My name is Izzy, and I am new to MSA. I grew up in Essex (and no I do not have a fake tan) and did my BA at the University of Kent. My interest is in using both novel & everyday materials such that anyone can build using them-whether it be earth or seaweed!

Fun Fact: Forget Banana bread, my lockdown guilty pleasure is vegan peanut cookies.

Hello my name is Kiran Farooq, I studied my undergraduate at Sheffeild Hallam University, I am in atelier CIA. My interest for architecture began at a young age as I would spend the majority of my childhood at construction sites playing with tools.

Fun fact: I once fell asleep at the gym in the studio room until a PT woke me up.

Hello! My name is Iman, I live between two countries, England and Qatar. I completed my BA at Manchester School of Architecture. My atelier is Advance practice. I enjoy sketching and Zumba (pre-quarantine).

Fun fact: my favourite tv show to watch is Friends. I have watched it over 5 times.

Hi, my name is Razaw Osman but you can call me Raz, I studied my undergraduate at Manchester School Of Architecture, my atelier is CIA and I did my year out at Gilling Dod Architects. My inspiration for architecture came from a road trip to Iraq (Kurdistan), as I was fascinated by the differences in buildings.

Fun fact: “But first let me take a Picture”

Meet Edward our collaborator, who is currently a senior lecturer at MSA working in the Landscape architecture department, he has lived in Barcelona and is fluent in Spanish. He started studying at MMU in 1994 working alongside a range of local practices for over a decade.

Meet Claire, one of our external partners. Claire is an active resident of the Chorlton area having established numerous networks, involving artists & residents, and is a key figure with initiatives such as ‘Our Chorlton’. She is a driver for creating positive social change, where putting words- and in this case ideas- into action is the main priority!

Participants will produce Collages, prints, InDesign and photoshop work which will be displayed on walking routes within Chorlton, this will be presented on pebbles, windmills and other objects. It is essential students communicate effectively with each other to decide which routes to choose and their choice of media. A creative mind will be needed as the art work will need to tell a short story, engaging users of the park.

Our project aims to promote active cycling and walking in Chorlton that provides everyone not only ease, safety, greenery accessibility, but also enhance social connections, health and creativity. The project will be part of the on-going sustainable changes already taking place within Chorlton.
For example, space for people to exercise, safe routes with clear signages for cycling, walking, green spaces with seats, community zones for creativity. Pieces of art work designed by students will be displayed around Chorlton. This project will potentially improve the image of Chorlton’s public areas toward a more sustainable community.

Hello, my name is Eyad, and I’m from Manchester.
I graduated with a BSc Hons Degree in Architecture from the University of Salford in 2018.
Currently, I’m an MArch student at MSA. I’m inspired by many architects including the likes of Normal Foster, Renzo Piano and Le Corbusier, just to name a few.

Fun Fact: entertained by discussions of philosophy!

Just one of the zoom meeting we have had with our collaborators...with the added input from some Chorlton community members! In the meeting we exchanged ideas and members shared their experience of living in Chorlton and shared some history.

Unlocking Chorlton’s Secrets….
We have just met with our external partners who introduced us to a few real-life Chorlton residents! We have heard a few stories ourselves, but it is now up to you to uncover the rest of Chorlton’s happy, mysterious and possibly haunted secrets…

Schedule for Day one
10:00 - Group Welcome
10:15 - Ice Breaker
11:45 - Guest Speakers and Getting to Know Chorlton
13:30 - Group Discussion
14:00 - Site Analysis
15:45 - Group Discussion of Site Analysis
16:30 - Debrief

Our first completed guest workshop!
We just met with a talented local team who produced an infographic map of Chorlton and its main features. The students had the opportunity to discuss with Anna Violet and Danielle Lowry.

Anna who originally trained and worked as a landscape architect for many years, is now a freelance illustrator, specialising in children's books, maps, logos and museum exhibits.

Danielle, who is the director of 'The Make It Shop' based In Chorlton was also an instrumental figure when coordinating the map production.

An exciting fresher’s discussion involving the students, collaborators and guests from the Chorlton community. The BA and MLA students were able to gain greater insight into the Chorlton neighborhood by discussing themes such as artistic social identity and their grassroot initiatives. The guests briefed the students about their campaign ‘Our Green Chorlton’ that promotes the community to look after it’s green space and make more use of them.

Today the BA and MLA Students continued to discover some intriguing landmarks around Chorlton, as a group they investigated the possible pathways that could encourage community collaborative as well as understanding of the surrounding neighbourhood.

Schedule for Day 2 is here !

10:00 - Briefing
10:15 - Presentation & Discussion
11:15 - Break
11:30 – Guest workshop and quiz game
13:00 - Lunch
14:00 - brainstorming/ Picking their route
16:30 - Debrief

Today we had the chance to meet the community of Chorlton-Cum-Hardy and had some insightful conversations with Historians and Authors about what it was like to grow up in the small town. Seeing how the different infrastructures built over time helped the community grow and influenced new generations to settle in the area was inspiring as it shows the power that Architecture has on regenerating historical places.
At the end we had a fun quiz game about Chorlton!

Schedule for Day 3 and Summer of the day is here !
10.00 - Group Catch Up
10:30 - Research Method Workshop
12:30 – Debrief

Team work! The MArch students today held a ‘group crit’ for the two teams on their produced work. Constructive criticism was vital and beneficial for the group to stay on track in order to meet our expected outputs for the final presentation. An open discuss was key, it allowed the team to stay comfortable with voicing their thoughts.

Making the theoretical fun!

This morning we discussed the meanings and differences between ‘SPACE’, ‘PLACE’ and ‘LANDSCAPE’. Even though there are no wrong answers, we concluded that a ‘place’ has a personal meaning, whereas ‘spaces’ and ‘landscapes’ are more ambiguous terms- detached from memory and without materiality.

The question now is, how can these discussions inform the graphical outputs?

Hi meet the BA1 , BA2 and the MLA students!

The schedule for Day 4 and Summary of the day is here!
10.00 - Group Catch Up
10:35 – Group Work Task
12:00 - Lunch
14:00 - Group Work Task
15:45 - Debrief

First rout mapping? Done and dusted!
The MArch students were grateful to see the two teams that consist of BA and MLA students having completed their first proposed ‘Walk & Ride’ route solution for the Chorlton community. Their route proposals were produced using graphical representations in preparation to sell their ideas to the community on Thursday the 20th!

The schedule for Day 5 and Summary of the day is here!
10.00 - Group Catch Up
10:35 – Group Work Task
12:00 - Lunch
14:00 – Presenting to the collaborators
15:45 - Debrief

Are we there yet?
Our teams have resumed routing again…! This time, the two teams are working on their second route proposals. Team one is working on the route ‘Sound Walk of Chorlton Waterpark & Its Urban Wildlife’, sounds intriguing right?! But, wait… what about team two’s ‘Cultural Walk’? What story does this tell us? If you’re on the same boat, then see you at the presentation day to find out more!! You’ll be delighted to meet our collaborators Edward and Claire.

Getting lost in Chorlton!
Luckily the sun stayed out when two of us voluntarily went on a site visit to see the routes in person. We tried to imagine our creative interventions, including umbrella-lined boulevards and birdwatching shelters, but were distracted by the amazing cafes! Other than the ice cream, our favourite spot was Chorlton Park (although the community gardens and leafy green streets were close runners up).

The schedule for Day 6 and Summary of the day is here!
10.00 - Group Catch Up
10:35 – Group Work Task
12:00 - Lunch
14:00 – Group Work Task
15:45 - Debrief

Just for fun!
Just in case you’re just as excited as we are for the final finished pieces of work. Here… have a sneak peek at our group’s drawings. I know right, they look quite sketchy!
#Presentation-sketches #MSALive #Walk&Ride

Strong efforts are rewarding.
The teams have now completed five different route proposals and are now all ready and set to present the work to the collaborators and guests that are from and beyond the Chorlton community. Don’t forget to tune in tomorrow afternoon at 1pm to join us, you’ll be pleased. Shhh don’t tell anyone, there will be a quiz too before the presentation!

The schedule for Day 7 and Summary of the day is here!
10.00 - Group Catch Up
10:35 – Group Work Task
12:00 - Lunch
14:00 – Group Work Task
15:45 - Debrief

We keep going. The team’s outputs for the presentation is now almost there with the students pushing stronger than ever. Nothing beats teamwork! Let’s take some time to see how the design progress has taken shape over the past days and still is. Well done to the team, today the design work is coming more and more together.

Schedule for Day 8 and Summary of the day is here!
10.00 - Group Catch Up
10:30 – Teaching Software’s
12:30 – Debrief
Today our group was able to break away a little from the project and do a fun group learning activity. The MArch students led the BA and MLA students about how to create interactive PDF's on Adobe Photoshop and InDsign. These skills have allowed our group to be more creative in the way we can represent the graphical visualisations for the route making.

Schedule for Day 9 is Here!
10.00 –Preparing Presentation Sheets
12:00 – Review the finial Publication
14:00 – Online Exhibition (including quiz game)

D-Day, Group Presentation!
Today we kick started our event with a short quiz on the history of Chorlton. Although some guests were from Chorlton, our quiz proved to be a little bit of a challenge. Then, the two teams of the group were able to present five eye catching proposals. With our teams pleasing work, we have been advised on taking the route ‘Sounds of Walk’ further by collaborate with relevant parties to give our proposal a chance of being implemented! Not to mention too, the proposed route ‘Cultural Walk’ was highly praised by the guests, seeing it as a potential of bringing social value.

Overview!
Over the past two week, this phenomenal group has been able to produce work at an astounding level. From the outset of our project, The MArch students were able to welcome the BA and MLA students on board and take them through the projects aims and outputs. Firstly, the group had to understanding the values of Chorlton, then diving straight into work and carrying out site analysis. The group then split into two team to begin mapping potential routes that can utilise Chorltons heritage and promote walking and cycling.

Route 1 Finial Proposal: Cultural Walk

Route 2 Finial Proposal: A Journey Through Time

Route 2 Finial Proposal Part 2: A Journey Through Time

Route 3 Finial Proposal: Cultural Walk

Route 4 Finial Proposal: Sound Walk of Chorlton Water Park

Route 5 Finial Proposal: Tasteful Walk

FEEDBACK FROM MLA's & BA's!

This project was quite enjoyable, not only the task itself, but the chemistry of the group and the interactions between members. The Master students created an interactive and engaging atmosphere whilst keeping it stress-free (most of the time). The best aspect of the project was being able to engage with a community and getting to know the people and history. Working as a team only amplified this engagement. After only a short time the group worked well together and created final pieces we were all happy with.