Events 20

Group 31 / RISING ARCHITECTS

Cheryl Jade L

CAN GARDENING CHANGE THE WORLD?

There is no shortage of good reasons to spend a bit more time in the garden now that the weather is finally beginning to warm up, but here are a few ways that ‘pottering around out back’ in the afternoons can help heal the wounded environment.

Gardening reduces your personal carbon footprint. Each of us bears a responsibility to contribute as little as possible to global warming and climate change, and a leisure activity like gardening that actually reduces your carbon output rather than increasing it is a wonderful thing!

At the same time, gardens actually absorb carbon from the atmosphere. By some estimates, nearly ¼ of trees and an even higher percentage of smaller plants in cities are located in gardens. Collective effort is the key to beating climate change, and every square metre of garden we grow makes a small but meaningful contribution to stopping global warming!

So come out and do your part! Gardening is fun and relaxing, and our collective effort with this really will help the planet!

Posted 20 Mar 2020 14:54

Andrea Gabriela N

Our brief , an architecture summer school, where STEM activities are catered towards the built environment and architectural design. We are looking to inspire, educate and develop skills for young aspiring designers, while still responding to current issues, like the skill gap between property and development, trained people and stem subjects, which ultimately results in difficulties in recruitment.

Posted 20 Mar 2020 12:54

Aliaksei T

Today we are introducing the case studies that Manchester City Council has showed us and is looking to Retrofit. Some located in Hulme and Rusholme. Hopefully we are able to push towards Manchester Sustainablity Goals and help City Council.

Posted 20 Mar 2020 12:52

Cheryl Jade L

GARDENING – THE SECRET TO MENTAL WELLBEING

It is all too easy to overlook the simple things in life. People have taken up gardening as a hobby to help them relax and centre themselves mentally for centuries, and you can easily do the same.

There are many ways gardening can improve your mental health, and can even be used to combat serious problems like anxiety or depression. Gardening helps us appreciate the cyclical nature of life, and to appreciate every moment for what it is.

It is very easy to feel like your world is out of control, especially right now. Gardening is a deeply ordered activity that puts you entirely in control of at least a tiny patch of that world, and the satisfaction of maintaining a garden of any size can’t be underestimated.

This is especially important as exams, deadlines and other stresses loom over our heads. Taking even just a few minutes out every single day to tend the garden and practice mindfulness can really help keep our problems in perspective!

Reference: https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/sites/default/files/field/field_publication_file/Gardens_and_health.pdf

Posted 20 Mar 2020 12:47

VENUE FIXED!

MANMUS team will use the courtyard of Benzie Building for 1 : 1 model construction, and modelling at wood workshop.

Posted 20 Mar 2020 00:57

LEARN & SHARE [late January]

We team Y5 has split up to do early preparation work, research on wood joinery, choice on wood finish/coating, ironmongery, sourcing peg board and glass box lighting construction! To share with Y1 and Y2 on events! And prepare in advance inventory of these material.

Posted 20 Mar 2020 00:43

Group 31 / RISING ARCHITECTS

LET'S PLAN 2 [mid February]

The team review session plans to make sure the programme meet the objectives agreed by the collaborators and are achievable, we adjusted the schedule and learning outcome for the Year 1 and 2. Also, in view of the need to move old furniture from the museum, we walked route from MSA along Oxford Road to time and survey the route for risk control planning, It takes 10 mins one way, expect 15 mins extra with furniture on trolley. We hope it will be a sunny day on Events day !!

Posted 19 Mar 2020 23:58

Andrea Gabriela N

We have spent some time researching educational strategies to help make our architecture course be the most impactful to our students. The Gatsby Career Benchmarks are a framework of eight guidelines about what makes the best careers provision in schools and colleges. We aim to have an aspect of each on our course.

Posted 19 Mar 2020 22:44

Tianyuan H

Here is a selection of joinery types as a reference. We encourage students to explore alternative methods and tools to develop the new and existing models. Students will have to test different joints to find out the optimum performance for the model. All tools will be prepared prior to construction, and adjustments can be made according to the design.

Posted 19 Mar 2020 20:14

Liam Kristian C

WEEK 2

The second week will be fast-paced. You will have the opportunity to decide which skills you would like to further, whether you enjoy drawing, creating models or curating graphic designs or publications. The winning design will be thought out and drawn up in detail through the form of 1:5 models and working plans, sections and elevations. The construction manual produced will be given to the client so their residents can learn to construct the small space themselves. A final presentation will be a celebration of everyones hard work in creating a great proposal. Ultimately, you will be able to provide your expertise to a worthy cause where your designs and skills will make a real difference.

Posted 19 Mar 2020 20:12

Liam Kristian C

WEEK 1

Week 1 is all understanding homelessness from the inside out, speaking to charities, external speakers and residents of the Supporting People In Need hostel. Homelessness is an issue across the country, though is particularly prevalent here in Manchester. We hear a lot about it, though by speaking with those involved we can understand the difficulties of sleeping rough and look at what charities are doing to curb homelessness.

Building upon the knowledge and understanding gained, we will host a design competition within the Event where the winning design will be taken forward the following week. The design competition will be held at the collaborator’s premises where we are encouraging the community to get involved in the presentations and the voting. By the end of this week you will have engaged with multiple charities and beneficiaries, produced designs and models for a proposed quiet space, and gained inside perspectives on a wide social issue.

Posted 19 Mar 2020 20:12

Group 14 / CENTRE STAGE

Thomas Charles K

Group 14 // Centre Stage // Moston 2.0

This site presents a great opportunity for a real statement piece. Surrounded by suburban accomodation and low lying architecture, as long as our proposed community centre is harmonious with the surrounding industrial typology, there is real potential for something that can spark further regeneration of the surrounding area.

It is our role to consult with Trevor, and think as designers, to suggest architectural implementations that will be contextual and encourage Mark as well as the local community to think in different ways about the potential of their site and 'what they could have'.

Posted 19 Mar 2020 20:04

Laurence C

To aid in the creation of the manual we will be holding small tutorials on the programs you may need for the project and your future, we also help further your model making skills.

Programs utilised:

Auto Cad
Sketch UP
Revit
Rhino
Photoshop
Illustrator
InDesign
Lumion

Posted 19 Mar 2020 20:02

Laurence C

Outcomes
Throughout the first week you will be working in smaller groups to first produce initial Pod concepts for our design competition. Presenting to our collaborators at the WELL, a winner will be voted for, as a whole group the following week we will focus on producing a detailed construction manual, accompanied by a 1:20 physical model of the final Pod design, enabling the reader to fully construct the pod from start to finish.

Posted 19 Mar 2020 20:00

CASE STUDY #3 - WARRINGTON

The third of the four case studies to be designated was Warrington in April 1968 to help relieve the overcrowding in Manchester and to revitalise industrial areas, yet it soon became a natural growth point for the North West of England. It evolved from a medium sized industrial town, just 16 miles south west of Manchester, but soon became a major hub for national and international companies working across the region. The intended population was 210,000 from its already large population of 124,000 at its time of designation, this was to be deployed across 7,535 hectares of land. The motive of the Warrington New Town Development Corporation was to ensure that public consultation was at the forefront of design and sought to cater for the booming car owning population of the time. As well as the development, it was essential that Warrington should retain its historic character, something that it relied on economically. The outline plan set out by the corporation aimed to connect the towns residence and businesses together to help add to the quality of the design.

This case study was undertaken by Aifa Binti Muthuraman, Jack Carter, Alexander Hughes and Cezara Misca. Their document was titled : “A short case study to assess the housing and landscape predictions of Oakwood, Warrington”

Posted 19 Mar 2020 19:48

Matthew C

It is important that we gather together a well-rounded group of individuals who will positively aid the design development journey. As architecture students, we expect a lot of you to have a rich repertoire of skills suitable for our EVENT. The module is short (under two weeks!) so we must hit the ground running, and for that, ensuring that you tick the boxes above is a must! We look forward to working with a fantastic team.

Posted 19 Mar 2020 17:18

Laurence C

The Well has a number of possible locations for the pod, both internal and external. It will be your task to analyse the site to determine the pod’s best home.

SPIN originally started as a street kitchen, they were soon offered a project by the pastor of a local dilapidated Baptist Church in Ardwick, to regenerate said church into a sanctuary for the homeless, now known as the WELL. SPIN then brought the street kitchen indoors, in order to put a roof over our homeless friends while they eat in the cafeteria with proper cutlery and a warm environment. As the kitchen attracted more rough sleepers, SPIN started to focus on providing accommodation to said people. And now, the focus shifted to improving the Well in order to welcome more people in need.

One thing missing currently at the WELL is a quite space for the occupants to go and relax, reflect, work and talk in private.

A number of potential spaces have been earmarked for the Pod, but it will be up to you to decide which spot best suites your design and works well with the rest of the site.

Posted 19 Mar 2020 17:12

Ariel Helen C

ANNOUNCEMENT: WORKSHOP

SAVE THE DATE:

WHO? Sam Heitzman
WHEN? 04.05.20
WHAT? A/V Workshop

We are delighted to announce that we will be hosting an A/V Workshop on the 4th May to learn all about how to use Adobe Premiere Pro for editing audio and visual content. Sam Heitzman, a technical officer at MMU, will be able to guide us through the best tips & tricks to make our work stand out!

This workshop will give us the tools to use Premiere Pro, a programme that is hands-on and gives us the freedom to create unique transitions, text and titles. Sam's expertise will be invaluable to those interested in curating the audio/visual aspect of the NEWTOPIA project!

This workshop will be one out of a series all focused on enhancing our design skills in different fields, whether through platforms such as InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop or Premiere Pro. Look out for future posts about these workshops!

The A/V team is located on the 1st floor of Chatham Building at MMU.

Posted 19 Mar 2020 16:05

Maryam AI

DOES ARCHITECTURE MAKE YOU ANXIOUS?

Supported Earth is committed to understanding well being in specific within Architecture. We attended a talk series by our university called “Provocation” it asked..Does Architecture Make You Anxious? Think about it? As we entered the lecture was nearly full everyone was eager to hear the talk. Students and staff shuffled through and then there was us the members of supported earth. There were 3 speakers a University staff member, a student and a graduate who is now an Architect in practice. Each speaker shared their experience and struggle with well being.

It was clear that everyone had the same message, that sometimes stress and the uneasiness can have an impact on your well being, that you’re not alone regardless what stage you are. Seeking help is the first step and that having a balanced lifestyle is key. Taking breaks, eating well and not forgetting to sleep!

We learned a lot after the talk and we hope that we can implement this in our project. Through our planters we could help create a space that encourages well being and taking a nice relaxing break from work becomes the norm.

Posted 19 Mar 2020 15:10

Sarah D

WHITWORTH PARK- GROW:

Grow: Art, Park & Wellbeing is a project within the Art Garden at Whitworth Park. The project aims to promote the benefits of engaging in horticultural (the art or practice of garden cultivation and management) activities to improve mental wellbeing of an individual. The project provides opportunities such as learning horticulture, building confidence and social engagement.

We will be collaborating with Grow with specific contact and talks with Sarah Price, a landscape gardener who designed the Art Garden within Whitworth Park. Francine Heyron, the cultural park keeper will also be providing us with a tour and talk.

We will gain informed knowledge on landscape gardening, planter design and links between horticulture and mental health, enabling us to have a positive social change impact on those within the Benzie and Chatham buildings.

Posted 19 Mar 2020 15:02

Gei Ga W

The project is a design and build project, where the previous group of students from Research Methods L.O.O.P. developed a conceptual design and we will take in the position of technical design and construction. When preparing the brief, we took in consideration that the designs might actually be built in the museum shop, therefore a step by step pamphlet would be provided for the client for reference in the future if they actually decide to build it in the shop. We would like to encouragement more engagement between the university and the Manchester Museum to gain their confidence in the students to increase the potential of future projects, where the Museum would benefit from our expertise at a certain level and the students would benefit from learning in a live architectural project. Through design, we would like to attract customers into the Museum shop increasing their revenue, so that they would be able to collect more artifacts at the Manchester museum for the community.

Posted 19 Mar 2020 14:49

Gei Ga W

During our meeting, the clients mentioned that the pegboards at the Whitworth Gallery shop were not strong enough to support their displayed items. Therefore, we visited the Whitworth Gallery shop to see what caused the displayed cabinets sag. The newly designed furniture shall take current problems into consideration, improving the durability and usability of the furniture. We noticed there was no support underneath the boxes and that the main back support of the pegboards is a single layered wood. In order to create a stronger pegboard, a double layer wood shall be used for the back support, a gap shall be provided, and the hanging display element should be supported underneath. We also noticed more neutral colors were used at the Whitworth gallery shop -painted greyish blue, and light colored wood would allow the sharp colors of products pop out.

Posted 19 Mar 2020 14:49

Natasha B

The pod we design will need to be multifunctional and adaptable to all of
the different functions. Here are some requirements to consider:

LEARN
The space will be available to all the residents to use as they wish. SPIN currently have a workshop where residents can learn carpentry skills, but the pod will be a space where they can learn alternative skills.

TALK
Part of the process at SPIN is talking through any issues the residents have with a trained professional or with the staff. Currently there is no space where they can talk privately, so this is an important function of the pod.

CONNECT
Residents will be able to use the pod as an additional social space, so plenty of seating and space is needed. SPIN is more than a bed for the night, its a community that many old residents return to and is part of what makes SPIN successful.

REFLECT
In addition to needing a quiet space to talk to staff, its important for the residents to have a space where they can reflect or simply have some time to themselves, something many residents miss about having their own home.

In addition to these four requirements, do you have ideas for more functions of the pod? Join SpinSpace and get creative!

Posted 19 Mar 2020 14:37

Natasha B

To get you inspired, here are some Pod and Small Space Projects in the UK and abroad. What do you think is successful about these projects? Which elements would you take forward in your Pod design? How do you think the project helped people?

Amazing Grace Spaces
http://amazinggracespaces.org/
A pod for the homeless developed in Wales, the project not only provides shelter but support from the Amazing Grace Spaces community. What began as small pods has developed into starter homes made from recycled shipping containers.

Home for the Night
https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/look-inside-stunning-transformation-double-2171357
This double decker bus was renovated by Help Bristol's Homeless provides a bed for the night for the city's homeless. Although it is just a temporary solution, it can sleep 12 people, and long term the charity has also refurbished shipping containers.

Pop Up Hawse
https://www.levittbernstein.co.uk/sketchbook-ideas/pop-up-hawse/
Designed as halfway homes for the homeless, Levitt Bernstein designed these small homes for under £20,000 construction cost each. Through the HAWSE scheme (Homes through Apprenticeships With Skills for Employment), the houses themselves are built by the future tenants,

Zedpods
https://zedpods.com/
Zedpods are modular and environmentally friendly starter homes which can be built anywhere, even in a car park! This housing is affordable and targetted at first time buyers and those who wouldn't be able to nromally afford a house.

Feeling inspired? Join SpinSpace.

Posted 19 Mar 2020 14:02

Irena Renata D

INTRODUCING THE SITE

The University of Manchester Botanical gardens in Fallowfield or known as The Firs is situated between the student halls and the Armitage centre. Currently being run by The Faculty of Life Sciences. It has so many fascinating rare botanical specimens from around the world which have been cultivated there for decades. The botanical experimental grounds moved to the current site in 1922 and have 0.6 ha. Today, the first is below the School of Biological Sciences and have a wide range of research projects for several areas of science.

You can see what they have been doing on this blog and Facebook page: https://uombotanicalgardens.wordpress.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ManchesterUniversityBotanicalGardens/
http://www.plantsciences.manchester.ac.uk/plantsforthepublic/Firs/index.html

Posted 19 Mar 2020 12:50

Irena Renata D

HISTORY

The Pioneer of this venture was Professor F E Weiss, who held the George Harrison Chair of Botany between 1892 and 1930. In the beginning, the ground owned by Sir Joseph Whitworth, an inventor of the Whitworth rifle and Whitworth thread. After he died, he bequeathed the site for the university to function as commercial fruit and vegetable nursery. However, during the First World War, the ground produced the Atropa belladonna plant for making the atropine ( a potential nerve-agent antidote) to help the community. The Firs decided to produce the plant because there was over-harvested in Croatia and Slovenia although the plants growing wild in there.

In the early 1920s, the Empire Cotton Growing Corporation asked for help to investigate a bacterial disease-causing problem on its crops in Sudan. Because everyone in Manchester and most of Lancashire put more effort and focus on this textile industry, the local trade was affected.

This place needs to be preserved because it became a ground base for several plant research from biochemistry and biotechnology, ecology, genetics, and biological control. Furthermore, the firs have so many fascinating rare botanical plant from around the world.

Reference:
https://plantnetwork.org/news/research-at-the-university-of-manchester-botanical-experimental-grounds/

Image Reference:
Welcomecollection. Potrait of F.E.Weiss, professor of botany. [Online Image] [Accessed 18th March 2020]
Wikipedia. Atropa Belladonna. [Online Image] [Accessed 18th March 2020]

Posted 19 Mar 2020 12:48

Celia B

SITE LOCATION

The Firs Botanical Garden is located in Fallowfield, 3 miles south of the main university campus.

Posted 19 Mar 2020 12:31

Claire A

MEET THE COLLABORATOR: THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER

Working closely with Professor Giles Johnson, a senior lecturer based in the Ecology and Evolution research group in the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, we hope to produce plans to transform the Manchester of University’s Botanical Garden’s.

The University would like to open the Firs Botanical Gardens, primarily used by the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, to the public to encourage community participation in education and research. Research in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences aims to provide a deep and integrated understanding of our planet, including the physical environment, the organisms living there and how human activities impact on both. The University of Manchester promote public engagement through sharing ideas and research; inspiring discussion, debating and creativity; and involving the public with their work.

Posted 19 Mar 2020 12:27

Claire A

MEET THE TEAM

Hi! We are group 30 – Botanical Blueprint!
The team is made up of six MArch.1 students at Manchester School of Architecture.

Hannah O’Neill - LULU
BA(Hons) University of Kent
Part 1 at jmarchitects

Celia Brearley – LULU
MA University of Edinburgh
Part 1 at Mass Architecture, York / The Harris Partnership, Wakefield

Sophie Chappel – LULU
BA University of Huddersfield
Part 1 at Den Architecture, Leeds

Alex Williams – LULU
BA Birmingham City University
Part 1 at Glenn Howells Architects, London

Irena Renata Dewi – LULU
BEng in Architecture Parahyangan Catholic University
Part I at AECOM Indonesia

Claire Ainsworth – LULU
BArch Liverpool John Moore’s University
Part I at AFL Architects, Birmingham

Posted 19 Mar 2020 12:23

Alex W

WHAT IS EVENTS?

The MArch students will work in collaboration with the BA Year 01 and 02 undergraduates in mixed-year teams which will run like an architecture practice. The collaborator acts as the project client, the MSA staff are equivalent to governing bodies such as RIBA, the MArch students act as the associates and partners of the practice and the BA students act as junior colleagues.
Aims for students for Events 20:
• To improve students understanding of the practical aspects of live projects and the role of the architect within society.
• To learn valuable skills such as conceptualising a project, developing a brief and delivering and managing a small project.
• To develop an understanding and explore design ideas beyond the discipline of architecture.
• To meet new people and organisations and develop connections which will be beneficial when students enter the working world.

Posted 19 Mar 2020 12:22

BBP EVENT: FAITH, MUSIC & COMMUNITY - SUNDAY 29TH MARCH

BBP have kindly invited the MARCH students from EVENTS team 6 to their first major event in 2020: ‘Faith, Music & Community’ taking place at Marsden Community Primary School on Sunday 29th March.

An open invitation has been extended to the wider community for people to come together in a spirit of celebrating diversity within the local community. The event programme will feature a fusion of music styles that reflect Pendle’s richly diverse communities, including Sufi Chanting, Choir Singing from local Churches, and a never before seen performance of ‘Dabkah’, a native folk dance from Syria. There will be a unique opportunity for cross-cultural conversations and making friends. Guests in attendance will also enjoy a three-course meal of Syrian cuisine made locally.

The event will mark the first contact between EVENTS team 6 and the wider community that BBP regularly engage with, an exciting opportunity for all involved. The MARCH students will relay their experiences to the BA students during EVENTS week.

Posted 19 Mar 2020 10:14

THE COMMUNITY: NELSON, PENDLE

Nelson is a diverse community, with a mix of cultures and faiths. The wide range of people who make up this community is celebrated by Building Bridges Pendle. According to the 2011 census: the racial composition of the town in 2011 was 57.8% White (53.4% White British), 40.4% Asian, 0.1% Black, 1.5% Mixed and 0.2% Other. The largest religious groups are Christian (39.0%) and Muslim (37.6%). 59.9% of adults between the ages of 16 and 74 are classed as economically active and in work.

The work of BBP aims to move beyond social tolerance - instead championing social cohesion! Understanding that a rich mix of culture is a cause for celebration.

Posted 19 Mar 2020 10:14

THE SITE: 20 SCOTLAND ROAD, NELSON, BB9 7UU.

The site for the proposed community space is the ground floor of BBP's new office on Scotland Road, Nelson. The building occupies a corner plot on an important road within the town centre. The site is located centrally with good transport links.

BBP moved into the premises recently and have aspirations for a mixed-use space which occupies the entire downstairs footprint - encouraging social cohesion and generating some form of monetary income. Initial ideas which have been suggested in meetings with BBP have been coffee-shops and rentable work spaces! We are excited to see what the teams put forward during our EVENTS week.

Posted 19 Mar 2020 10:13

THE FORM: ZINE

Re-introducing the zine! A zine (pronounced zeen) is an independently produced and published booklet containing original work, or appropriated images or text – based around a common theme.

Historically, zines can be traced back to 1776 when Thomas Paine self-published a collection of ideas/propaganda which ultimately contributed towards the War for Independence in the USA, though most people will associate zines with punk culture in the 1970/80s.

Zines are small printed documents with a strong graphical style, which are usually hand printed, folded and stapled before being locally distributed. However, in recent years, many zines have been made available in digital format also. Zines have served as a significant medium of communication in various subcultures and marginalised communities, frequently drawing inspiration from a DIY philosophy that disregards the traditional conventions of professional design and publishing houses. Instead zines propose an alternative, confident and self-aware contribution. The core ideas behind a zine directly tie into the charity aims of BBP. Small circulation zines are individually made, emphasising a personal connection between the creator and reader, turning imagined communities into embodied ones.

In the case of our zine, the underlying theme is the work of BBP and the goal of community cohesion, culminating in the design of a multi-functional community space in the downstairs area of BBP's new office in Nelson.

Our zine will document: the charity themselves, the communities they work with, previous events they have held, a manifesto for the future, and conceptual ideas for transforming the downstairs office into a community space. The zine should be able to act as a supporting document for future funding bids that BBP may apply for, but also as a fully realised stand-alone document which gives a comprehensive overview of the charity and their future goals, without the need for additional introductions or explanations.

Posted 19 Mar 2020 10:13

COLLABORATORS: BUILDING BRIDGES + IN-SITU

The main collaborator for LET’S TALK ZINE is Building Bridges Pendle (BBP) - a registered charity based in Nelson (27 miles north of Manchester City Centre) who facilitate a range of community events to promote social cohesion and acceptance within diverse area of Lancashire. In-Situ are a partnering not-for-profit arts organisation also based in Pendle who work with Building Bridges Pendle on various events and endeavours.

The core agenda of BBP is to improve community relations and awareness by celebrating the rich cultural heritage that makes up the local area. The charity hope that their work can help people to view the variety of cultures and faiths within the area as a benefit, which provides an additional layer of richness to the community.

LET’S TALK ZINE is a collaboration between BBP, In-Situ and Manchester School of Architecture – aiming to produce a series of ideas for a community space in the ground floor of BBP’s new building in Nelson, which will be documented in a zine, alongside information about the charity, recent endeavours work and future aspirations. The zine document will form part of BBP's bid for future funding to realise the ideas for the downstairs community space.

Further information of Building Bridges Pendle can be found on their website: www.buildingbridgespendle.org.uk or you can find them on Facebook by using their handle @buildingbridgespendle

Posted 19 Mar 2020 10:07

Alice Josefa B

We are challenging our group to re-imagine how to communicate the real stories behind homelessness and Nightsafe. Social media is a powerful way to target a wide audience so we will develop a package of social media posts covering instagram, twitter and facebook for Nightsafe to use.

We will need creative layouts which tell a story as a collection of posts as well as individually. Photography needs to be imaginative to protect the identity of vulnerable people.

We will be using InDesign which some of the students may be less familiar with, a skill we will develop together as a group, and we will have a crash course in photography.

Posted 19 Mar 2020 09:41

Hui L

We are working with the retrofit team of MCC to develop a booklet that highlights latest green technologies and passibhaus systems available in the market, as well as information of a network of designers, contractors & experts who are experienced in sustainable housing projects.

Posted 19 Mar 2020 00:36

Abigail C

INITIAL EXHIBITION

An exhibition at the Holden art gallery on the 22nd to the 27th of January showcased all the 5th years research methods outputs. This allowed us to experiment with the curation and spatial layout of an exhibition space prior to the events. The Polaroid displays the four case studies and models that will be exhibited at The Modernist Gallery during for the event.

Posted 18 Mar 2020 21:37

Felicity P

WHICH PLANTS?

The second in our “which plant” series is Turmeric. This amazing little root plant packs a powerful punch in all ways. Looking like ginger from the outside, inside the bright orange pigment is strong and very vivid. This is perfect for staining and colouring fabric, other added benefits of this little root plant is its ability to improve your metal health. Added benefits include being an anti-inflammatory.

Posted 18 Mar 2020 19:10

CASE STUDY #2 - REDDITCH

The second of the four case studies to be designated was Redditch in April 1964 to help alleviate the overcrowding in the West Midlands. It was already a small market town situated just fourteen miles south of Birmingham. Its masterplan was the first with emphasis on public transport rather than the use of the private car for a population of 70,000 residents across 2,914 hectares of designated land. Designed by both Hugh Wilson and Lewis Womsersley, with Michael Brown as its landscape architect. The design aimed to enable residents to work in the town; provide social and commercial facilities; integrate existing and proposed development; provide open space for recreation and amenity; and develop to a high standard of layout and design. Redditch was built on poor quality agricultural land and within the catchment area of the River Arrow dating back to 1384. Today, the New Town accounts for 50% of the borough area and 93% of its population.

This case study was undertaken by Koh Sung Jie, Silvio Lussana, Sophie Chappel and Szymon Milczarek. Their document was titled : “A short case study to assess the conventional and unconventional aspects of development in Redditch”

Posted 18 Mar 2020 17:15

Patrick Charles D

DESIGN BRIEF

After receiving confirmation from TASC regarding the possible design solutions for the renovation of their studio, we produced a final brief to work with.

In addition to the key points outlined in the post displayed above, we identified a number of important factors to consider, which are as follows;

- As part of the design process, it is proposed that 1:2 concept models should be produced in order to quickly and efficiently test ideas related to flexible furniture and working areas. It is intended that these interventions should encourage immersive and creative learning upon completion of the project.

- There is an opportunity to open up the ceiling and extend upwards in order to gain additional floor area and internal volume. This would be an effective way of creating a space with an increased ceiling height in order to provide a space tall enough for large installations and art pieces. TASC was also enthusiastic about the addition of a mezzanine floor which could provide alternative viewpoints for exhibitions, as well as adding an experiential element to the concept.

- A maximum of 30 children will use the space at any one time. Community groups will also use the space, therefore, achieving a free open-plan space with a high degree of flexibility is of critical importance.

- Considerations should also be made regarding the possibility of leaving elements of the building fabric exposed where possible (major structural components) to provide a real and tangible form of architectural education to both children and adults.

Posted 18 Mar 2020 14:35

Patrick Charles D

OUR SECOND MEETING

During our second meeting, we presented our session plan and preliminary design brief to Catherine, Dan, and Tam. We then proceeded to discuss both elements in further detail, as well as the roles of the undergraduate students for the project. Following from this, the conversation moved to the major aspects of the design brief including the flexible furniture solutions. All the while, we made sure that we compared the details of the design brief and our overall planning with TASC's specific aspirations for the project, to ensure that we get the best results as possible!

TASC then spoke a bit more about the work that they have done in the past as well as show us their physical portfolios. This was very useful as it enabled us to further familiarise ourselves with the kind of work they have produced, and the values that they advocate through their collaborations.

In addition to this, we also agreed on a suitable date for the next meeting, during which the undergraduates would be able to see the site and meet TASC. Catherine, Dan, and Tam responded very positively to the progress we made in terms of the planning for the event. Indeed, great enthusiasm remains at the centre of the project!

Posted 18 Mar 2020 13:24

Philippa Jane H

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

As architecture students, and promising future architects, we need more skills than are required to simply design a building. The career is multifaceted, we need to know how to; connect with clients, build work relationships at ease, articulate ideas, work effectively in teams, and many other attributes. Throughout EVENTS 20 we are looking at curating these skills and many others.

The Newtopia exhibition provides us with the perfect opportunity to use the diverse skills we have all learnt this far at University as a foundation to branch out into other crafts. Here are some of the alternate skills we will be looking at:

-Exhibition Curation
-Graphic Design
-Scaled Drawing
-Binding and Printing
-Networking
-Audio Editing
-Space Planning
-Real life Design & Assemble

We are looking forward to hosting exciting guests that range from MSA Alumni, to field specialists who are enthusiastic about sharing their expertise to the benefit of the Newtopia project.

We will be releasing the names and information of our special guests on the coming posts, so keep an eye out!

Posted 18 Mar 2020 10:19

Philippa Jane H

ANNOUNCEMENT: GUEST JUDGES

SAVE THE DATE:

WHO? Jack Hale and Eddy Rhead
WHEN? 30.04.20
WHAT? Crit style reviews of our initial exhibition proposals.

The key focus of the NEWTOPIA project is the design of the exhibition. What will the spacial layout be? How will visitors interact with the work? How will visitors move through the space? Is the work well represented?

There are many questions that need resolving in order to create an effective and seamless exhibition. In order to ensure we fulfil this criteria, we are enthused to announce JACK HALE and EDDY RHEAD will be joining us to offer invaluable feedback on our exhibition proposals.

WHY JACK AND EDDY?

Jack and Eddy are The Modernist Society founders, and editors of The Modernist Magazine- so who better to help!
From years working in the industry, both are extremely knowledgable in everything from art to architecture and all the elements in-between. They have themselves organised many exhibitions at The Modernist, interacting with many artists and designers along the way.

We have already met with them to discuss this and their enthusiasm and spirit has fuelled us to start designing!

Want to find out more about Jack and Eddy? Follow this link to a great article:
https://magculture.com/jack-hale-eddy-rhead-editors-modernist/

Posted 18 Mar 2020 10:01

LET'S PLAN [early February]

The team met to plan ahead for the fruitful and interesting events weeks! To meet our agenda (re-use existing furniture for the new gift store design), We decide to put the group into design team and construction team, and take turn to finish the deliverables. (1) a detail SITE MODEL to test fit design and play around with spatial arrangement; students could learn to choose appropriate material for scale models and spend time to make it presentable for future use or display by the museum. (2) testing WOOD ASSEMBLY TECHNIQUE for several design elements, carefully recorded to provide design development process for the museum construction team. (3) a 1:1 MODEL will not be missed in a live project! We will all learn how to disassemble old cabinets and glass blocks; treat and assemble them to build new furniture. They will all be eventually delivered to the museum to test on site!

Posted 18 Mar 2020 03:19

Hui L

Hi, guys! We are going to hold a forum on Manchester Climate Change Framework.
Looking forward to meeting you.
Thanks Alex for successfully inviting Jonny Sadler.

Posted 18 Mar 2020 00:02

Jinyu L

Here is what we planned to do!
GO and take a look

Posted 17 Mar 2020 23:18

Katayha Marie G

PRECEDENT

Hulme Community Garden Centre uses organic and peat free products in which they grow their plants in, ensuring that they are environmentally friendly. This will be an essential part of the Supported Earth project as we aim to use recycled and environmentally friendly products to ensure the planters are sustainable.

As a non-profit Hulme Community Garden Centre provide low cost plants to the local community as well as providing a community space and run free workshops in one of the most deprived areas of Manchester.

These spaces provide a place in which the local community can take a break, helping to improve the mental health of those who use the spaces.

Posted 17 Mar 2020 23:03

Vickie T

SOCIAL VALUES

TASC is driven by community based projects and has a strong social ethos. By upgrading TASC’s studios via the design and application of flexible furniture, the studio will serve as a community space for art and architecture in the Gorton Community, show-casing student's works and projects as well as attracting new comers to the TASC programme. The design outcome of the flexible furniture should exude the underlying aim to inspire and enthuse students to explore their physical surroundings through its basic use and ability to transform, aligning with TASC's main aims.

Our events project will allow BArch and MArch students to explore human proportions while thinking of the interrelationships of human and furniture to establish a strong tangible solution to enhance the social learning space.

Past projects include ‘Going Places, Growing Places’, ‘Den City’, ‘looking at the city sideways‘.

Posted 17 Mar 2020 21:09

Emily C

SITE VISIT
We organised a site visit with the collaborator at Manchester Museum on the 21st January to give us a better idea about the project space. The collaborator discussed with us the plan of the new gift store, which is part of a wider project titled “Hello future”. The overall scheme aims to create a new Exhibition Hall, South Asia Gallery, Chinese Culture Gallery, the world’s first Centre for Age Friendly Culture, and a new entrance with visitor facilities that focus on inclusive accessible design.
We focused mainly on the room we will be designing for, looking for ways to re-use many of the existing furniture. For our live project, we are aiming to promote environmental awareness in the community. After the site visit, we decided to schedule another meeting among our group to delegate research on topics such as materiality, finishings and display ideas for a better understanding of the gift store space.
For more information on the overall scheme by Manchester Museum, please visit https://mmhellofuture.wordpress.com/ or follow the hashtag online #MMhellofuture

Posted 17 Mar 2020 20:50

Natalie Man Sum C

THE AREA

This is a neighbourhood that has its challenges and whilst close to the city centre it is one of the most deprived spots in the county, ranking 11th most deprived in the UK. There is high unemployment and Ofsted reports that for local school children there is a dearth of extra curriculum activities. Young people do not ordinarily engage with art and culture outside of school and participation in art and culture generally is low.

The community today has a very mixed ethnicity with around a third white British, a third of people have African background and others represent a range of minority ethnicities, so the area is very culturally diverse but economically deprived.

Through this project, we aim to create a space that allows a diverse range of people to enjoy, explore and learn more about what architecture has to offer. We hope to create a flexible, interactive space that pushes the boundaries of creativity and exploration.

Posted 17 Mar 2020 19:58

Ovidija Z

TASC LOCATION

The Architecture School for Children is located on Varna Street and Barrass Street at Rogue Artist Studios in Gorton.

Based in a Grade II listed Victorian building, with high ceilings and mill-like appearance, the building was erected as a school on May 16th 1898. The building is nestled in a corner formed by the Lanky Cut and the train line below, surrounded by terraced homes. With one thousand five hundred pupils, it was dubbed the largest school in Lancashire. Eventually, the school bell rang for the last time, lights were turned off and the doors of Varna Street Primary School were closed.

Rogue Studios were offered the site by the local authority, and soon after they created a home for artists, project space and a community resource. Today many of the old-school features remain at the Barrass Street building, while much-needed creative space is provided for talented artists.

TASC, Rogue’s partner organisation, moved into Rogue studios a couple of years ago. This move was a testament to how ambitious Rogue are about cultivating a diverse creative community. TASC are based on the ground floor of school block 2, with a spacious studio/workshop environment, however currently the space does not function as TASC would want it to.

Posted 17 Mar 2020 19:19

Group 14 / CENTRE STAGE

Thomas Charles K

Group 14 // Centre Stage // Our role within the Collaboration Team

As stated, Trevor, who works for Fourty8 Design is already consulting with Mark at NWTAC on this project, however it is at really early feasibilty stages.

This diagram shows we aim to collaborate with both Mark and Trevor to create this zine of visuals. Our aim here is use Trevor and his correspondance with Mark to create an indicative design and set of parameters for the design (as ambiguous as possible) so that we can develop a set of visuals.

These parameters will be based off previous correspondance between Trevor and Mark, our input and ultimately what Trevor believes to be feasible.

We will then take and ellaborate on these parameters to create a set of visuals to present to Mark before finalising a set in a publication.

Posted 17 Mar 2020 14:10

Group 14 / CENTRE STAGE

Thomas Charles K

Group 14 // Centre Stage // What can WE gain from NWTAC's new home?

NWTAC works in , and teaches kids in the local community. All of the performances they advertise are put on solely by members of the Company. This stems down to the script, dress and even lighting. Everything is done in house.

This provides as a platform for potentially over looked and underfunded kids in Moston to excel with assistance from the very best teaching.

However, the current centre is not fit for purpose. A new, specialised facility with an intergrated community centre allows the Company to teach more kids perfoming arts and provides a space for young people to gather, potentially keeping them off the streets.

Posted 17 Mar 2020 13:32

Group 26 / READY SHEDDY GO

Ariel Helen C

TEAM MEETING

In January the Newtopia team met in at All Saints Library to discuss the session plan, risk assessment and poster design. Part of the session planning process included organising the weeks of the Events 2020 into two parts: one week exhibition design competition and the other week
assembly and curation of the exhibit. The outputs that we produce, such as posters, audio/visual content and booklets to promote the event, are opportunities to learn and build on graphic skills such as (but not limited to):

- InDesign
- Illustrator
- Photoshop
- Premiere Pro
- Book Binding (with an induction at MMU)
- Poster Printing
- Graphic Design

All of these skills will come with support through workshops, inductions, lectures and, of course, practice!

Posted 17 Mar 2020 13:26

Henry George B

Group trip to Hulme Community Garden Centre:

On Day 3 of Events we are heading down to Hulme Community Garden Centre (HCGC), where we will be shown the different gardening areas of the site, and the two recently-completed, micro-architecture live projects by the university of Sheffield.

The garden centre acts as a focal point for the community of Hulme, where local residents and gardeners come together to learn about the vast collection of plants, food production, horticulture and the environment. The centre promotes independent living, health and well-being, and sustainability to its customers and local schools, all while operating as a not-for-profit organization.

The centre is organised by a motivated and friendly group of people that regularly hold activities for the local people of Hulme to come together. It’s set to be a stimulating, thought-provoking day-trip to kickstart the design process.

If you would like to find out more about his amazing space, visit their website:
https://hulmegardencentre.org.uk/

Posted 17 Mar 2020 12:21

Philippa Jane H

ANNOUNCEMENT: GUEST SPEAKER

SAVE THE DATE:

WHO? Richard Brook
WHEN? 28.04.20
WHAT? New Towns Research Talk

We are delighted to confirm that Richard Brook will be joining us on the 28th April to talk to us regarding his expertise in new towns, his work on post-war Manchester and other exhibitions.

Richard Brook, Registered Architect, leads architecture research at Manchester School of Architecture. His personal research interests cover:
-British Modern Architecture
-Infrastructure
- Mapping
- Functionalism
- Utilitarianism
- Brutalism
-Industrial Architecture

…And many others! His links to both historical and contemporary research means he is well equipped in guiding us through what it means to be a “new town”. His expertise will be invaluable to all involved in the NEWTOPIA project - we will all be able to learn something to enhance our exhibition!

Prior to this post, we introduced one of our collaborators: THE MODERNIST. Richard himself has actually worked alongside the Modernist in the past to produce a series of archival photobooks. These books, housed in the Visual Resources Centre, document and display what the everyday has to reveal about the society across multiple towns.

To take a look at his series of photobooks you can contact:
Jeremy Parrett
Archivist, Manchester Metropolitan University Special Collections
j.parrett@mmu.ac.uk

For more information on Richard, and for a sneak peak at some of his past work, follow this link:
https://www.msa.ac.uk/staff/rbrook/

Or to take a look at his work alongside Martin Dodge into Post-war infrastructures of Manchester, follow this link:
https://personalpages.manchester.ac.uk/staff/m.dodge/Infra_MANC_catalogue.pdf

Posted 17 Mar 2020 10:08

Daniel S

In Britain About 2,627 homeless people died in England and Wales from 2013 to 2017. In this period, an estimated 41 deaths occurred in Blackburn with Darwen which is a rate of 7.7 deaths per 100,000 of the population.

Across England and Wales the average is 1.2 deaths per 100,000 people, but in 2017 the figure in Blackburn with Darwen rose to 10.2 deaths per 100,000. This was the highest figure recorded throughout England and Wales.

Data is provided by the 'ONS' (Office for National Statistics).

Posted 17 Mar 2020 09:33

Lorenzo LMZ

new week, new data!
from an overview of england to an accurate analysis of the north west.

9,038 people were estimated homeless in 2019,
with a shocking rise of 117% since 2016.

grater manchester counted 5,385 homeless in 2019!

manchester has been classified the 29th worst city in the whole country for homelessness, where 1 every 102 people is categorized as homeless.

5,385 people were estimated homeless only considering this area.

this shocking data is again provided by ‘shelter’.
https://england.shelter.org.uk/

Posted 17 Mar 2020 09:12

Lorenzo LMZ

it is time to be real!
england is facing a horrific homelessness crisis.

280,517 people were estimated homeless in 2019.
23,180 more considering estimated numbers in 2016.

in order to better understand these big numbers, we have to imagine a 1:200 ratio. 1 in every 200 people is homeless!

135,000 children were estimated to live in temporary accommodation in christmas 2019.

it is time to act! even something little, because everything counts.

this shocking data is provided by ‘shelter’.
https://england.shelter.org.uk/

Posted 17 Mar 2020 09:12

Sally Anne L

the supported housing facility that was created features individual dual level rooms with en-suite for 6 young people along with accessible staff and communal facilities, staff room and sleeping area, garden space with planting to the rear and a huge lounge with cosy fireplace and large bright kitchen space for everyone to enjoy with ample facilities like a laundry room and utility.
the building was an old under used parish rooms which pre-date St Silas church next door. The generous community from St Silas donated the building for re-purpose and to help out those in need. The building also sits in a conservation area and within proximity to the listed church. It was interesting to see that during the war the parish rooms was used to house refugees and in its later life the building is continuing to serve the community in housing those most in need of support through the work undertaken by nightsafe. The parish rooms were redesigned and repurposed for the DIYSOS team by conversation architect Jill Cowgill, architect Eleanor Wood and Sally Lofthouse who are all local to the area and hugely enjoyed working on the project and getting it planning permission and completed for this worthy cause

For more information about the project visit:
https://www.blackburn.anglican.org/news/278/the-story-of-the-bbc-diy-sos-children-in

Posted 17 Mar 2020 09:10

Hello! work with us and build something for Manchester Museum!
Tian (USE)
Alex (Advanced Practice)
Daniel (USE)
Veronica (InfraSpace)
Emily (Advanced Practice)
GeiGa (USE)

Posted 17 Mar 2020 00:18

Patrick Charles D

OUR FIRST MEETING

During our first visit to TASC we were taken on a tour of the site by Catherine, Dan, and Tam who highlighted the various aspects of the existing studio that were in need of intervention. As we became more familiar with the building and the immediate context, TASC explained to us what their particular intentions were for the project, before asking us if we had any initial ideas. We proceeded to discuss these in more detail from inside the studio, which resulted in a fast-paced and exciting exchange of creative thoughts.

We then collectively recalled all of the key points that were raised throughout the tour, and also made notes of the possible solutions in preparation for the production of a detailed design brief. Among a number of much-needed architectural solutions, it quickly became clear that achieving a high level of flexibility is considered a fundamental requirement for the project. This led to the discussion of integrating flexibility and adaptability into some of the internal interventions, such as furniture and workstations. Stay tuned for our next blog update, which will document the site analysis of the TASC studio!

Posted 17 Mar 2020 00:14

CASE STUDY #1 - SKELMERSDALE

The first of the four case studies to be designated was Skelmersdale in October 1961 to help alleviate the population struggles in North Merseyside. It is situated just eleven miles north-east of Liverpool, a masterplan for 4030 acres and a population of 80,000 residents was designed by architect Hugh Wilson which was dominated by residential land use which rejected the neighbourhood style blocks used in the earlier New Towns. The location of Skelmersdale was specifically chosen due to it possession of nearby train-stations, connections to the M6 and close proximity to Liverpool and further afield for economic expansion. The town included a swimming pool, cinema, sports hall, colleges and many more community based facilities. Additionally, the idea of the ‘high street’ during the 70s was dying and so the large Concourse shopping centre was built in 1971 surrounded by large spans of greenery. However, 20 years after its designation, the town was never completed to its original design and the population only peaked at 40,000. Still to this day the New Town is in dire need of some funding to revitalise its community.

This case study was undertaken by Joe Copley, Hayden Webster, Liam Costain and Lucy Woodward. Their document was titled : “A case study to assess the growth predictions of Skelmersdale and whether these affected its long term sustainability”

Posted 16 Mar 2020 22:38

Felicity P

WHICH PLANTS?

We are surrounded by trees, flowers and greenery and yet we don’t really take the time to think about the choices that went into selecting that exact tree for that particular location. One key thing that came up when we were initially discussing the project with our collaborator was the ability to grow plants for the use of dye, this could then be used for dye materials which could later be used within the textiles department.

We are going to look at a series of plants and what colours can be produced by them and if they have any other abilities, such as health benefits. The first in this series is the Sunflower, a beautiful yellow flower which is instantly recognisable. The sunflower is able to produce a lovely green dye colour and a blue colour can be achieved from its seeds. The sunflower will also grow well in the UK’s climate and being located in a roof garden will enable the plant to gain the most sunshine for its growth.

Posted 16 Mar 2020 22:12

Junfu X

PRECEDENTS

The mock-up room is going to become an exciting place for the public to interact with the new-built installation. During this process, the energy of the human body is converted into electricity.

Posted 16 Mar 2020 21:45

Tianyi W

SITE VISIT

We have organised a internal visit of Town Hall on 28th April to let our group members take a glance of the interior and the live site before designing. The tour is hosted by Purcell staff and it is a good chance to see how the constructional site is working during the closure of town hall.

Posted 16 Mar 2020 21:09

Yan C

EVERYTHING WILL HAPPENED HERE:

Manchester Townhall,
Albert Square,
Manchester
M2 5DB

Posted 16 Mar 2020 21:07

Yimeng Z

OUTPUT: CONCEPTUAL INSTALLATION

The main concept of our project is to create an interactive installation which could help to transfer the kinetic power generated from people‘s behavior into electricity for the utilization town hall. Human interaction can include touching, jumping, sounding and body heating, etc.

Posted 16 Mar 2020 19:47

Kaja Marta S

PROFESSIONAL SEMINAR

Dave Wakelin, who is a Sustainability Associate Director at Mace as well as Craig Dick, a Construction Manager at Lendlease have been working with Purcell Architects on the Town Hall renovation and will give our group a seminar to aid our design. This is a rare chance for our group to learn more about sustainability and construction directly from professionals!

For more information about our seminar collaborators follow the links:
Mace - https://www.macegroup.com/
Lendlease - https://www.lendlease.com/uk/

Posted 16 Mar 2020 19:14

Andrius O

MEET THE COLLABORATOR

The Architecture School for Children TASC (formerly known as 'Places') a community Interest Company working across Greater Manchester. Over the past 18 years, it has worked with children and communities with the aim of engaging them effectively in their built environments. It does this through 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.

TASC works in partnership with a number of organisations including One Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University, the University of Manchester, local schools and community based organisations.

Dan, Catherine and Tam are the collaborators from TASC who will be working with the team during EVENTS.

Visit TASC website for more information:
www.tascmanchester.com

Posted 16 Mar 2020 16:44

Andrius O

MEET THE TEAM

Introducing Group21 MSA team, we are a group of six MArch 1 students at the Manchester School of Architecture.

- Vickie Tang
Advanced Practice

- Andrius Ovsiukas
Continuity in Architecture

- Patrick Charles Davies
Advanced Practice

- Cheuk Ki Ma
Advanced Practice

- Natalie Man Sum Chan
Advanced Practice

- Ovidija Zemaityte
Advanced Practice

Posted 16 Mar 2020 16:37