your designs in many imaginative ways.

Keep a look out of for our key event activities to be revealed soon!

Work Schedule for our events week.

#Hi

Hello everyone! My name is Yara and I am Half Syrian and half Lebanese. I completed my BA in Lebanon in 2015 and took two years out. During my first year, I worked in Lebanon with ERGA, a local firm with which I worked on a mixed-use residential/ commercial compound called Beirut waterfront. I was mainly based on site which proved to be a very insightful experience. During my second year, I participated in establishing an academy of arts in Damascus, Syria which was definitely a life-changing project. This year I started my MArch with atelier QED within which I have been working on projects mainly focused on the re-use of old buildings with an innovative and environmentally friendly approach... I can't wait to meet you all and learn more about you as well.
See you soon!!!