More Posts

Group 02 / MANMUS
Alex Ching-Nam T
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is important for everyone's health and safety. Our activities include a live project build for the Manchester Museum Shop. Tasks include moving, refurbishing and building of the shop furniture. The team will abide by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) - Risk at Work. Our list of protective equipment advised include hard hats, googles, masks, ear protectors, high visibility vests and steel toe boots. These equipment would abide to British Standards. You can find more about the guidelines set by the government in the link below.
https://www.hse.gov.uk/toolbox/ppe.htm
Posted 23 Mar 2020 22:15
Group 29 / YOUNG ROGUES' EXHIBITION
Dalia Qistina BMN
The Space

Aiming to create a space for youth to bring their works to life, we collaborate with The Architecture School for Children (TASC) working on proposals for a flexible exhibition gallery for young artists. The space is located in a Grade II listed building, which currently operated by Rogue Artist Studio. The proposed space is located on the second floor of the building, highlighted in green.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 22:02
Group 29 / YOUNG ROGUES' EXHIBITION
Dalia Qistina BMN
BRIEF

During the first meeting with TASC, we were welcome by Dan, Catherine and Dan. The main topic of discussion was to structure a brief and understanding of EVENTS20 final outcome specifically for our group.

TASC were very supportive with our design proposals and suggested we proceed with what we want to do along with BA students despite having a design brief themselves.

We were asked to design a gallery for young people, aiming for it to be flexible as well as being used by young artists locally and globally. TASC gave us a tour to site after discussion. We have decided to proceed with designing the gallery space using one of the initial design proposal as our concept.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 22:01
Group 21 / MAKE * SHAPE * DISCOVER
Vickie T
LIVE PROJECT

Events 21 involves live participation from different working parties and collaborators, such as MSA, TSAC, Rogue Artist Studios and the Manchester City Council. All our efforts will be in hopes to attain support from the Manchester City Council, to convert TASC and Rogue Artist Studio into a creative and flexible social hub for the Gorton Area. This means that students will get the opportunity to meet and collaborate with clients, receive working feedback and present a proposal to the directors of Rogue Studios.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 21:59
Group 01 / ST MARY'S SENSORY WALK
Joseph Christopher K
The Minds Eye Garden - London

Designed as a sensory space for blind and partially sighted people, the 30ft sq ft garden is designed around interaction with senses particularly focused around sight. The back walls are covered with Mondrian-inspired artwork using primary colours which is eye-catching and easy to distinguish. The glass box or ‘infinity pit’ in the center has water running down the glass wall which distorts and blurs vision. Its concept is to suggest trepidation when sight diminishes. Looking through the glass to the plants and flowers beyond to simulate water running down a flower painting. The stone water trail is used as a pathfinder via sound to guide one around the garden.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 21:59
Group 10 / SUPPORTED EARTH
Felicity P
OUR OUTPUT

Our aim for the end of this project is to design and create as a collective, a series of three individual planters, taking inspiration from precedents and input from all the students and our collaborator. Taking the time to really think about what each planter will look like within each team and how that can be achieved. The final product should be an item in which we are truly proud, which enables the roof top garden to be transformed into a pleasant and welcoming space where people want to spend their time, a place to reflect and relax throughout the day.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 21:50
Group 16 / VICTORIAN HIGH-TECH CHURCH ROOF
Xinbo W
- I MANUSCRIPT I -

According to the site survey and measurement, we draw a relatively accurate section of the church roof truss structure by hand. Be prepared for the next modeling step.

The revived Gothic style was not limited to architecture. Classical Gothic buildings of the 12th to 16th Centuries were a source of inspiration to 19th-century designers in numerous fields of work. Architectural elements such as pointed arches, steep-sloping roofs and fancy carvings like lace and lattice work were applied to a wide range of Gothic Revival objects. Some examples of Gothic Revivals influence can be found in heraldic motifs in coats of arms, painted furniture with elaborate painted scenes.

In addition, we studied the window style of Gothic church. Through the decorative art of Victorian church, we can get a deeper understanding of the design art and the story behind it.

Posted 23 Mar 2020 21:44
Group 20 / REVITALISING THE TOWN HALL
Tianyi W
PPE PRE-REGISTRATION

Both BA students and MA students need to go to the mmu AV store in person to register in the system for online booking access of PPE before the intense week start. Students are required to show and scan their student card at the AV store counter.
(Link to mmu AV store: https://msaphotoavstore.mmu.ac.uk/default.aspx )
Posted 23 Mar 2020 21:42
Group 20 / REVITALISING THE TOWN HALL
Yimeng Z
MOCK-UP ROOM: EXISTING CONDITION

The MOCK-UP room is located on the fourth floor of the Town Hall, which is a room we could enter during the construction process.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 21:25
Group 03 / WOAH - POD
Raluca S
We will be hosting a 1:1 scale pod outline competition for BA01 and BA02 students!
We would like to encourage students to reflect upon the size, constraints and opportunities within a pod life.

Bring a tape measure and masking tape and get ready for a fun and interactive group activity! The group who completes the pod mark-up (with furniture) first wins a prize!
Posted 23 Mar 2020 21:12
Group 21 / MAKE * SHAPE * DISCOVER
Ovidija Z
FINAL OUTCOME: PUBLICATION

For the second final outcome, Dan and Catherine expressed their desire for a publication, both online and printed versions. They have already produced some publications to showcase some of their previous completed projects. They all seemed to follow the same format (21cm x 21cm) and a similar layout, so we agreed the events publication would also reflect this.

For the content, Catherine was very keen to see hand-drawn images in addition to digital visualisations, as a familiar medium that children can also acknowledge and enjoy viewing. Hand sketches are also good at communicating quick ideas and its a skill that everyone within the group possesses. As well as that, all the models produced during the 2 weeks, both mock-up models and the final presentation model will be photographed along the way by the group and then included in the publication. The models, as well as sketch drawings, would document the overall process and tell the story of the project. Final visualisations produced throughout the second week of the external space, studio and flexible furniture design would round the publication off.

The Master students will create a template for the publication for the overall content, and then members of the team will fill this in as the content gets developed. This will be produced in InDesign, and the final outcome would be professionally printed and bounded before the presentation to TASC.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 21:10
Group 21 / MAKE * SHAPE * DISCOVER
Patrick Charles D
FINAL OUTCOME: PRESENTATION MODEL

As stated previously, one of the primary outputs for the project is a presentation model, which will be used to showcase the final design for the flexible furniture unit. This will be made to a very high standard using a range of machineries such as drills, bandsaws, vacuum forms and sanding equipment.

The model will be constructed by a small group of three; one master’s student and two undergraduate students, and this will be completed in the university workshop. Particular students for this role will be confirmed at a later date after the concept workshop has been completed and the chosen design for the flexible furniture unit has been developed.

Sustainable and locally sourced materials will be used during the manufacturing process and great effort will be made to ensure that the flexibility enabling mechanisms integrated into the design work as the real product would.

The presentation model will be produced to a scale of 1:2 to ensure that the design is accurately represented to a high level of detail, but also to ensure that the model is a small enough size to be easily transported to multiple locations for future exhibitions and meetings.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 21:10
Group 19 / TOWN HALL IN THE MAKING
Mona T
Announcement- Meet the Schools! Vol.3
The last but not the least is the St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Primary School! This is a Catholic primary school in Collyhurst, an area of high social deprivation. Despite the many challenges it has faced in recent years, it has now become an effective community; a beacon of hope to the children and families in Collyhurst. It is part of a trio of schools that come under the parish of St. Patrick and St. Malachy. It hold pupils aged from 3 to 11 with over 200 pupils in total. The school is conducted by the visionary and passionate leadership of the Executive Headteacher, which permeates leadership at all levels, and the daily life of the school is driven by the example and message of Christ. It has a welcoming family atmosphere and families receive outstanding care and support, especially the most vulnerable in the community.
All the schools show great characteristics and devotion to their education, and we aim to contribute to children's growth as Mancunians through our Town Hall interactive workshops. We would like to thank all three schools for their cooperation to our project, and we're looking forward to meet them all!
Posted 23 Mar 2020 21:04
Group 19 / TOWN HALL IN THE MAKING
Mona T
Announcement- Meet the Schools! Vol.2
Our second venue is the Saviour Church of England Primary School! It is a primary school situated in an area of social and economic disadvantage close to Manchester city centre. It is a Voluntary Aided School which consists of pupils from 3 to 11 years old, and the school population comes from White British, African and Asian backgrounds. It offers distinct character education such as the Forest School, which give the children the opportunity to explore their surroundings and encourage them to become considerate and independent learners. The school offers a wide range of activities including hands-on workshops, which link closely with our project.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 21:02
Group 23 / DIGITAL DEN
Laura L
THANK YOU!

Due to the outbreak of COVID-19 we had to unfortunately cancel this event! We want to thank our collaborators for the patience and for their cooperation in this event! We are sure this would have turned into an incredible project which would have had a real social impact on young vulnerable people in Manchester.

Through this project we have learned a great deal about digital inclusion, social value and homelessness in Greater Manchester. Our focus would have been on designing a flexible space which could potentially be arranged by users as they wish. This flexibility would not only allow for a change in space use but also boost collaboration and the creativity of the users.
Collaboration and communication with both the collaborator and the future users of the space would have helped better understand what their needs are and develop design proposals accordingly.

We were hoping to design a space which will unlock the potential in all of those vulnerable young people who lack the means to either get a degree or a job. As sad as we are to not go further with this live project, our hope is that the digital den will indeed be built in the near future!
Posted 23 Mar 2020 20:58
Group 29 / YOUNG ROGUES' EXHIBITION
Dalia Qistina BMN
Initial Design Proposal

Before the first meeting with TASC, we came out with a few Events proposal based on the activities and programs usually held by TASC in their website

Having focused on working with the communities and children, our proposals mostly include engagement and experience with the design products.

1. Play Library
Play Library is an interactive installation that provide spaces for kids to use as a library and play area. It includes variations of different spaces like open space, enclosed space, different materials for different experience as well as spaces for fun activities like jumping, hiding and climbing.

2. Self-sustaining ECO tools
We're looking to engage with kids and teachers to design a self-sustaining eco tools that help plants grow with minimal effort, learning the importance of ecosystem and how we can help to contribute as designers. The idea aims to utilize the different methods of recycling and use of natural resource.

3. Modular Play-thing
The aim is to design a big scale modular components that can be used by kids to create useful or fun objects in school

4. Sensory-based Interactive Play
This proposal was an installation proposal that use sensory as main concept, playing with different potential of sensory experiences for kids to engage with.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 20:58
Group 19 / TOWN HALL IN THE MAKING
Mona T
Announcement- Meet the Schools! Vol.1
After sending invites for our interactive workshops, we have got a number of responses and have successfully managed to arrange 3 workshop sessions with schools. Here is a bit of information about the schools we will be visiting!
Our first venue is St. Edmund's Roman Catholic Primary School. It is a Catholic primary school placed in the Harpurhey district of Manchester approximately one mile north of the city centre. It is an area designated as one of the most socially deprived districts in the country. There are 202 pupils in roll from reception to year 6, and their educational philosophy is based on the provision of excellent teaching and learning opportunities with a view to developing the whole person so that they prepare the children to be good Christian citizens in the wider community. All children are provided with a Catholic education in a caring and supportive environment where differences are welcomed and celebrated.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 20:57
Group 23 / DIGITAL DEN
Laura L
EXHIBITION!

The three proposals presented to Lifeshare on the final day will be collated into a portfolio type publication and poster .
These will then go into the final exhibition.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 20:57
Group 19 / TOWN HALL IN THE MAKING
Jo Lynn T
The progress of the paper toy model up to date, and it is ready to incorporate with the information needed for the leaflet.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 20:55
Group 23 / DIGITAL DEN
Helda Iulia L
PRECEDENT- THE SHARP PROJECT

The Sharp Project is home to over 60 digital entrepreneurs and production companies specialising in digital content production, digital media, TV and film production. It’s based in a 200,000 sq ft refurbished warehouse previously occupied by electronics company Sharp. It offers flexible office, production and event spaces.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 20:54
Group 23 / DIGITAL DEN
Helda Iulia L
PRECEDENT- HUCKLETREE ANCOATS

Huckletree Ancoats is a space for original minds and ambitious teams to come together, grow and make a tangible positive impact on Manchester and the world. They offer multiple facilities for businesses to grow and develop like: Podcast Studio, Plant Café, Meeting Spaces, Wellbeing Rooms while offering the opportunity for new startups to network and maybe even find partners for their businesses. It is extremely important when designing a working space, to design it with people’s needs in mind. Creating a space in the heart of the community will rise the local area, bringing new businesses and entrepreneurs.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 20:49
Group 23 / DIGITAL DEN
Helda Iulia L
PRECEDENT- USE.SPACE

At Use. Space, a local co-working space in Manchester, they believe that the best ideas come from the merging of minds. Therefore, they provide dynamic and stimulating co-working spaces for start-ups and mature businesses looking for a nook to evolve their niche in the North. They have different spaces available: from co-working and single office spaces to meeting rooms and event spaces. This precedent shows us the importance of designing spaces that are tailored to the current demands that the society has.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 20:46
Group 16 / VICTORIAN HIGH-TECH CHURCH ROOF
Xinbo W
-I CHURCH ROOF SURVEY I-

1.Introduction
The survey is the on-the-spot investigation about internal church roof with Brendan and architect Mark. We followed architect mark to experience the roof structure ‘pot vault’ of the church, observe and measure the structural details of the roof at zero distance.

2.Process of investigation
We met architect Mark and father Brendan in Manchester universities’ Catholic Chaplaincy at 2pm. We began to visit the church with Mark after he handed out the helmet and told us some precautions. We went from the narrow spiral tower on the side to the inside of the church roof. Connecting the interior of the church roof is the front tower. From a small door of the tower to the interior of the roof which is the focus of our study. Mark explained a lot of structural knowledge points to us. Then he took us to observe the surrounding rooms and make us understand the roof structure of the church as a whole. Finally, we went down to the mezzanine floor of the church hall to measure the overall dimensions and main space of the church.

3.Architect’s guidance and suggestion
Mark talked about the construction process of the facade and the structure of the roof. For example, the structural materials, function and the connection structure between the tower and the main body of the building in the main tower; The stress and function of the triangular truss, the support design of the inclined beam between the trusses and the bonding method of the hollow terracotta on the roof.
Later, Mark explained a lot of structural points and features to us, and then he told us the structural difficulties to pay attention to in the next model making, especially how to present the ‘pot vault’ structure clearly.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 20:46
Group 23 / DIGITAL DEN
Helda Iulia L
PRECEDENT- WEWORK

The first precedent that we looked at is one of the most famous co-working spaces: We Work. They believe that thanks to technology, the traditional working model, in which everyone has an assigned desk, has been steadily eroding. Their workspace follows an activity-based working (ABW) environment which means that it allows their employees to choose from a variety of settings that will help them to be more productive.

The four defining elements of ABW are:
-Design
-Sensory experience
-Behavioural reinforcement
-Iterative learning
Posted 23 Mar 2020 20:43
Group 23 / DIGITAL DEN
Helda Iulia L
CO-WORKING SPACES- LOCAL PRECEDENTS

Manchester is growing rapidly with many businesses moving up in the North. Therefore, there are many co-working spaces that we could visit in order to take inspiration for our project. The co-working spaces that could inspire our design are “WeWork”, “Use. Space”, “The Sharp Project” and “Huckletree Ancoats”.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 20:42
Group 21 / MAKE * SHAPE * DISCOVER
Cheuk Ki M
WORKSHOP - SKILL DEVELOPMENT

As an architecture student and a future architect, we need more skills than simply designing a building. In our group, students will be able to learn essential skills that they will be needed in the future and for their study.

Furthermore, we will also provide a workshop for the student to learn how to use 2D and 3D software such as AutoCAD and Sketchup, to design and built flexible furniture models. These workshops will serve as a testbed for the physical model and allow students to visualise in 3-dimensional ways.

Other than that, we will also provide workshops for students to learn photoshop and In-design for the publication.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 20:35
Group 23 / DIGITAL DEN
Helda Iulia L
DESIGN CHARRETTE

We are proposing to do a brainstorming session where everyone can get involved and share their ideas regarding the redevelopment of the office. During the design charrette, we will form groups where students will have to come up with a large number of creative designs in a short period of time.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 20:32
Group 21 / MAKE * SHAPE * DISCOVER
Natalie Man Sum C
WEEK 2 OVERVIEW

This week focuses on the design process and development and ensuring that final outputs are met. With ideas, confirmed students will begin to produce final visuals, technical drawings and models using the skills and knowledge they have learnt the previous week. After the majority of the project aims are met students will present to the TASC collaborators and amend their work according to the collaborators and groups feedback. All loose ends will be tied up and in the end, a final publication and final model should be produced along with the documentation of the entire design process from the beginning. After a group debrief we will conclude events 20 and celebrate while having tea and biscuits.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 20:16
Group 21 / MAKE * SHAPE * DISCOVER
Natalie Man Sum C
WEEK 1 OVERVIEW

Firstly, we will brief the group on the project aims to ensure that everyone is familiar with the tasks that must be completed in the following two weeks. Students will also have the opportunity to visit the site and meet the collaborators to have a deeper understanding of the project. The first week consists mostly of group work that promotes social interactions allowing group mates to get to know each other better while producing the required project outputs. There will be a lot of sketching, designing, workshop, model making, photographing and group discussions.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 20:16
Group 19 / TOWN HALL IN THE MAKING
Seenam S
This second week is the start of the workshops. We are happy to collaborate with 3 primary schools which showed their interest in the workshops when the invitations were sent out. Through these workshops, we aim to increase community engagement and also to introduce architectural concepts through an educational approach. To wrap things up, we are to present an evaluation report to our collaborator - Town Hall at the end of the intensive week. This would be a step to understand the responses of the general public which play a major role in the project as the main aim is to get the people connected to the Town Hall.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 20:14
Group 01 / ST MARY'S SENSORY WALK
Emily H
RE-USE

Re-use and sustainability is a key part of St Mary's RC. Primary School's ethos. Here is a guide on how to re-use plastic bottles to create a hanging green wall. Ideas similar to this could be used within our project to create an exciting and educational sensory walk without generating any further waste.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 20:12
Group 19 / TOWN HALL IN THE MAKING
Sonia Mancxia B
The first week is about getting to know the team and understanding how to deal with the vulnerable age group – children. We are fortunate to get in touch with the inspiring STEM Ambassador Team that will be giving us a session on how to conduct the workshops in the second week effectively. Building upon the knowledge and understanding gained, we will then construct an interactive piece of model that will be used as a medium to connect with the communities.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 20:05
Group 29 / YOUNG ROGUES' EXHIBITION
Dalia Qistina BMN
Meet The Collaborator

We're mainly collaborating with The Architecture School for Children (TASC), along with Tam Dibley who is a member of TASC and Rogue Artist's Studio.

TASC used to be recognized as 'Places' serving as a a community Interest Company based in Greater Manchester. TASC has worked with children and communities for the past 18 years, effectively engaging with them by bringing together schools, artist, developers, architects, educators, children and the wider community to look at and contribute to the development, design and build of their environment in a creative and collaborative way.

To learn more about TASC, visit their website at : https://www.tascmanchester.com

Posted 23 Mar 2020 20:05
Group 21 / MAKE * SHAPE * DISCOVER
Cheuk Ki M
PLANNING

As a group, we have decided to meet up once a week to further discuss the details of the project. In the first few meetings, we brainstormed ideas of how we would plan the event and organise group work. With a finalised design brief and session plan, we were able to plan ahead and outline which workshop facilities would be required during the events weeks e.g. computer suites. We were also able to determine how the group would complete each task. For this, we decided the team would be split into smaller groups, with specifically assigned tasks. We have also agreed to brief our team both every morning to ensure each team member is completely aware of the desired outcomes and at the end of each day to review the team's progress.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 19:58
Group 23 / DIGITAL DEN
Laura L
WEEK 2

The focus of this week will be on design. We will be having a number of design charettes and mini crits through which we will provide insightful feedback on the proposed designs. Our collaborator will be present as well in order to make sure that the proposals are in line with their requirements.

Throughout this week each group will aim to produce the following:
Diagrams explaining concept
Furniture and feature ideas
Floor plan
One section
Axonometric drawing
3D Model
One rendered key image

The three different groups will collate all of these into a portfolio which will then be presented at Lifeshare’s offices. After all presentations have been completed, the collaborators will give their overall feedback and then decide which design they would like to take forward and implement into the space. We will then celebrate the hard work together with the collaborator!
Posted 23 Mar 2020 19:52
Group 09 / DREAMHOUSE FOR CIRCUS
Junjie S
Sessional Plan Two

When it comes to the next stage, we will divide the students into two groups. One group is aiming for digital drawing and exhibition preparing, while the other group will focus on the physical model making. During this time, we also have a Burnage Sports Club visit which is suitable for a deep understanding of the circus.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 19:50
Group 09 / DREAMHOUSE FOR CIRCUS
Junjie S
Sessional Plan One

In the early period, the project will focus on helping students to have a basic understanding of the scale, activities, materials of the circus house through different site visits. After that, the initial proposal will be developed, and a lecture about low-cost housing will be given by our guest. Moving forward, we will have a presentation about our designs to our collaborator and guests, which finally lead to an integration of all proposals together.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 19:50
Group 09 / DREAMHOUSE FOR CIRCUS
Junjie S
The Outcome of the Project

After the discussion with the collaborators, we have agreed to have four types of outcomes for the whole project. The sketch will be used on the early stage to have a quick design, while the portfolio will keep adding during the process. Finally, the physical model and media display will be our primary outcome on the exhibition and final presentation.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 19:49
Group 09 / DREAMHOUSE FOR CIRCUS
Junjie S
Precedent Research

Considering the requirements of The Circus House and also lack the experiences of circus design, at the early stage we have done some precedents researches about the project. Among the precedents, we will focus on a similar scale to our site and analysis the relationship between each function. What is more, we also study the dimension of the spaces which are used for different training in the Circus House.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 19:49
Group 09 / DREAMHOUSE FOR CIRCUS
Junjie S
Study Trip One

We will gather at the Burnage Sports club at 6th MAY and check the number of students and make sure nobody is missing. We will generally talk about what features related to architecture needs to be a focus inside the sports club, the space atmosphere, the use of daylighting and the way they arrange the audiences' views. Of course, we hope everyone could enjoy the show and the beauty of acrobatics.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 19:47
Group 09 / DREAMHOUSE FOR CIRCUS
Junjie S
Study Trip Two

We will gather at the Etihad stadium station on 30th April and generally talk about what features related to architecture needs to be a focus inside the stadiums and venues. For example, the scale of spaces for sports activities, the way for openings and materials they use to dealing with daylighting and the structure for large stadiums.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 19:47
Group 09 / DREAMHOUSE FOR CIRCUS
Junjie S
Acrobatics Analysis

Since we aim to design a new building for the circus house, it is essential to learn the scale of their acrobatic activities. We have selected some of the exciting activities and analysed scale and equipment that they need, which may be the guidelines for the following design process.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 19:46
Group 09 / DREAMHOUSE FOR CIRCUS
Junjie S
History of Circus Training

The origins of the modern circus came from Britain. From Shakespeare to the Beatles, circus culture is also one of Britain's most important cultural contributions to the global stage. Although Today's circus world is more diverse than ever, we should still go back and see what the circus looked like when it was born. The history can provide us with insight into cultures with which we might be less familiar, thereby increasing awareness and understanding of the circus.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 19:45
Group 09 / DREAMHOUSE FOR CIRCUS
Junjie S
Mental Health Analysis

Some evidence exists showing participation in the circus-arts may have positive effects on people's health and wellbeing. Findings from some study indicated circus aides in assisting children with ASD to improve their levels of physical activity and gross motor skills and improve social awareness and connectivity, beneficial for mental wellbeing.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 19:44
Group 19 / TOWN HALL IN THE MAKING
Jo Lynn T
In preparation for the workshops, we have reached out to potential schools and groups that might benefit from these sessions. An invite has been sent out and we are expecting to receive responses soon!
Posted 23 Mar 2020 19:42
Group 09 / DREAMHOUSE FOR CIRCUS
Junjie S
Social Value Analysis

The circus house will welcome beginners, professionals and everyone in between, so we will encourage everyone to get out of their house and try our best to make our project available and affordable to as many people as possible, such as housewives and disabled people. Getting involved in exciting acrobatics learning and experience, they can communicate or make friends with each other and release stress.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 19:41
Group 26 / READY SHEDDY GO
Harry W
Reflection and Thank you

Unfortunately, Ready Sheddy Go has had to be cancelled with the recent outbreak of Coronavirus, due to its involvement with the wider community and therefore potentially vulnerable groups people. Overall, this process has taken us away from a project that we would normally undertake and allowed us to rethink what the architect’s role is within a project. It is not just about design, it’s about the interconnection of people and skills to create the most beneficial outcome. This project has allowed us to explore design that we may not have during our time at university as most project require bigger buildings/interventions therefore some of the details are sometimes overlooked.

Through working with people from other disciplines, it has enabled us to consider alternative design techniques and built cross-disciplinary networks that could be used for years to come. It has taught us more about understanding the social value of projects and how it can create a big local impact to people who usually get overlooked. Although this has been cut short, we hope that this can be used as a platform for ideas and that there may be a future project that could see this tool shed be designed and built for this community.

Thank you to all those who have been involved, collaborators, guest speakers and site visit coordinators that have contributed in creating an event that would have provided the people of Beech Park Road with an exciting space to make use of.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 19:41
Group 09 / DREAMHOUSE FOR CIRCUS
Junjie S
Client Requirement

After the discussion about the requirement for the new circus house with the collaborators, they have come up with some needs of the space like a different size of studios, sitting area for parents etc. Moreover, due to the limited budget, they also encouraged us to think about low-cost housing and sustainable design.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 19:40
Group 26 / READY SHEDDY GO
Abigail M
Exhibition

Our final goal for the Events projects is to hold an exhibition of our work within Chorlton for the Friends of Beech Road and local community to come view. Our collaborator, Laura, has arranged for the exhibition to take place on the final day of Events on the upper floor of The Lead Station, a pub situated down Beech Road, within close proximity to the site.

We will be exhibiting both our final ‘how to build’ booklet along with a curated collection of models and process drawings produced during the design development. Not only is this a great chance to show the community our proposals but it will be a rewarding conclusion to the project.

In addition to this, we are planning to maintain the exhibition to be included within the Chorlton Arts Festival, which will run from the 17th to the 24th May. This is a week long festival aimed at bringing together the residents of Chorlton with art venues, local artists and performers throughout the community.
For more information on the Chorlton Arts Festival please visit: http://chorltonartsfestival.org/
Posted 23 Mar 2020 19:39
Group 26 / READY SHEDDY GO
Harry W
Project Outcomes

The publications will be divided into the different design options. One will focus on our response to the site, providing detailed analysis of the park and surrounding area, through sketches, diagrams and personal observations. The other 3 publications will provide different design options for the gardener’s tool shed, options that can be used by the community, either as a base for a future design or as something to build from. Each of the designs will aim to offer a different approach to the shed and will each provide construction details and materials so that the drawings could be built from if desired. The purpose of having a range of proposals is to give the ownership back to the community. We do not want to impose a design onto them but rather provide inspiration that may not have been thought about. The publications will be separate documents but will come together to create an inspiring vision for the future Beech Road Park through this shed.

We are also planning to have an exhibition at a pub near the park on the final day of the event, which will be part of the Chorlton Arts Festival 2020. This is to allow local people the chance to observe and comment on the proposals and generate further ideas. The idea behind this is to give ownership back to the people of Beech Road Park. They are a committee that already undertake many tasks to make the area a welcoming and friendly place to be and this exhibition is designed to give them something that is a stepping stone to a future project. More information about the exhibition to follow.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 19:36
Group 09 / DREAMHOUSE FOR CIRCUS
Junjie S
Facades Analysis

The facades of the houses around the site are analysed. The surrounding houses are mainly brick walls, and there will also be some factory houses with metal facades. The indoor status images reflect the existing layout of the original circus house. From these pictures, we can learn some of the requirements of the circus house and the existing problems.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 19:33
Group 26 / READY SHEDDY GO
Rachael Louise AJ
Publication template

The final output of this event will be a publication consisting of four A5 documents that unfold into an A1 sheet. We are aiming for the series of four documents to detail the following:

Document 1 - Site/design research:
- Outcomes of assessing what is needed in the shed by talking to the local committee and gardeners
- Outcomes of assessing the best location within the site for the shed in order to have a water supply and electricity
- Precedents and showing an understanding of how we can create more than just a shed

Document 2 - Design ideas:
- Outcomes of speed design process
- Potential layouts of the shed
- Models, sketches and collages created as part of the design process
- Feedback and development ideas from the crit

Document 3 - Design development/ construction:
- Final images
- Construction details
- Formal plans and sections of the shed design/s

Document 4 - Iterative process (Appendix):
- Culmination of images and sketches produced that were part of the design process but not appropriate to have in the main set of documents

The publication will give a clear timeline of the design process and enable the collaborators to build the shed from our ideas and details.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 19:31
Group 09 / DREAMHOUSE FOR CIRCUS
Junjie S
Crossley House Analysis

Openshaw Lad's Club was founded in November 1888 by William John Crossley. It was previously known as the Gorton and Openshaw Working Lad's Club and the Crossley Lad's Club. The Crossley family financed the club up to 1941, and they built the club premises, Crossley House to commemorate Sir William Crossley after his death in 1911. The building was opened in September 1913. In July 1941 the premises were handed over to the National Association of Boy's Clubs, and a management committee was formed to administer the club. For 21 years it was the home of the Boxing Club run by Bob Shannon. The former base for Ricky Hatton and Marco Antonio Barrera had been credited by police with helping to cut crime through its community work and regular kids sessions.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 19:30
Group 19 / TOWN HALL IN THE MAKING
Eva C
By taking apart and building back up the model of Manchester Town Hall, the tetrisceptional model would ideally be translated as a model that can be detached (imagine puzzle-like pieces) which would give more perspective towards the exterior and interior of the entire Town Hall. This would include the spaces, function, circulation, structure and any features within the building.
Aim:
1. Understanding the basic composition of the Town Hall and develop a spatial-sensitive mind
2. Understanding the building from inside-out
Posted 23 Mar 2020 19:30
Group 09 / DREAMHOUSE FOR CIRCUS
Junjie S
Site Analysis

The site is located at the Manchester M11 2HB. It takes about 11 minutes to drive from the city centre and 8 minutes from The Circus House. The site is about 1,800 square metres and now is used for car parking. In the south, there is an expressway, and in the north, there is a small road for loading. In the west of the site, there is a building called Crossly House which is used for the youth centre.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 19:29
Group 09 / DREAMHOUSE FOR CIRCUS
Junjie S
Guest Talk

Due to the limited budget of the project, we are planning to explore low-cost housing, and we are delighted to have Enrique to be our guest. Enrique, a senior project architect in Urban Planning Practice, has many experiences of the practical projects and would like to give us a talk about the low-cost housing and tutorials about The Circus House Project.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 19:28
Group 09 / DREAMHOUSE FOR CIRCUS
Junjie S
Acrobatics Trainning

During the whole project, we would like to take students to The Circus House to have some acrobatic training. Sian, one of the directors of The Circus House would like to give us some basic training like silk aerial, juggler and flower stick. We all consider it is an excellent opportunity to not only experience the training but also feel the scale for the acrobatic activities.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 19:28
Group 09 / DREAMHOUSE FOR CIRCUS
Junjie S
What you can achieve here

During the project, we will not only focus on the workflow of an architectural project but also encourage students to explore their ideas and find out their place in the project. The 5th year students will teach the necessary software at first, but after that, we will unite together and design the new Circus House together.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 19:27
Group 09 / DREAMHOUSE FOR CIRCUS
Junjie S
Second Meeting

In the second meeting, we glad to have Sian again. In the meeting, we talked about the requirements and the architectural style that they are looking for. What is more, we have discussed about the outcomes of our project also, and we both agree to have a physical model and some kinds of media like videos to present our design. In the end, Sian also taught us some essential acrobatic skills, and it was exciting, and we believed that the BA students would enjoy that too.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 19:26
Group 19 / TOWN HALL IN THE MAKING
Eva C
Not your ordinary leaflets !

Based on the survey results and observations done on site, it is a fast-paced environment where there is a continuous flow of passers-by but minimal stops. This idea would be a quick and highly effective solution which could reach out to the general public. These could be displayed in the future visitor centre when the Town Hall reopens, as an interactive piece of information. The leaflets will be incorporated into the paper toys as one coherent piece. Think about having a mini Town Hall sitting at home – an analogue to the idea of ‘Our Town Hall’ as piece that belongs to Mancunians.
Aim: To break the stereotype of typical leaflets and provide more hands-on approach.
Aim:
1. Understanding the basic composition of the Town Hall and develop a spatial-sensitive mind
2. Understanding the building from inside-out
Posted 23 Mar 2020 19:22
Group 26 / READY SHEDDY GO
Harry W
InDesign Tutorial

Activity: In Design Skills Workshop
Location: Geoffrey Manton Building (Room TBC)
Date: Tuesday 28th April
Time: 11am

The output for this event is to provide collection of professional booklets to present design options for Friends of Beech Road Park Community Group. A member of the digital bar team at MMU has kindly agreed to run a workshop on InDesign skills, with particular focus on creating Master pages, paragraph styles and setting out layouts. The workshop will be vital in offering skills that can be used for future projects.

InDesign is an essential programme for anyone who has an interest in, or works in the design industry and is used extensively for various different things. It is commonly used for feasibility studies in practice and students use it extensively for portfolio layouts and presentation documents. The programme is useful as it allows the creation of styles, page layouts and templates that can provide a clear flow to a document. Photo alignment is also a key feature of InDesign to create sleek presentations. The outcome of the project is set to be a professional document that will clearly present the options to the collaborator. We therefore feel that this is a key programme to use for the required output.

For 1st and 2nd year architecture students who will be joining us for this, it would be great if you could prepare for this session by making sure you download InDesign on to your laptops as you will need it for the duration for the project.


Posted 23 Mar 2020 19:22
Group 20 / REVITALISING THE TOWN HALL
Tianyi W
INTENSE WEEK TWO

After an informative week, the second week is more productive. Each of the sub-group will have half of members to do physical model, while the other half undergoing visualisation for the final presentation. The most exciting thing is the formal presentation, which is happen at the last day of this week. There will be secret guests been invited to the presentation together with the Purcell Architect. The group are required to dress formally.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 19:19
Group 28 / SPINSPACE
Matthew C
We hope you are all managing to cope with the changes made to every-day life, it is not an easy time for anyone. Of course, we are upset to cancel our EVENTS20 project, it was something all of us masters students were looking forward to. SPIN is a charitable organisation who dramatically improve the lives of countless members of the Mancunian community. After meeting leading figures within the SPIN team, we were taken back by their operation and were truly inspired to do whatever we could to help.

Because of this motivation, we are not backing out on SPIN. Once the Covid-19 threat has been officially countered (to the levels where governmental departments are removing the temporary restrictive laws on movement and social distancing) we shall be organising an unofficial phoenix project.

Us at SPINSPACE would like to extend an invitation to you all. If anyone would like to participate in a one-off student-led scheme benefitting everyone involved, please feel free to send an email expressing your interest to spinspace20@gmail.com.

We wish everyone the best of luck with their remaining studies this academic year, and thank you all for taking the time to read our blog. We hope to see you soon.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 19:18
Group 20 / REVITALISING THE TOWN HALL
Tianyi W
INTENSE WEEK ONE

During the first week, the whole group will visit the town hall and attend an seminar held by mace staff. After a brief tutorial of the essential software for BA students, the group will separate into two sub-groups and run parallel brain storming, as well as concept development. The design stage will be closed at the end of this week with two creative installation waiting to be modeled and visulised.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 19:15
Group 21 / MAKE * SHAPE * DISCOVER
Natalie Man Sum C
FLEXIBLE FURNITURE

One of the final outputs for this project is to design and build a 1:2 flexible furniture concept model. The furniture designed should increase the flexibility of the multifunctional space. It should be an interactive piece that encourages interaction and creativity.

The students will be split into 3 sketch-model making groups. Each group will come up with their unique idea for a multipurpose flexible furniture piece. Students will share and discuss their designs within their group and come up with a final design which could be a chosen design of one of the individuals or a new design of merged themes gathered from the group’s ideas. With a confirmed idea, students build the 1:2 sketch model. It is expected that it can show the multi-function purpose of the design and is structurally stable.

The flexible furniture design will also be drawn up in CAD/ modelled and should show the makeup of the furniture piece as well as how it is put together.

Through this task students will utilize the following skill sets: sketching, designing, communicating, model making, photographing & CAD.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 19:14
Group 23 / DIGITAL DEN
Laura L
WEEK 1

During the first week we will familiarise all of the group members with Lifeshare and the site. We will split into three different groups in order to have three different design options across the team.

We will focus on getting to know Lifeshare and their aspirations for the project, survey the room which will be refurbished and visit innovative co-working spaces around Manchester. These spaces will all be documented by photographs and we will encourage conversations about flexibility, adaptability, material use and colour schemes.

We will also be introducing 1st and 2nd years to the 5th year projects on adaptive re-use, which will help them better understand how to intervene within an existing space. Once they have conducted their research, each group will collate the relevant information and identify initial design concepts and ideas to take further on. Before the start of the actual design, we will have tutorials on relevant software which will help with the production of a drawing pack as well as content production for the portfolio.

Throughout this week we will be preparing and collating all the necessary information which will support the key design moves chosen by each group.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 19:13
Group 26 / READY SHEDDY GO
Rachael Louise AJ
Low tech sustainable design

We have identified four key areas of exploration to implement sustainable design into the shed.

Bug hotel:
- The existing site is thriving with nature and people in the local area use the park as a small retreat from urbanisation. The committee have expressed their wishes to maintain and enhance the habitat of local bugs by providing a bug hotel as part of the shed. Low tech solutions involve filling bottles with twigs, grass and moss to create mini habitats for bugs.
Rainwater harvesting:
- Rainwater collection is an easy and practical solution to ensuring that plants in the park can be watered all year round. The rainwater will be collected in water butts which the gardeners can then use to fill up watering cans or connect a hose to if a pressurised water collection system is installed.
Sustainably sourced materials:
- It is important that the shed has the lowest carbon footprint possible. We have specified that timber must be the primary material for the shed, so this means using sustainably sourced wood which is grown locally and using a supplier who plants trees to renew those cut down. We have chosen to use Tree station as their wood is almost entirely sourced from Greater Manchester, from local tree work operations that they do.
Green roof:
- Using a green roof on the shed has many benefits. The soil and plantation provide greater heat retention in the winter and slows the rate of heat gain in the summer. A green roof also provides a new ecological habitat, reducing the impact of the building on the constructions footprint and creating a long-term habitat for local plants and small animals.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 19:10
Group 26 / READY SHEDDY GO
Rachael Louise AJ
Jack badger

Activity: Talk
Location: Benzie
Date: Tuesday 5th May
Time: 10am

Jack badger is a company specialising in carpentry and masonry who specialise in doors, oak panelling, timber flooring, carving and other miscellaneous carpentry. We have planned to have a talk from Ben Naylor, a senior member of staff at Jack badger, who is already a contact for the university and has given previous talks. The shed we design will be made from sustainably sourced timber and as we are providing a ‘how to’ booklet, it is crucial that we have an understanding of timber construction. The outcomes of this talk will be to develop an understanding of construction details and have some input from Ben regarding which joinery details work best for the shape and size of shed we are designing. This talk will be beneficial for 2nd, 3rd and 5th years alike and we are very excited to learn from Ben.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 18:59
Group 26 / READY SHEDDY GO
Harry W
Guest Speaker: John Lee

Activity: Parkkeepers Hut Presentation
Location: Chatham Building (Room TBC)
Date: Wednesday 29th April
Time: 11.15am

John Lee is a lecturer and Architect, who owns Manchester Practice, Acra. In 2011, he was commissioned to design a Park Keeper’s Hut in New Islington. The use for the hut was to enable people to shower/wash, somewhere sheltered and for a canal service station. The hut was designed with its context in mind therefore what could have been a shed of 4 walls and a pitched roof, became a much more exciting piece of architecture. The structure also uses timber cladding to fit in with its context and tree trunks are used internally to give the space a rustic and low tech feel.

John will be joining us to talk about the design process that he went through in designing this hut and to give some ideas and inspiration on small spaces and how to make the most out of them.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 18:53
Group 26 / READY SHEDDY GO
Jemima O
Precedent using Parti Diagrams

Parti diagrams are a useful tool in communicating ideas and illustrating analytic responses. This is especially useful when looking at precedent studies, and during the design process we will utilise this tool to collect a wide range of precedent studies to inform our design.

Precedent studies can be used to understand aspects of projects that have already been built, and can be used to test ideas against. The thinking towards precedent studies should be analytical, questioning why and how things have been done so lessons can be learnt and applied to the design project. Some ways of doing this include: overlaying drawings (plan or section) onto the current site, understand the orientation and scale of the build on a site plan, details of the construction to understand the use of materials.

Parti diagrams are a useful tool in summarising elements of a precedent into smaller aspects that can more easily be applied to the design project. These parti diagrams can show aspects on a detailed or strategic level, and often an amalgamation of parti diagrams from different precedent studies can be the beginnings of a design.

To demonstrate how parti diagrams can be used to analyse precedents, a short presentation will be given by the 5th years. The precedent used will be the allotment den designed by Matt+Fiona in Hull. This is a den designed with a group of children from a local primary school, and is situated in the corner of an allotment. The diagrams for this have been used to portray the scale, location in its surroundings, connections to the context and the dynamic form in a solid and void style diagram. These are all transferable ideas that could be used for other precedents and inform the design of the toolshed.

Reference:
Mull, O. (2017) Dezeen. [online] [Accessed 12.03.2020] https://www.dezeen.com/2017/06/03/matt-fiona-pupils-made-in-oakfield-outdoor-classroom-hull-allotment-moving-walls/
Posted 23 Mar 2020 18:51
Group 21 / MAKE * SHAPE * DISCOVER
Vickie T
ERGONOMICS AND ANTHROPOMETRICS

Ergonomic furniture describes products which have been designed with comfort, functionality and the movement of the human body in mind. This type of furniture is becoming more and more popular in modern workspace design schemes and is something we would like to reinforce when thinking about sustainable design solutions for schools and offices for long term use. Moreover, ergonomics must be considered as part of any upcoming refurbishment or fit out project. As of today, it can be observed an increased concern about the school classrooms, in particular about the study and design of school furniture fitting the students' needs and anthropometrics characteristics therefore as part of Events 21, we will explore the human dimensions from children to adults in order to create the comfortable and fitted flexible furniture solution for the new TASC studios.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 18:45
Group 04 / CHORLTON RE-USE
Okpetere S
THE PUBLICATION

Our final output will be a magazine publication. The magazine will contain all of the finished output from the events week activities, which will be:

Infographics of the data from the site analysis, stating the footfall and relevant situational influences on the site;
Concept design drawings visualizing the potential of the cabins as a new community centre;
Green Roof Concept Visualisations;
Social media engagement outcomes;
Community engagement event outcomes and influences on the proposed concept design;
A cumulative graphic, which will be given to the Chorlton community, that shows visuals of the proposed refurbishment of the cabins as a community centre in the Chorlton area, in order to raise awareness of the potential of the space.

Posted 23 Mar 2020 18:41
Group 26 / READY SHEDDY GO
Rachael Louise AJ
Library visit

Activity: Visit
Location: All Saints Library
Date: Monday 4th May
Time: 12.10pm

In the second week our events, we will be visiting All Saints Library to browse their journal collection. This is the opportunity to find inspiration, develop your graphic style and make your mark on the final presentation! With the final document being a fold out piece, there is plenty of opportunity for everyone’s development models and drawings to be included – this means it will be a well-rounded document that everyone can feel proud of. The outcomes of this task will to be able to collate a set of precedents that have successful layouts and pick a collection to work with. The precedents will be pinned up and a process of voting will decide what layouts used in the booklet. By working with a small set of 2-4 precedents for the layouts within the final piece, there is graphic consistency whilst still allowing people to express their graphic style.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 18:35
Group 04 / CHORLTON RE-USE
Okpetere S
SKILLS ACQUISITION

We will be learning and brushing up on our design and graphics skills. We will also be acquiring soft skills like social engagement through social media.
We have a series of workshops planned to help facilitate the acquisition of skills: Photoshop Workshop, Indesign Workshop and an Art Facade Design workshop which will be led by a facade artist.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 18:32
Group 04 / CHORLTON RE-USE
Okpetere S
SESSION PLAN

We have planned out the events week in order to maximize the time we have to carry out the project. All activities are geared around production, engagement and skill acquisition!
Posted 23 Mar 2020 18:28
Group 24 / HOW WOMEN BUILD
Freya CW
Getting in the workshop and getting making is such a useful skill to have.

It gets you off the computer and allows you to realise your 2D designs, putting into practice skills you have learned about 3D spaces within architecture. It also allows gives you the freedom to experiment, design and make at all scales, including 1:1.

This collaboration with How Women Build is allowing us the freedom of design, and are going to use the workshop to build what we create!
Posted 23 Mar 2020 18:22
Group 04 / CHORLTON RE-USE
Charlotte DM
CHORLTON LIBRARY VISIT

The main focus of the Chorlton library visit is to interact with the community, ask questions and receive feedback for our work so far. As community engagement is a critical part of our project, we aim to connect through social media as well as face to face with Chorlton Community.

The importance of this visit will be raising awareness and creating the potential for crowdfunding, we will be involving the community in the process as much as possible.

Engaging with the community through social media allows constant communication, trust-building and the ability to maximize engagement.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 18:21
Group 24 / HOW WOMEN BUILD
Zohir F
A brief insight into some exciting Feminist Exhibitions previously held in Manchester
Posted 23 Mar 2020 18:15
Group 04 / CHORLTON RE-USE
Thandokazi Vuyokazi Z
INITIAL IDEAS OF THE GREEN ROOF DESIGN
The main design is to convert the cabins into a more cohesive useable community space / facility, that should include a bee and butterfly friendly green roof and artistic interventions, with imaging and graphic representation. The local community's art work will be exhibited inside and outside the cabins. Graffiti will also be incorporated on the metal cabins as a way of creating a more inviting space for the community.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 18:13
Group 04 / CHORLTON RE-USE
Motunrayo Oluwatunmininu S
PRECEDENTS

Our key precedent was Hatch, situated on Mancunian Way, Oxford Road.
Also making use of shipping containers, Hatch is a vibrant pop-up destination that features independent retailers, winning food and drink, creative studio/workspaces and a public courtyard space.
By looking upon their use of space and functions, and what they provide for the community to enjoy, we aim to take this on board to inspire our own project of the Chorlton Re-use and execute.
Posted 23 Mar 2020 18:07

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