Meet the Team - Coordinators

We are a team of 5th year MArch students working together on the project of Incredible SHEDucation.

Joshua (CPU & AI)
Jerry (Infra Space)
Ashley (CiA)
Katie (Infra Space)
Karl (Infra Space)
Brent (Infra Space)

Meet the Collaborators - Incredible Education

Incredible Education is a community interest company (CIC) that specialises in supporting local communities by promoting healthier mental and physical wellbeing. They provide nature-based services including horticulture and forest school activities to a wide variety of clients across Salford.

Ian – Director and Lead of Horticulture

Judith – Early Years Consultant and Trainer, Leader of Forest School

https://www.incredibleeducation.co.uk/

Site Visit - 25 February 2020

‘A secret garden behind the busy highway’

The site for the Incredible Shed is located in Eccles which is part of the overall master plan of Project X, Cleavley Sustainability Hub. It is previously the old Cleavley Plant Nursery in Winton, adjacent to the Worsely Brook and Cleavley Athletics Track.

Incredible Education currently has an early-stage master plan that includes zoning of a forest school, small businesses incubator and community well-being garden. To kick start the master plan, the shed we will be working for this events project is a core element that contributes to the sustainability of community garden and overall plan.

The shipping container has arrived!

Great insight into how the shipping container was carried on site by a hiab-type crane lorry. It is covered in a lovely mustard yellow colour and we are looking forward to working on it!

Design Development

First initial sketches after our meeting on site with the Client, Ian wanted a covered storage area for tools that he will use on the site. We will be using a shipping container and have considered the best location to allow people to move and circulate around the site.

It was important to disguise the shipping container on site, so it did not feel out of place by cladding it with planters and to create covered social spaces for the users to gather and rest.

Site Animation

Skills

The aim and final output of the Incredible Shed include,

Painting: the exterior of the container and flooring of the gathering space

Construction: tables, chairs, planters and fences

Assembling: the overall gathering space of around the container


Decorating, constructing and crafting skills will be developed throughout the project. Students will form teams for each task. They will be working together to achieve the output, which would strengthen their critical thinking and team working skills. Students would also be able to gain experience of working on a live site, engaging with the client and community regardless the teams they are in.

Social Value - Incredible Education Vision

What and why we’re doing?

We are working with Incredible Education to create a social space on site which will be the first phase of development for the masterplan on the site.

The space will become a gathering spot for the forest school and garden workers to rest and share experiences. The project will promote community ownership to establish its presence in the local area.

We will be designing and building a space to gather and store tools on site which will blend well in the landscape.

Site Survey

Let's have a closer look to the container!

We took some measurements for the container and potential gathering space. We also presented our ideas to the collaborators, Ian and Judith, after the container was placed in the desired position.

We are now ready to further develop our ideas and feedback from Ian and Judith with a better understanding on the size and space around the shed!

Blossoms on Site

Welcome to the forest school!

Have you ever seen or taste a Salmonberry?

There are a few pink blossoms of Salmonberry near the container, can’t wait to see the berries in summer!

Location of the Container

Since the site is situated within the direct visual axis when entering the site, the placement of the container is crucial to consider.
The two options proposed are, placing the container on the edge of the concrete pad, or placing the container in the centre, different container placement forms different visual impact when entering the site, also results in different furniture placement in the breakout area.

Paint Design

The existing concrete pad will be cleaned & painted in a bespoke design pattern that both blends in the surrounding setting and elevates the design implementation. The colour scheme of the design is inspired by the colours found within the site premises, consists of mainly earthly green and brown tones with bright colours from the flowers

First Steps on Site

Seeing the project come together, the best part of doing a live project!

The shipping container has been delivered on site! The used shipping container was procured by the Client and we will be reusing it to form the area for the tool shed.

Reusing the shipping container and making use of existing materials not only allows us to reduce our impact on the environment and give the shipping container new life and further use but also reduces costs compared to constructing a new structure.

Seeing the shipping container being delivered on site in person sparked our enthusiasm even further, its truly a different experience seeing the container in real life compared to drawings in the studio; the greatness of a live-build project.

Community Involvement

Guess who’s drawing is that?

In our design, we took inspiration from Phoebe’s initial drawing which corresponds to nature-themed characters of the forest school.

Phoebe is a student from the Canterbury Centre, a public health referral unit which provides opportunities for young people and their families to learn.

We believe that the students in the forest school contributing to our design on the shed could facilitate our engagement with the local community.

Refined Design Option 1

After the first round of design discussion with the client, two design proposals are presented here as one expensive option which involves paving and wooden cladding with planters on the container.

The other one is a cheaper option which replaces the paving and cladding with painting designs.

Refined Design Option 2

We are trying to visualise Phoebe’s drawing on the pavement and container, in order to incorporate her design to our further development on the shed.

We believe that the students in the forest school contributing to our design on the shed would facilitate our engagement in the local community.

Schedule of the Events Week

Throughout the two weeks we will be working on a live project Constructing and Designing the tools shed and gathering space.

We will jump straight into construction early during the week after short introduction by our Client and inductions at the workshop and be split into 3 different teams depending on what the student’s preference is; there is something for everyone.

On Site –We will be painting and decorating the concrete base and shipping container on site and begin to paint on designs based from Phoebe’s drawings. Painting the mural, adapted from our local student’s illustration put artistic abilities to good use and include priming, setting out and decorating.

Construction - We will be working in the workshops at the University to Cut and Construct prefabricated elements that we will bring on site. Working efficiently and smartly together as a team to ensure that all pieces on the cutting list are cut properly and delivered on time.

Assembly – We will be transporting the prefabricated pieces on site and being assembling them together. This method will reduce the time required on site, so we are not as affected by weather conditions.

We will end with a celebration and opening of the site for the last day to the local community for them to enjoy the space we have created and learn more about the project, enhancing community involvement.

Vision Animation 1

A video clip showing an overview of the shipping container design in context.

Vision Animation 2

A video clip showing the planter fence design in detail.

Vision Animation 3

A video clip showing the seating and gathering space in detail.

Bench

Constructed using 50x100mm larch pieces, making assembly easier and quicker. The repetitive elements contribute to its aesthetics. Wood pieces will be fixed using screws and finished to reduce weathering.

Fence System

Constructed using larch pieces including 20x50mm and 50x100mm sizes. One fence is constructed using 2 separate components due to length restrictions of the larch pieces. These repetitive elements contribute to its aesthetics. Wood pieces will be fixed using screws and finished to reduce weathering.

Fence End Piece Feature

Constructed using 50x100mm larch pieces and plywood sheets. The piece includes an extruded element that will be a place for Incredible Educations logo. Wood pieces will be fixed using screws and finished to reduce weathering.

Large Planter

Constructed using 20x200mm larch pieces. Each large planter is the same, making assembly easier and quicker. The repetitive elements contribute to its aesthetics. Wood pieces will be fixed using screws and metal brackets. They will be finished to reduce weathering and contribute to overall aesthetics.

Small Planter

Constructed using 20x200mm larch pieces. Each small planter is the same, making assembly easier and quicker. The repetitive elements contribute to its aesthetics. Wood pieces will be fixed using screws and metal brackets. They will be finished to reduce weathering and contribute to overall aesthetics.

The construction elements have been broken down into 5 components. These components have been further dissected to calculate costings and construction assembly.

The components include:

Bench

Fence System

Fence End Piece Feature

Small Planter

Large Planter

The fence and planters are designed as modular systems to provide ease of assembly, reducing time and complications. These pieces will be cut and assembled individually on campus by a team of students, then transported to site where they will be fastened to one another.

Construction Sequence

Let's get started!

The elements will be ready for assembling once they are cut in the right size. Looking forward to the construction on site with the team!