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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.