We are now at the central library and have begun setting up the VR stations. We arrived slightly earlier than everyone else giving us optimal time to set up and calibrate the VR headsets. Initially we experienced some issues with the set up however after propping chairs up on tables (with the permission of the town hall representatives) we were able get the equipment working properly. Finally we used masking tape to create zones around the VR stations ensuring the safety of anyone using the equipment.

Group 1 have now finalised their final A1 presentation board for todays exhibition in the central library (happening from 12-2pm). The VR model has also been finalised and tested with Enscape assuring everything runs smoothly later today. We’re all very excited for the exhibition and we look forward to get feedback from all the collaborators involved in the project.

After a very long and intense week both groups have now finalized their virtual reality models. They have applied textures and have transported them to Enscape for final rendering. Today we tested out the final models with the HP Vives VR set to check and assure the high quality and accuracy of the model proposals. Due to the high spec of the VR set we are able to edit the model within virtual reality, changing only a few minor features for optimal viewing capability’s ready for the final exhibition tomorrow.

Group 1 -
The group have begun to consolidate some of their concept ideas and are now starting to model them in 3d on SketchUp. This idea is made up of several modular frames with different heights that will serve different functions like for example seating areas, shelters, food stands, photo booth, exhibition areas (screens for outdoor movies) etc. The climbing frame like structure is a playful structure designed with young people in mind. The frames will be centred around the town hall entrance creating a focal point, bringing attention and drawing people into the building. It is intended these frames can be built up or taken away easily depending on the event happening. The small cube floor plates illustrated above are designed to rise and fall depending on the function e.g. they could rise to create seating spaces or fall if an event like the Christmas markets was happening where a completely flat area was required.

Group 1 -
Earlier in the week we hosted a workshop at a local school with the intend of establishing what modifications could be implemented to the current town hall for it to attract more young people. After discussions we realised that many of the students didn’t know where this building was located. Hence, we had to come up with an idea of how to make our Town Hall more noticeable and attractive. The undergrad students in group 1's base of inspiration derives from the vividly pink tubes in Berlin, Germany that carry groundwater from various building sites in the city running across the capital creating a unique ‘almost like’ guiding path. Using this method in Manchester they wanted to create a new landmark to attract more people through the ‘guiding paths’ that will all lead back to the Town Hall. Additionally, they combined this idea with the movement lines in Superkilen Park (Copenhagen, Denmark) that give fluidity and contrast to the solid tubes. They believe that these ‘guiding paths’ can be an artistic statement and give Manchester more of a playful vibe, while at the same time highlighting the town hall making it more noticeable and prominent in our lives.

To kick off the second day, the students not taking part in the school visit at Whalley Range High School have had their initial introduction to Revit given by Nadeem. We hosted a short tutorial regarding how to correctly set up a Sketchup model with appropriate texturing and layering which is essential once the model has been transferred to Revit. Nadeem then give the undergrads brief overview of Revit’s interface, then going into more detail about how we will be using the software later in the week to create the VR model. The undergrads seemed to pick up a basic understanding for the software giving them a head start for tomorrow more in-depth Revit session.

After successfully meeting everyone in albert square, on time, we then made our way into the town hall and started the day with collaborator presentations. The first collaborator spoke about the Our Town Hall project currently taking place at the town hall explaining and summarising the major update to this architectural masterpiece to protect and improve it for Manchester and the nation, lovingly restoring it and re-opening in 2024. The following presentations then were more orientated around details and history of the building along with health and safety talks.

Initial design thoughts – after having the induction and tour students were split into two groups and then prompted the begin development into initial design strategies. We then went through a range of presentation boards and VR model examples allowing the students to understand the level of design thought and ingenuity we expect from their final proposals. Finally arranged who will be taking part in tomorrows school visit and who will be remaining in university to learn software skills necessary for the tasks ahead.

We are pleased to confirm our school visit at Whalley Range high school where we shall be doing a workshop with a group of year 10 Art & design students investigating what the town hall means the them as “young people”. We shall be educating the students on plan, section and elevation drawing with the intend to have them redesign the front of the town hall in a way that would make the building more appealing and welcoming to them.

The final session plan for the events week is as follows. Please could all undergrad students involved with our events check the plan and assure they are prepared for everyday and arrive to the sessions on time and in the correct locations. Thanks, and we look forward to seeing you soon.

Curated Place officials provided very exciting and useful information during today's meeting regarding how to enhance our events process by improving our risk assessments and sessions plan. They also provided very useful information regarding how to get the most out of our workshop we’re running at the school during the first week. They also kindly offered to join us during our final exhibition at the central library on April 5th and even offered to come in as guest crits the Friday before, during our progress review on March the 29th to assess BA students work after the first week. We’re very excited to be working with these additional collaborators during this process.

It’s with great excitement that we can now announce that we will be collaborating with ‘Curated Place’ during the events process, who are currently running the creative and cultural arm of the ‘Our Town Hall’ project and they have generously offered to give advice regarding the projects production, planning, risk assessments, management, site specifics and events reporting etc. Having a wealth of knowledge regarding large festivals and arts projects on an international level ‘Curated Place’ will prove to be a fantastic addition to the Our Town Hall events process.

Undergrads will be asked to redevelop the front of the town hall along with a small area directly in front of the entrance. The aim is to design the façade and plaza in such a way to make it more appealing and welcoming to the young people of Manchester.

This year the final exhibition for Our Town Hall events will take place in the Manchester central library on Friday 5th of April. Accompanying us will be the other town hall event groups, along with the collaborators and the school children involved in the workshop taking place at the start of the events week.

Atelier: LULU
Undergrad: Manchester School Of Architecture
Experience: Acumen Designers & Architects