Group 42
CAN WE FIX IT?

Temporary site accommodation in the 21st Century is currently not fit for purpose. This project is all about reimagining the way construction site accommodation is provided. Working with This is Change founder, Rob Toon, we are reimagining the way construction projects are delivered at the moment. Thinking about the issues within the construction industry and what it must be like working in current site set ups, we will create a design proposal for a new modular system that will improve the way construction projects are delivered. During this project students will be offered insight into the construction industry as we peel back the curtain and talk to members of the industry as we endeavour to enhance site accommodation for the future.

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Henrietta Ffion W / Daniel C / Tejin P / Laura Jane A / Caitlin B / Hayley Louise S

Tejin P
MArch Atelier: USE
Part I Placement: 1yr 6months Hyphen Archi, London
BArch: Manchester School of Architecture (CIA)
Interests: Travel / Gym / Football / Pub
Skills: Autocad / Archicad / Sketchup / InDesign / Photoshop
About: During my placement I worked on a range of projects from retail fit out to data centres, seeing many projects through all stages of design across Europe and the UK, before returning to MSA for the MArch.
Posted 2 Mar 2021 12:46
Henrietta Ffion W
MArch Atelier: Praxxis
Part 1 Placement: 2yrs - SimpsonHaugh, Manchester
BA: Manchester School of Architecture (USE)
Interests: Running / Reading / Yoga
Skills: Revit / InDesign / Illustrator / Photoshop / Sketchup
About: Worked on residential, co-living and student residential projects in Manchester and London and have an understanding of the planning process in Manchester
Posted 2 Mar 2021 12:53
Laura Jane A
MArch Atelier: &rchitecture
Part I Placement: 2 yrs - Storah Architecture, Todmorden, West Yorkshire
BArch: Northumbria University, Newcastle
Interests: Rowing / Skiing / Gym / Creating Illustrations
Skills: Vectorworks / Twinmotion / InDesign / Photoshop
About: Worked on various residential and commercial projects within Yorkshire, a number of these being historic and/or listed buildings. Experience working on projects in all RIBA work stages including a vast amount of on-site experience. Developed and submitted numerous Planning and Building Regulation applications throughout the year.
Posted 2 Mar 2021 12:54
Daniel C
March Atelier: USE
Part 1 Placement: 1yr - Garnett Partners, London
BA: Manchester School of Architecture (CIA)
Interests: Photography / Film / Cultural Icons
Skills: 3DS Max / Revit / InDesign / Illustrator / Photoshop
About: Worked on various projects in Central London from retail in Covent Garden to offices in Chelsea Wharf. Living on multiple continents has exposed me to different cultures and styles of architecture.
Posted 2 Mar 2021 12:55
Caitlin B
MArch Atelier: &rchitecture
Part I Placement: 1 yr - The Harris Partnership, Wakefield
BArch: Sheffield Hallam University
Interests: Gym / Creating fitness content / Spiritual enlightenment books
Skills: Photoshop / InDesign / Procreate / Autocad / Sketchup
About: I worked on commercial and retail all over the country. I mainly worked on feasibility sketches, CAD plans and planning application drawing packages.
Posted 2 Mar 2021 12:55
Hayley Louise S
MArch Atelier: CIA
Part I Placement: 1yr - 5Plus, Manchester
BArch: Manchester School of Architecture (USE)
Interests: Cycling / Model-making / Exploring new places
Skills: Microstation / Autocad / Revit / Photoshop / Indesign / Illustrator /SketchUp
About: During my experience I worked on commercial and retail projects mainly in Northern England. I particularly enjoyed working on a new restaurant unit during RIBA stages 5-6, where I produced; Co-ordination drawings, interior visualisations and final setting out plans.
Posted 2 Mar 2021 13:02
Tejin P
COLLABORATOR:
Founded by Rob Toon, who will be working closely with us, we are working alongside “This is Change”, an event and social media movement that wants to challenge the perception of the construction industry. Rob has a passion for innovation and has a wealth of experience in the construction industry working on a variety of projects. From design management, to corporate strategy, change management, to innovation management and, more recently, digital construction, Rob has always been keen to explore different opportunities and champion change within the industry. Working with the belief that people make construction a great place to work, This is Change looks to celebrate the people that work in the industry whilst pushing for enhancements in social, mental and physical wellbeing in the workplace.

Find out more here:
http://thisischange.co.uk
Instagram: photos.by_this.is.change
Posted 2 Mar 2021 13:03
Tejin P
SKILLS:
This MSA Live project will pull back the curtain and offer insight on the construction industry. BA and MLA students will work alongside the MArch students in a collaborative effort to redesign construction site accommodation. Despite being online we are offering plenty of opportunities to get stuck in and to learn with hands on work. There will be technical software workshops which will be used to improve and expand on existing presentation and design skills. There will be opportunities for students to engage and communicate with construction professionals, gaining an insight into the work and conditions of on site work. Additionally, throughout the two weeks, the project will be actively supported by the project collaborator, Rob Toon from ‘This is Change’. The aim of the project is to develop an exciting design proposal supported by coherent research and visual outputs, created over the 2 week period, resulting in a scheme which will benefit students but also make a lasting difference within the construction industry. We appreciate that some tasks and the thought of communicating with construction professionals may seem daunting, however, as a group we have a wealth of experience in industry and will help guide you through your first steps into understanding and being a part of the wider construction industry!
Posted 2 Mar 2021 13:04
Tejin P
SOCIAL VALUE:
This project will provide a service to the wider construction industry through the development of a new design for on-site accommodation. The current standards of temporary on-site accommodation do not embody a professional working environment, despite this being the place of work for numerous professionals whilst a project is on site. The construction industry has not evolved and in comparison to other industries there is a significant difference in workplace environments. This project hopes to address the existing issues of on-site accommodation and create a scheme which the whole construction industry and wider community could benefit from. In creating a healthier and overall, more positive working environment this project will foster better relationships and attitudes within the community of the construction industry.
Posted 2 Mar 2021 14:23
Daniel C
A brief overview of what to expect over the coming week
More information coming soon!
The meeting link has already been sent to the whole team
Looking forward to meeting everyone tomorrow at 10 AM.
Posted 9 May 2021 16:32
Henrietta Ffion W
Day 01: Meet the Team.

MSA Live is finally here! This morning we met the students from BA1 and BA2 on Teams to introduce the project brief. The students discussed what they hoped to learn and achieve throughout the two week project - ranging from developing computer skills, how to apply for a graduate Part 1 role and learning about construction processes. We also discussed the MArch course and our experience as BA students at the MSA and beyond to offer advice about being a student of architecture. This project is a great opportunity for the undergraduate students to expand their networks across the school and develop skills which we hope will make their final years easier to navigate. The students are already developing diagrams to communicate their research findings, showing an understanding of the current limitations of site accommodation and what we can do to improve the well-being for construction workers - our key driver for the social value impact.
Posted 10 May 2021 16:29
Henrietta Ffion W
Day 02: Initial Ideas

Our BA students have begun sketching and diagramming their initial ideas for temporary site accommodation. The students brainstormed initial concepts reflecting on a day in the life of a construction worker, engineer and design manager. These users are expected to have different requirements for the site accommodation which will inform the design development. Spatial adjacency diagrams of the different programmes are beginning to reflect the daily routines of these users which will inform the final design proposal.
Posted 11 May 2021 12:43
Henrietta Ffion W
Day 02: Meet the Collaborator!

This afternoon our students had the opportunity to meet our collaborator, Rob Toon from This Is Change. It was a very constructive and productive session which enabled the students to understand the motive behind the project brief. Rob is very eager to challenge the current limitations of existing site accommodation and to change the perceptions of the industry with the aim of improving the welfare and well-being of construction workers. Through our Q&A session, our students learnt about these issues from Rob's personal industry experience, and his insider knowledge provided key insight of current working conditions. Through researching into current office standards, the students will develop current site accommodation in order to improve the work environments on site with the aim of improving the delivery of schemes.
Posted 11 May 2021 16:53
Tejin P
Day 03: Precedent Research

We have been researching the current working environment in non-construction industries. Looking at examples from across the world, such as Acciona Ombu offices by Foster&Partners and Paddington Works by Threefold Architects, the team has been able to analyse these spaces and create adjacency diagrams. It became abundantly clear that there is a disparity between the construction industry accommodation and almost all other industries. This led to discussions concerning which elements our scheme can bring across from other sectors to increase health and mental wellbeing as well as creating conducive working environments.
Posted 12 May 2021 12:25
Henrietta Ffion W
Day 04: RIBA Plan of Work 2020 Stage 2/3

Our students are making excellent progress developing their concepts which have been backed up by precedents and research. The students are becoming familiar with the RIBA Plan of Work as they progress their designs through the stages, developing their Stage 2 Concept Design into workable plans using the Spatial Coordination of Stage 3.

The Q & A with our collaborator Rob provided parameters for the students to consider in their design development. This is useful experience as the students are learning to design to a client's brief and considering the cost implications of material use and temporary site accommodation. We have discussed how the use of certain materials may impact how users feel within the space and are constantly questioning whether our designs could improve the well-being of site workers; an important consideration for our social value impact.

Developing dual-purpose spaces with temporary furniture creates usable space with the aiming of reducing the number of units needed, therefore improving the costs for the client.
Posted 13 May 2021 15:14
Henrietta Ffion W
Day 02: Regulations

To aid the design development of our proposal, the MArch students presented professional guidance and standards to the BA students. At this stage in their educational career, most of the BA1 and BA2 students are not familiar with Approved Documents, the RIBA Plan of Work or HSE guidance on the provision of welfare facilities. This project has offered an excellent opportunity to introduce these standards and allow the undergraduate students to become familiar with real-world design regulations, providing them with practical industry knowledge for their graduate Part 1 roles in the years to come.
Posted 13 May 2021 16:06
Henrietta Ffion W
Day 04: AutoCAD Workshop/ RIBA Stage 4

We are making excellent progress with our designs using the RIBA Plan of Work and considering the Technical Design aspects of Stage 4. Most of the BA students prefer to use hand drawing or modelmaking to communicate their schemes. The MArch students held some AutoCAD workshop sessions to introduce the BA students to the rudimentary computer skills used to draw up CAD designs. We hope our students will begin to take these skills forward as they move through their architectural careers and future Part 1 roles.
Posted 14 May 2021 17:08
Tejin P
Day 05: Design Development and AutoCAD

Further advancements have been made in the design of the site accommodation. We have designed kitchen/breakout spaces and flexible offices. The CAD session was another productive collaborative way of progressing the design from initial sketch ideation to refined plans that comply with the Approved Documents. We look forward to our meeting with an architect next week where we will go through our designs and ask questions about site and the architects role in the construction process.
Posted 17 May 2021 12:54
Henrietta Ffion W
Day 05: Week One round-up and Pub Quiz!

After a week of excellent work and effort from our BA students we thought we would end the week with a bit of fun and our pub quiz-master Laura held an online quiz! In an online Covid-19 world it can be difficult to meet new people, especially as a BA student who is new to the world of architecture school. The afternoon was a great way to wind down at the end of the week and a bit of friendly competition was a fun way to make the BA students feel at ease with the MArch students! On to the next action-packed week!
Posted 17 May 2021 15:10
Daniel C
A brief overview of what to expect over the following week.
Starting off with a meeting with the architect Mathew Benson.
Followed by more design developments.
Posted 17 May 2021 15:24
Daniel C
Name: Adriana Sokolova
Year Group: BA1
From: Bulgaria
Currently Located: Manchester
Interests: Drawing and Painting, Ecological Preservation, Travel and Film
Posted 17 May 2021 16:13
Daniel C
Name: Salik Khan
Year Group: BA1
From: Pakistan
Currently Located: Manchester
Interests: I am very much into football and travel; I have previously participated in tournaments at several countries.
Posted 17 May 2021 16:14
Daniel C
Name: Neila Cuvilliers
Year Group: BA1
From: France
Currently Located: Manchester
Interests: Drawing, Reading, Cooking/Baking and Swimming
Posted 17 May 2021 16:15
Daniel C
Name: Zeyuan Ren
Year: BA2
From: China
Currently Located: Manchester
Hobbies: Traveling, Gaming, Anime
Posted 17 May 2021 16:16
Daniel C
Name: Maria Catrinel Bosoi
Year Group: BA2
From: Romania
Currently Located: Romania
Interests: Drawing/ Reading/ Photography/ Animated movies
Posted 17 May 2021 16:17
Daniel C
Name: Mohammed Sesay
Year Group: BA2
From: Netherlands
Currently Located: Manchester
Interests: Football, Sports, Anime, Fashion etc.
Posted 17 May 2021 16:18
Daniel C
Name: Amalie Hesselhøj Bøttiger
Year Group: BA2
From: Denmark
Currently Located: Manchester
Interests: Hiking, Mountain Biking, Cooking, Yoga
Posted 17 May 2021 16:19
Daniel C
Name: Megan Chan
Year Group: BA1
From: Hong Kong
Currently Located: Hong Kong
Interests: Taking pictures on my film camera and cooking
Posted 18 May 2021 15:28
Daniel C
Name: Leonard Rus Gherghelas
Year Group: BA1
From: Spain
Currently Located: Manchester
Interests: Painting, martial arts, politics
Posted 18 May 2021 15:33
Laura Jane A
GUEST SPEAKER: Mathew Benson
We are pleased to be able to introduce the ‘Can We Fix It?’ Team to Mathew Benson, a qualified architect at Storah Architecture. Mathew began his architectural career in Scotland following his undergraduate degree from the Mackintosh School of Architecture at the Glasgow School of Art. Following this, he returned to Yorkshire, for his postgraduate degree at Leeds Becket University. Mathew has continued to gain a wealth of experience within the construction industry following his education, having worked in a multitude of architectural practices of varying sizes. During his practice experience, Mathew has worked on three Civic Trust Award winning projects and collected two Regional Building Control Awards. His work has also been published within the Architect’s Journal and one project was a finalist in the Grand Design Awards. We are looking forward to chatting with Mathew and gaining a professional insight to the construction industry.
Posted 18 May 2021 15:46
Henrietta Ffion W
Day 06: Guest Speaker!

We were very fortunate to have a mini crit of our designs with architect Mathew Benson from Storah Architecture. Mathew very kindly gave the BA students an insightful introduction to his career progression, providing understanding of the general career projection within the architectural industry. Mathew also explained current site accommodation conditions and the varying uses of different programmes, informing the students of the current limitations and lack of well being provisions; suggesting that even a kettle for a cup of tea was a luxury to most site accommodation. Moving forward, our students will consider how minor amendments can have a major impact to site accommodation provisions.
Posted 18 May 2021 16:17
Henrietta Ffion W
Day 07: SketchUp Workshop

The MArch students led a SketchUp workshop to introduce the BA students to the world of 3D modelling. After finalising the plans, drawing in 3D has allowed us to communicate our ideas in section and axonometric projection. This session was very beneficial to the students who were able to learn all the shortcuts to make 3D modelling a useful tool in the design process. Learning to drawing 3D CADs can speed up the design process and can provide speedy and efficient presentation of a scheme. We will use the final 3D designs to present our idea to our collaborator in our publication.
Posted 18 May 2021 17:08
Henrietta Ffion W
Day 08: Photoshop Session

After a brief photoshop workshop, we encouraged the BA students to take the 3D design produced in SketchUp and experiment with material choices and presentation style. This gave our BA students the opportunity to practice developing their photoshop skills and expanded their understanding of the tool options available on the software. Their outputs demonstrate their understanding of how material choices can impact the the use of a space. We aim to create site accommodation which encourages its users to respect the space provided by producing quality and cost effective solutions.
Posted 19 May 2021 11:48
Henrietta Ffion W
Day 09: Preparing General Arrangement Sections

The BA students have shown an understanding of the brief requirements based on their research of site and office accommodation. With input from external guests, they have learnt about the limitations of the current temporary site accommodation offer; discovering that limited budgets can often limit the provision of welfare facilities. Their final designs show rooms which have a duality of purpose with flexible furniture. We believe this to be an appropriate solution to the problem of insufficient temporary site accommodation which provides room for a reception, meetings, respite and storage within one boundary, therefore ensuring the units provide welfare facilities as a minimum requirement.

The students have been able to develop the photoshop skills by preparing the final GA drawings which is an important aspect of communicating the final proposal to the collaborator, and we hope the students will use these new skills as they move through architecture school.
Posted 20 May 2021 11:34
Henrietta Ffion W
Day 09: Photoshopped Sections

Developing our GA package, each student is photoshopping the interior of their own sections to experiment with the material choices and finishes of their proposals. Material choice is important as it can create spaces which users want to preserve and respect rather than promoting disrepair and damage. This will allow users to feel respected and aims to improve the welfare they experience during their working day. These sections are an excellent demonstration of the various uses that can be performed within one of our site accommodation units. The proposals are used by many different employees on a site, including contractors, architects and clients and are able to facilitate meetings, securely store PPE and provide an area for workers to rest.
Posted 20 May 2021 13:17
Henrietta Ffion W
Adriana Sokolova: BA 01


Our final design proposal is a multifunctional stackable unit. It has a built-in hidden kitchen that can be opened or closed off. Depending on that, the space can be used as a canteen, a presentable meeting/office space or even a wellbeing, leisure area. The furniture in the unit is flexible, provides storage and is built-in to allow faster instalment of the unit of site.


I took part in the research, brainstorming and then the design process. We came up with a final proposal and then individually put the finial finishes to it. My main idea, when choosing the colour palette and materials, was to create a warmer, clean interior atmosphere that the users would enjoy and thus keep the space clean. The walls and floor have a light plywood finish and the furniture is white. The exterior of the unit is colour coded to help for an easier orientation on site and to bring some colour into the design.
Posted 21 May 2021 12:02
Henrietta Ffion W
Amalie Hesselhøj Bøttiger: BA 02

The aim with this project is to make on-site accommodation more user-friendly and comfortable to be in.

The idea is to modify existing on-site containers into warm spaces, where the on-site workers will have the opportunity to rest and prepare refreshments in their breaks. Furthermore, the furniture is designed to be foldable which makes the spaces adaptable according to the need.

The materials are chosen in order to create a rustic aesthetic in keeping with that typical of a construction site.

Materials:

- Scaffolding planks as worktops + tables

- Insulated CLT Panel walls

- Corten Steel façade

- Vinyl flooring

Posted 21 May 2021 12:06
Henrietta Ffion W
Zeyuan Ren: BA 02

We proposed a multi-purpose site accommodation space, including a kitchenette and a transformable dining/meeting room.

The drawings show layouts of the meeting and dining area, which incorporate flexible/foldable furniture to help optimise the already small space.

I came up with an initial solution of flexible furniture and spaces to meet essential activities (meeting, training, accommodation, etc). I choose mainly warm colours with timber floor and furniture for the interior render and hope it can generate a cosy feeling for indoor spaces.
Posted 21 May 2021 12:08
Henrietta Ffion W
Leonard Rus: BA 01

Can we fix it? pushes forward a narrative about inclusion, equity and quality architecture with in the construction industry. By considering the needs for anyone that works on site, they explore ways to improve these spaces and propose better alternatives.

The design was intended to be easy to maintain, be flexible and clean. We aimed to create multi purpose spaces, in which furniture can move around or fold away, revealing a bigger space which can accommodate more people or can be used differently. All of this also aims to improve transportation costs.

I have chosen to use warmer tones, including wood, since the project was mainly based in the UK. One of these problems for me was coldness and the hostility of the environment, and by giving warmth visually to the accommodation, we can achieve a more inviting feeling from these on site elements.
Posted 21 May 2021 12:18
Henrietta Ffion W
Maria Catrinel Bosoi: BA 02

I really enjoyed MSA Live this year! The project opened my eyes about working in the industry and on construction sites. I learned some extremely useful tips and tricks about several software and got a taste of the workflow used in practice. The team worked really well together and I enjoyed the process of bringing the project to life with them.
Posted 21 May 2021 12:23
Henrietta Ffion W
Salik Khan: BA 01

The project is about providing a temporary site accommodation that is fit for the 21st century. We aim to enhance current construction site accommodation.

The drawings illustrate incorporating the kitchen, dining and meeting room with flexible furniture to utilise and create substantial space for multiple functions.

I worked on photoshop and used a selection of colours that would best enhance the design. My main priority was to use sustainable materials; hence I used wooden flooring and brick for the kitchen wall. The remaining walls are insulated panels. The exterior is a corrugated steel frame. These materials provide a homely feeling and concurrently keep the sentiment of a construction site.
Posted 21 May 2021 12:25
Henrietta Ffion W
Neila Cuvilliers: BA 01

The Can We Fix It project aimed to create a human centred design for a construction site accommodation. The space had economical constraints that often lead to sanitary issue or a lack of designated space. By creating offices, restrooms and common space meant to fit in a container, the accommodation became fit for the workers needs and economically suited for a short-lived building. The exploded axonometric illustrates how the office space and kitchen area fit within the container and can be stacked to optimise the space. By rendering the design in photoshop, I aimed to add wooden texture to add a warm feeling to an otherwise very functional space. The colour scheme has bright colours that will add life to the space.

Posted 21 May 2021 12:30
Henrietta Ffion W
Yin Hei Megan Chan: BA 01

The aim of the can we fix it project was to create and enhance an on site accommodation space, making it more user friendly for all. We looked carefully at the users and designed specifically according to their needs. The drawings shows our proposals and ideas, including how we should place all the furniture to maximise the limited spaces. The exploded axonometric drawings includes meeting rooms, dining, office and kitchen. We used shipping containers as a standard area of each space and made sure all the furniture can be folded/ moved around if needed. I have learnt a lot during these 2 weeks and it was fun seeing the project unfold. I took part in researching precedents and colouring the final renderings, using bring, energetic colours to liven the mood of the office, in order to create a more energetic atmosphere.
Posted 21 May 2021 12:56
Henrietta Ffion W
Day 10: Publication Presentation!

We presented our publication to the BA students to celebrate the work they've achieved over the past two weeks. They have shown great enthusiasm for the work and should be proud of what they have achieved!

Our BA students have demonstrated an understanding of working towards a brief on a very exciting live project and have had the opportunity to make real change within the construction industry. We will present our publication to our collaborator Rob Toon and we hope this can be the first step towards improving the welfare provisions within temporary site accommodation.

We would like to thank Rob for his insight into the industry and for presenting us with a brief where we could work together to create real change.
Posted 21 May 2021 13:12
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