DAY 10: FINAL PLANTERS

Additional planters on the site.

Group AI looked at the final output and felt that their work was successful and was able to complement the site, as well as providing framed/ designated zones across the garden. One resident said he was grateful that our work has provided him a starting point to develop their garden plans using our Masterplan.

DAY 10: GROUP PHOTO

Group AI Master's would like to thank all the undergraduates, collaborators and residents, suppliers and donators that have been a part of our project and helped it become realised! It was great to see and be involved with people who were kind enough to provide us with materials and donations necessary to support Victoria House.

DAY 10: FINAL PLANTERS

Group AI and the residents of Victoria House are happy to show that these are the final planters provided for the site. A few residents said they felt proud of their new garden and were excited to start looking after their space. They said it has really made a difference as well as now creating a relaxing setting where they can place seating around and enjoy the views.

DAY 10: PLANTING

To finish the activity, Group AI were happy to see the residents and staff taking part in filling each of the planters with soil, digging holes and planting the plants. A dirty task but very enjoyable that brought all residents and students together, in a collaborative activity that provided them with a sense of shared experience.

DAY 10: PREPARING TO PLANT

Before planting, we filled each of the bases of the planters with gravel to allow for suitable drainage.

DAY 10: PLANTER LOCATION ALLOCATIONS

Once the planters were covered with a waterproof varnish and dried (to avoid the wood rotting), we placed the planters in their allocated locations based on our masterplan design. Some planters were stacked, others on one level to show a variation of levels.

In the design, spaces were left on corners with cut joints to allow for future additions by Victoria House.

DAY 10: ON SITE ASSEMBLY

After delivering our kit of parts to site, we were welcomed by Victoria House who were excited to see our output. We were lucky to have a few residents gather round and take part in assembling the planters using our provided instruction manual. They found it easy to follow and were able to assemble a planter individually.

Using the wood glue, we applied it to the corner edges before sliding the pieces together and knocking them down using the rubber hammer.

DAY 10 SCHEDULED ACTIVITIES (5th April)

It's the final day of events!

After testing the assembly process, Group AI made the decision to reduce the amount of time spent on site as the activity would only require a few hours. As a result, to go beyond our required output, Group AI planned to use the morning to create another planter.

We are all looking forward to this final event, providing Victoria House with new planters that enhance their garden space and bring residents together.

DAY 9 SCHEDULED ACTIVITIES (4th April)

In preparation for tomorrow's last session working on project development, Group AI Master Students met in the afternoon to discuss the final activities and work to be produced. Having scheduled for contingency time, this proved to be useful as we require this time to finish off and detail our final work before printing.

We reviewed all the work that had been produced over the two weeks and to our success, this was all completed on time and to a good standard. As a result, we are able to send more students to the workshop and create more planters in the time available.

DAY 8 SCHEDULED ACTIVITIES (3rd April)

DAY 7 SCHEDULED ACTIVITIES (2nd April)

DAY 6: FILMING THE MURAL

Group AI were excited to welcome Caelan who volunteers for HOME, Manchester to film today's mural activity at Victoria House. Caelan took initiative to interview residents and the progress of the project.

DAY 6: MURAL PAINTING COLLABORATION

Throughout the day, we saw multiple residents and staff members join us to take part in the painting activity. Everyone was keen to make a contribution and the activity was able to bring residents together- taking part or intrigued by the painting. All the students were very encouraging towards the residents and the day turned out very successful. The residents were extremely happy with their new mural and felt proud of their improved space.

DAY 6: MURAL PAINTING

Today Group AI gathered on site again to meet with artist Joe O'Rourke who was to lead today's session of mural painting. After presenting our progress to the residents and staff of Victoria House, Joe began with explaining the design he was proposing of a cityscape and started by outlining the buildings. Here, he asked for the students and residents to collaborate through filling in the buildings and detailing the windows accordingly. These techniques that Joe demonstrated were easy to apply and required no previous skill. This made it a great activity for residents to join in with.

WEEK 2- DAY 6 SCHEDULED ACTIVITIES (1st April)

DAY 5 SCHEDULED ACTIVITIES (29th March)

DAY 4: STREET POEM - NET DIAGRAM FOR ORIGAMI CARDBOARD DISPLAYS

Following the presentation of the Street Poem, to develop a simple method of displaying the poems using cardboard, 2 members of Group AI began exploring origami and net diagrams to create a strong structure. These structures require to be simple to set up, strong enough to support itself, but did not required to hold any weight. As a result, folding techniques of origami proved they are successful for strengthening the material.

DAY 3: DONATION AND FUNDING

Yesterday Group AI published a public Go Fund Me page to each of our social media accounts to promote our events project and ask for donations towards our additional materials such as paints, equipment, glue, soil and plantings.

We were overwhelmed and extremely happy with in just one day, we were able to gather £310 to cover all our costs! As a Group, we would like to thank all organisations and individuals who have supported our project progression and are making a difference for the residents.

We wish to provide all remaining funds to Victoria House to support their future projects and needs, especially purchase the garden furniture they hoped for!

DAY 4 SCHEDULED ACTIVITIES (28th March)

DAY 3: COLLECTIVE GROUP DISCUSSION AND SHARING FINDINGS

DAY 3 SCHEDULED ACTIVITIES (27th March)

DAY 2: AFTERNOON DESIGN WORKSHOP

Following yesterdays initial design session, we were able to continue work in our two sub-groups to develop our ideas for the masterplanning of the site. In this, we looked at the large scale of of programming areas and smaller scale using the existing to define specific activity and focusing on the planter and furniture organisation surrounding the water feature on our main part of the site.

Each group looked at the existing circulation and use of space with considerations to sunlight and views in order to design a relaxing space that had public and private zones. The residents also made clear that they had wished to keep the design organic and therefore, the groups were able to position furniture more loosely around the site.

Towards the end of the day, the groups gathered together to collectively discuss their findings and merge their ideas into a final masterplan proposition. Detail was specifically paid to the planter positions, sizes, heights and configurations.

DAY 2 SCHEDULED ACTIVITIES (26th March)

Following our discussions today with the undergraduates regarding their skills, we have amended the plan for the morning to make way for a Rhino workshop that will teach the necessary basic techniques for modelling the site and future 3D drawings. We will also be working on developing the existing and proposed ideas from today and hopefully progressing the work faster tomorrow in the variety of activities we have planned.

FINAL EVENTS PROJECT OUTPUT

To document of our event, Group AI will be photographing, filming and recording all work in progress, collaborations and on- site interactive activities. This product will be presented as an easy to read instruction publication.

This instruction publication will comprise how Group AI has progressed through the conceptual, design and technical detailing of the planter. We will take particular notice to the construction process of the planter, with a resultant precise knock down kit, following with instructions of how to assemble each unit. These will be represented through simple three-dimensional drawings which show how each part is fitted into another. We wish for this to be supplied to Victoria House who will then be able to follow this assembly manual individually in the event activity as well as in possible future use if they wish to build additional planters with the wood supplier connections we have provided.

READING LIST

To get ideas on potential techniques which we could use, Group AI have been looking through a variety of books that teach the designing and cutting of woodworking joints. These books demonstrate simple methods of reinforced, and interlocking joints that do not require tools and are easy-to-follow.

As a group we will take inspiration from the methods of representation and advise students to take a look. The books are as follows (Left to right):

Bullar, J (2013). The Complete Guide to Joint-Making. Dublin: GMC Publications.

Engler, N (1992). Joining Wood: Techniques for Better Woodworking. London: Pan Macmillan.

Koizumi, K (1986). Traditional Japanese Furniture. Tokyo: Kodansha International Ltd

Noll, T (2007). The Joint Book: The Complete Guide to Wood Joinery . USA: Chartwell Books.

Jackson, A and Day, D (1995). Good Wood Joints. USA: North Light Books.

Seike, K (1977). The Art Of Japanese Joinery. Gloucestershire: Weatherhill Inc.

FINAL SESSION PLAN

Take a look at our final updated two week session plan to have an idea of our events project-a wide variety of activities that aims to engage both students and residents to take pride in their work becoming realised. We will interact with and work alongside residents of Supported Living whilst developing the artistic and technical qualities of architectural design: concept ideas, technical manual detailing to construction, assembly and mural painting!

KNOCK DOWN KIT

After exploring types of garden furniture, various methods of construction and confirming donations of materials, we have come to the final decision where we are able to construct planters and assemble these as an event with the residents of Victoria House.

Our idea for using simple Japanese joinery techniques for our joints works perfectly as it requires no fixings and avoids the high risk of using tools. Therefore, we have decided it would be great to create a knock- down kit. This is a kit which contains all the parts required for the product and supplied as a package to be delivered to site for final assembly. To do this, we will ensure that all pieces have been prepared and the exact amount and size of materials have been included to construct each planter. This will make it easier to put together an ikea style instruction leaflet and allow residents to assemble their own planter.

MANCHESTER STREET POEM

As a separate event task in association with Group AI, a selective number of students will have the opportunity to volunteer to work with Manchester School of Architecture lecturer, Dominic Sagar during the two week period on a project named Manchester Street Poem. This project focuses on the stories and experience of homeless people, demonstrated through installation and performance. Take a look at their website for a deeper insight to what the students could be involved with. All will be revealed to students during his presentation on Monday 29th April.

http://mcrstreetpoem.com/

Images retrieved from Manchester Street Poem Film. (2017). [video] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL8B4bP8Vi7PyY88ftkIYZbGZnTCA0xCbh&time_continue=694&v=3DgtFXolzjc [Accessed 19 Mar. 2019].

WHAT DOES HOMELESSNESS REALLY MEAN?

‘It is estimated that 3,292 people are sleeping rough on any one night in Greater Manchester.’

Homelessness is a sensitive subject. Currently as we understand it, being homeless means an individual has no permanent home, in an unstable, non- permanent situation, leaving an individual to sleep on the street or seek place of shelter such as an abandoned building or vehicle. An individual can become homeless for many different reasons, ranging from social causes such as poverty and unemployment or life events which damage their well-being. But rough sleeping is just part of the cause.

WHY GARDENING AND PAINTING?

For many years, both gardening and painting have been proven to have healing and therapeutic qualities physically and emotionally. Taking part in the activity, not only as a method of self- reflection but as a means of integrating with others socially and being a part of a community, teaches an individual to feel more involved, communicate, as well as having a sense of responsibility.

As a consequence, our project takes attention to the design and construction of an adaptable planter and a group mural painting. Both activities will allow each resident to develop an individual design that they can take pride in, personalise and demonstrate through their own identity to provide them with a sense of belonging. Additionally, this will bring all residents and students together, in a collaborative activity to provide them with a sense of shared experience.

SESSION PLAN

Take a look at our proposed two week session plan to have an idea of our events project. As we do hope to develop the session plan to accommodate construction, we currently have worked around the initial idea of designing an intervention specifically for the garden of Victoria House. We have taken into consideration the skills and opportunities we can provide to both students and residents. Please keep up to date with our blog to see our development and how we will implement methods of construction.