Name: Osian Roberts

BA Course: I completed my undergraduate studies at Liverpool John Moores University.

Atelier: Flux

Interests: I have a keen interest in watching and playing rugby as well as coastal walking. Regarding architectural interests, I have a passion for conservation and reuse projects.

Skills: Sketching, Model Making, Revit, Auto CAD, Photoshop, Illustrator

First Site Visit!

On the 29th of January 2024, we met on-site with our collaborator Laura Green from the Stockport MDC.
Laura introduced the group to the town of Stockport and the Stockport 8 development, highlighting key sites and their cultural identity.
After the introductory talk, Laura took the group around Stockport to the three key sites in the Stockport 8 brief and we discussed potential uses for the three spaces which are:
The Arches: Transform the viaduct railway arches into a vibrant cultural hub. Each arch can house a different cultural expression, such as art galleries, small theatres, and music studios. The space between the arches can be utilized for open-air performances.
Office Block: Convert the two-story office block into a co-working and innovation centre. The upper floors can house collaborative workspaces for startups and entrepreneurs, fostering creativity and innovation. The ground floor can be transformed into a technology showcase and interactive exhibition space. This mixed-use concept will attract professionals, tech enthusiasts, and businesses looking for collaborative opportunities.

Warehouse (Formerly Garage Door): Reimagine the warehouse as an indoor marketplace and food hall. The interior can host a mix of local stalls of independent businesses, showcasing handmade crafts, unique goods, and locally produced food items. The outdoor space can be transformed into a vibrant community garden and seating area, creating a welcoming atmosphere for visitors. This project will celebrate the creativity of Stockport's local community.

Second Site Visit

On the 6th of March 2024, Peter and Osian from the group traveled to Stockport for the second time.
They met with the collaborators at the Stockport MDC office to discuss the progress so far and potential outputs for the project. The priority of the meeting was to discuss the project name “ELEV8 STOCKPORT” and to get feedback on the proposed site uses.
The final output of the project was also discussed and visuals with a physical model were chosen.

DAY 08 - WAREHOUSE

Today the warehouse group finished the physical model in preparation for the presentation to the partners at the Stockport MDC on Thursday.

The model shows the spatial arrangement proposed for the meanwhile use of the Garage Door Warehouse. The ground floor has been inspired by the nearby nursery, and acts as a family space. The first floor serves as a space for local creatives to have a space that will enable them to express themselves. They have been designed to be malleable allowing the form to follow the function.

DAY 09 - PART 1

Presentation Day!

This morning the group prepared for the meeting at the Stockport MDC office in the afternoon. Not much was left to do only final touches on the physical model and presentation as the group had worked well throughout the week. Thus, preparation was the focus of the morning. Planning and rehearsing the presentation.

Day 09 - Part 2

After the preparation of the morning the group traveled to Stockport. We set up to present.

The presentation went well, we talked our collaborators through the work we had done in the action weeks. We highlighted our overarching themes within the Elev8 Stockport project and went into further detail on each of the sites. The work was well received and led to a productive conversation about our project individually and about what the MDC has planned for Stockport in the future.

Day 09 - Part 3

We'd like to take the opportunity in this post to thank everyone that has helped our core team throughout this project. So, thank you to our tutors, the BA students who joined us in the action weeks, and a special thank you to our collaborators at the Stockport MDC. Laura and Leighanna have truly engaged with the opportunity of the project and the concepts of MSA Live. They've offered assistance and guidance throughout the duration of the project leading to an enriched output.