Hey everyone! My name is Millie, I'm 23 years old.
I'm from Northampton and studied my undergraduate in Architecture at Nottingham Trent University. I'm now living in Manchester and this year I am in the PRAXXIS atelier!

If I wasn't studying architecture I would love to have a full time job in illustration!

Initial Brainstorming Session!

Today we all used Miro to gather some initial images and precedents of fun inspiring spaces.

As a team we will be designing a series of pods for children and communities to engage with and use as hubs of creativity!

We started by thinking big and colourful, thinking of spaces which children would love to interact with.

Miro has been a really useful tool to allow us all to share our ideas and collaborate as a team even though we can’t physically be together.

The team has got some really great ideas so far and we can’t wait to put these into practice and see how the designs develop over the coming weeks!

Precedent Analysis Time!

As a group we looked at existing precedents and discussed what was and wasn't successful about each. We looked at materiality, colour, texture, structure and much more to see how they could be incorporated into our pods.

We then had a really fun exercise cutting up the precedents and using our favourite parts to form concept images of our own pods!

We sketched, collaged, modelled and annotated different work and came up with amazing 3 concepts which we cannot wait to develop!

Stay tuned and see how our first workshop tutorial goes, turning these ideas into fun abstract collages!

The serious stuff…

This morning we did some research on designing successful playscapes, cognitive tasks, health & safety standards, regulations etc. to get us ready for designing our pods!

Everyone took a section to research and then shared the knowledge with the group so we were able to learn from one another and discuss how this would impact our project.

The team found it really interesting and useful in creating some constraints for our designs moving forward. It’s really important that we are designing fun, playful learning environments for the children that are also safe and reduce the risk of anyone getting hurt whilst using the pods.

Following our research we will be applying the knowledge we’ve learnt into our developing designs… watch this space!

Sketch Model Workshop

Today our team member Jordon gave a fab sketch modelling workshop! Using items found lying round the house he showed how to make quick sketchy models as a design development tool. The aim was not to think about it too much, just have fun and be creative.. sketch models do not have to be perfect!

The workshop set up the rest of the team for an afternoon of creating their own sketch models which we will be using to analyse and create more detailed designs.

The three pods!

The final outcome of our project will be the design of three pods which encourage creativity, learning and play for children and the wider community. Each pod is to be used for a specific activity, but we also want to ensure connections between the pods to encourage overlap between the spaces and increase interactivity between the users.

Today we thought about the process of activities within each pod to enable us to create a programme of spaces needed within the pod. We then drew comparisons between each programme to see where there might be possible intersections. We will then use these spaces to begin testing different layouts for each pod and the overall masterplan.

The Canvas Pod

The canvas pod is all about making art – drawing, painting, sticking, you name it. We want the pod itself to be the canvas, to create a hub of imagination. Using varied surfaces and textures, the walls, floors and ceilings of the pod will display a variety of artwork which can be painted on, pinned up, moved around and adapted as the artists see fit.

The Sensory Pod

This pod aims to create sensory experiences through the use of different textures and materials. It will explore possibilities of making sound through different surfaces, creating atmosphere through apertures and lighting and even thinking about smell through the community growing their own plants and flowers on the pods. We want the users to reflect on the senses they discover in this pod and how they affect our everyday built environment.

The Model Making Pod

This pod will be a space where model making can be carried out, providing a variety of materials for children to create structures and sculptures. We have been thinking about the dual functionality of furniture in this pod – a table for a 5-year-old might be a chair for a 9-year-old which might be a step for an adult. The pod will also include adaptable elements to the pod itself, to enable people to recreate the form and structure, model making on a larger scale.

Design development of the three pods!

At the end of last week we started to finalise the designs of each pod and these are the initial sketches that the team produced. We love the variety of the designs and the different materials and textures each group have been testing out.

We have been thinking a lot about modular, 'flat pack' and adaptable structures that could be easily taken apart and reassembled in different locations for the use of different schools and communities.

The next step is to take these sketches into AutoCAD so we can figure out more specific dimensions and develop the designs further before 3D modelling in Sketchup.

Sketchup Tutorial!

Following on from the skills we practiced in AutoCAD, today we had a SketchUp workshop by our MA student, Millie.

The session involved importing our drawings we have produced in AutoCAD into sketchup, so we can model the pods in 3D. SketchUp can also be a great tool to continue the development of the designs as it becomes easier to visualise the the design!

We can't wait to see each pod start to take form...

Design Tutorial: Canvas Pod!

Take a look at a snap shot from our tutorial with the team who is working on the Canvas Pod!

Each team has been placed into different breakout rooms (online) to work in. The Master students have been popping in and out of these rooms, providing support and any help required.

Tune in tomorrow to see our final outcomes!

Design Tutorial: Sensory Pod!

Take a look at a snap shot from our tutorial with the team who is working on the Sensory pod!

Each team has been placed into different breakout rooms (online) to work in. The Master students have been popping in and out of these rooms, providing support and any help required.

Tune in tomorrow to see our final outcomes!

Pods Unite!

As well as each amazing pod functioning separately we wanted the option for them to come together. This enables the children to engage in different activities and encourages interaction between different ages, skills and personalities. We want to create a space where children and communities can come together, to share ideas and imagination, creating endless opportunities for design and play!