MSA Live 23

ECO-EXPO signing out!

Posted 19 May 2023 19:41

Lauren Lok-Men N

Day 9 the build team finished their shed! and dismantled it to be flat packed and moved to site. All four walls got cladded up and we built a door for the shed today. After this got assembled we invited the booklet team to come see what we built before dismantling it for the flat pack, and we got to see the mycelium booklet they were working on. It was a nice wrap up of MSA live to see how everything came together and how the build and research are related.

Posted 19 May 2023 19:25

Mary D

Day 8: Research/ Mushroom team
Nearly done! The team spent the day finalizing the visualizations for the research we have completed, and compiling the Mycelium specification document for The Boiler House. It’s been great sharing different skills and knowledge surrounding graphic design and the various software that we’ve been using these past two weeks- we’ve all learnt something from each other, and we all know so much about Mushrooms too!!

Posted 19 May 2023 19:22

Group 18 / [UN]LISTED

Christopher B

Day 9: Team A

On our final day of MSA live we looked to begin assembly of the model, on the previous day we had cut pieced for the concealed structure to shape. All internal and external walls were cut and painted, as were all window frames. The pivotal roof trussed and been cut, varnished and glued. Unfortunately construction of the model took longer than expected and we were unable to finish assembly before the B.15 workshop closed. Therefore final construction and assembly will be carried out early next week. This was in part due to only one laser cutter being operation in B.15. We had allowed a buffer period with the client coming to view the model on Friday the 26th of June. The client will come to Humanities Bridgford Street building to view the model and take a tour of the model making facilities, this was offered as Harry Spooner (trustee of Birch Community center) underwent a year of teaching in Architecture in the Bridgford Street building. The client also kindly agreed to loan us the model so the BA’s could exhibit it. This is a great opportunity for model team A to showcase their extensive hard work and commitment undergone during MSA project, alongside providing publicity for the architectural merit of Birch Community centre.

Posted 19 May 2023 19:09

Group 04 / REWORKING WITHINGTON BATHS

Esha Emmanuel SJ

MASSIVE THANK YOU!
A huge appreciation for all involved in this project . We would love to thank Carbon Co-op for their commitment and cooperation in providing us with 5 case studies retrofit "champions", namely, Julian Tomlin, Dominic McCann, Lloyd Hamilton, Alan Mould & Phoebe Spence. We appreciate their hospitality in accommodating us during our interview sessions. Last but not least, we would love to thank the BAs for their hard work and commitment in completing this project! See you around next year!

Posted 19 May 2023 19:03

Margaret H

Goodbye to the Team!
After two weeks MSA Live has unfortunately come to an end. We're immensely proud of the final outputs and the teamwork involved to produce them. From teaching one another valuable skills and the atmosphere of collaboration, it has been a pleasure to work with everyone.
We would like to thank the whole Withington baths team for introducing us to this wonderful building, we've enjoyed every minute working on it.

Posted 19 May 2023 18:56

Esha Emmanuel SJ

PRESENTATION DAY!
Each of the case study group presented their findings and reflections to the Carbon Co-op members. The feedback was very positive since we were able to acquire some interesting insights into retrofit that weren't previously documented or reported.

Posted 19 May 2023 18:55

Throwback Week 2

#EmpoweringEllesmere #Gr8

Some of our team members presenting their works and ideas to the collaborator and guess what, they like the ideas of our proposal! Yeaayy :) that's the end of our 2weeks of MSA Live.

Posted 19 May 2023 18:54

Esha Emmanuel SJ

We had the pleasure of having Carbon Co-op & People Powered Retrofit introduce 4 of their staff members present for the final output presentation. Jonathan (bottom left) can be seen giving an intro on Retrofit and had each of their staff members, Harriet (Top left) , Mark (top right) and Matt (bottom right) a chance to introduce the roles & insight in retrofit.

Posted 19 May 2023 18:52

Throwback Week 2

#EmpoweringEllesmere #Gr8

Discussing and Finalising the design development and also outcomes for our Publication during the second week as we are close to the final presentation.

Posted 19 May 2023 18:52

Throwback Week 1

#EmpoweringEllesmere #Gr8

Site Visit to Ellesmere Yard has been one of the best things happened during the first week of action week! We all had a great time there.

Posted 19 May 2023 18:49

Throwback Week 1

#EmpoweringEllesmere #Gr8

Let's do some throwback of what we have done during these two weeks cause MSA Live has finally comes to the end. Here Weee gooo!!

Posted 19 May 2023 18:47

Group Picture

#EmpoweringEllesmere #Gr8

It's picture timee! A collage of our group pictures through out the action weeks.

Posted 19 May 2023 18:43

Binyang Z

Day 8: BUILD TEAM

Today is the 4th day of the construction of the eco-shed. On the one hand, the original plan was to finish the eco-shed construction today, but installing the cladding boards was more difficult than we had thought. Due to the need for drainage, the joints of the cladding boards on each floor have to be staggered to increase the water resistance of the shed walls. This made the installation more difficult as each layer of the board was of a different module and had to be measured individually before the boards could be cut and installed. On the other hand, the roofing was completed in a step-by-step manner. However, as the shed is not built on site, there is still the need to flat pack and transport the roof, and the roof cannot be assembled in place at present. Likewise, the membrane for the roof has been cut but needs to be installed inside the roof, which will need to be done once the roof is assembled. This means that we will not be able to witness the moment when the eco-shed is fully assembled, which is a great pity.

Today's work was split into two groups, creating a healthy sense of competition. Despite the slight exhaustion, the teamwork became more efficient. Moreover, the work became less tedious, and every member of the team was so engaged that the class seemed to fly by.

Posted 19 May 2023 18:42

Group 04 / REWORKING WITHINGTON BATHS

Final Day

#EmpoweringEllesmere #Gr8

The final day is heree where we are presenting our proposal for Empowering Ellesmere to our Collaborator and also having Potluck with team members. Yeayy!

Posted 19 May 2023 18:41

Margaret H

Final day!
After presenting our final designs to the client, we made the last few alterations to the designs to produce polished final images. Going back over all the outputs made us realise how much we've achieved in the past two weeks!

Posted 19 May 2023 18:31

A happy democratic process has come to a close. Got a bit heated on the topic of word count (Faizal) but we all came to a uniform resolution.

Posted 19 May 2023 18:27

Having completed our first drafts for our case study articles, we engaged in a democratic editing session, chaired by our esteemed peer Joseph and peer reviewed by independent reviewer from a neighbouring group Sanjidah. Edits pertained to layout and aesthetic changes, as well as some edits to the text before a final internal peer review.

Posted 19 May 2023 18:26

Through defining the elements of change for Castlefield, we feel we have changed the project from "What is Castlefield?" to "This is Castlefield".

Posted 19 May 2023 18:19

After making our case study presentations on the first day back this week, we worked through the information gathered the next few days to create articles to present to Carbon Co-op. The articles were drafted as a group and themes from the interviews were delegated to each team member. Through our writing process we could solidify the lessons learnt from our visits on sustainable design and retrofits.

Posted 19 May 2023 18:18

We created a template for QR codes which incorporates the new Castlefield Forum logo, for the client to be able to use this accordingly for the historical context of different parts of the site. The QR code attached, goes to the Castlefield Forum website.

Posted 19 May 2023 18:14

Part of our case study visits and outputs was the collection of photos that illustrated the variance in retrofit approaches as well as our participants articulating the changes on site. In order to get the best out of these images, carrying on from a prior session on how to take good architectural photos, Brian delivered an extremely well recieved presentation on editing architectural photos and images on Photoshop. Safe to say we all learnt something new in this one.

Posted 19 May 2023 18:10

The planters were also done in a modular design, with an inset base, so that they could be stackable. The idea behind doing a modular design was to be able to change their size and arrangement so that they could be adaptable to the site.

Posted 19 May 2023 18:09

We designed two options for street lights. The first option was an updated version of the current street lights in the area, with new paint work, light fitting and a banner logo. The second option, was a completely new design which was inspired by the archways of the Roman Fort, and the viaduct. This incorporated a sleek light fitting, and a smaller logo.

Posted 19 May 2023 18:04

We designed modular benches to allow flexibility in their placement and size. We have demonstrated variations of how the modular seating can be layed out.

Posted 19 May 2023 17:58

Group 33 / WOODLEY REVIVAL

These are the final two options for the bus stops, which we presented to the client asking them to decide which option would suit them the best. Both options were quite similar, but in the end, the client chose option 1.

Posted 19 May 2023 17:50

Faezeh T

On the final day, our objective was to finalize all the necessary documents and prepare the portfolio for submission. We aimed to ensure that all the hard work and efforts put into the workshop were effectively documented and presented. we focused on assembling the portfolio, which would showcase the key highlights and achievements of the workshop.

Posted 19 May 2023 17:50

Early on in the design process, we defined a color palette and font, that were provided by the client, which we used throughout the project. As seen in the image, logos and signage were also designed to help distinguish Castlefield's identity.

Posted 19 May 2023 17:47

Group 26 / THE WELLNESS GARDEN

Day 9: Final Outputs: External Vignettes. The overall massing, layout, and intended materiality are displayed here, with a focus on the visibility of the retained church frontage, limiting overshadowing/overlooking, welcoming visitors into the site, and providing inviting external social spaces for the student residents.

Posted 19 May 2023 17:39

Ziyi S

DAY 9: THE EXHIBITION DAY

Today is the last day , we prepared several snacks and drinks for the conversation between us and the community. We also displayed the model and posters, presented our proposals to local residents, and receiving feedbacks from their personal experiences within the area and the vision for the future in the gardens.

Posted 19 May 2023 17:39

Day 9: Final Outputs: Internal Vignettes. Performance Space – Café – Atrium – Multifunctional Hall – Gym – Studio – Recording Studio – Classrooms – Internal Street. These highlight the atmosphere, materiality, and connections between the spaces.

Posted 19 May 2023 17:38

Day 9: Final Outputs: Site Strategy. This strategy encompasses the existing church with extensions to the South and West, and two new buildings that extend towards to street, providing active frontage to the site. These are all connected by an atrium/internal street, giving the spaces individual separation/privacy, but ensuring ease of access between them.

Posted 19 May 2023 17:38

Group 33 / WOODLEY REVIVAL

Day 9: As our two action weeks come to a close, we are making final adjustments to our final outputs, both to send as a package to Kingdom Life for them to use as inspirational material for further conversations with the council and potential sponsors, and for our publication document.

Posted 19 May 2023 17:37

Faezeh T

The day 8th began with a thorough review of the design concepts that were finalized on Day 7. Overall, Day 8 was a continuation of our focused efforts from Day 7, enabling us to build upon the progress made in the design phase. By refining and iterating our concepts, we were able to achieve greater clarity and precision, bringing us closer to a well-defined and compelling design solution.

Posted 19 May 2023 17:34

Based on the site visit, we did a sketching workshop for the BA1's and BA2's, to design preliminary sketches of furniture for Castlefield. We defined that they should look for precedents to aid their design of street lights, benches, planters, and bus stops.

Posted 19 May 2023 17:34

Thank you to all who came and were involved - especially and invaluably Claire, Grace and Rebecca who opened up this opportunity and precious insight to work with the art scene of St Helen’s.

“This project helped me experience working on a team project and through group discussions I was able to communicate and develop ideas alongside others.” - Finbar

“I’ve learnt how to develop ideas collaboratively, in that we all created a balance between different concepts. I can appreciate the communication needed between the client and the designers, since we referenced their needs throughout the whole process to make sure we responded effectively.” - Letitia

“This project has helped me understand the importance of understanding what your client wants, also understanding their limitation and aspiration for that project will aid in developing ideas and sketches.” - Kiki

Our round-up at the pub celebrated the end of our rewarding MSA Live Project and blog posts, but the beginning of future collaborations with the artists involved and friendships made throughout our different year groups (dream team!) - who we hope we’ll see in studio, around Manchester, and wherever we all end up.

Posted 19 May 2023 17:32

Holly W

Day 7:

On day 7 the research team were cracking on with research on mycelium insulation, its life cycle and its uses compared to the unsustainable alternative PIR.
There was a lot of collective research into the production sequence and the thermal properties of the relevant insulation via wordy journal articles.
It was also an opportunity to share around software knowledge and graphic design ideas as each member had their own pages to contribute.
It may be more of the same the next day but at least snacks can help with motivation.

Posted 19 May 2023 17:32

“St Helens is tired…and desperately needs art.”

“The city council shouldn’t take down the market and build another one, which is such an waste, we could have used existing place, refine it and make it better.”

“It’s clear to see that the artists of St Helens are underrepresented and need this space. The city council should make more of an effort to listen to their needs and should aim to encourage more young artists in the area.”

“They like the intention to pay homage to the culture of the site while creating a new, more modern concept, since the development in town is not so sensitive.”

“I feel like the artist scene in St Helens needs a lot more development and care due to the lack of representation in that area. The lack of space is also a very crucial aspect because it doesn’t enable enough space to carry more artists even if they were.”

These were some of the thoughts we gathered from picking the brains of those who had opinions to share about the future of the space.

Posted 19 May 2023 17:28

Reside* Artist Workshop Space

Throughout the day, as the students manned the stands in shifts to attend to curious members of the public, we also had the opportunity to mingle with local resident/collective artists. The workspace set up by Claire consisted of a simple tables, stools, a homely rug, and freshly made refreshments; where we all gathered to listen to artists working on their exhibition preparations, learned about the behind-the-scenes of the art world through newfound critical lenses, and participated in an ad-hoc mirror-drawing illustrative session instigated by Grace.

Posted 19 May 2023 17:28

Collages were created to express the atmosphere of the area. These were created by the BA1 and BA2 students in order for them to develop a deeper connection and understanding of Castlefield.

Posted 19 May 2023 17:27

Proposal 4: Studio Re-Openings (MA1 pilot project)

This scheme features flexible and adaptable elements to a multifunctional artist studio/work space with movable panels to form different rooms when needed. These panels serve as versatile partitions, allowing artists to customise and reconfigure their workspace according to their tailored spatial needs or methods. Whether it’s creating separated private studios, open collaborative workshop spaces, or temporary exhibition galleries; our design provides the flexibility to accommodate a whole range of artistic practices.

We approached this concept thinking it would be the “most practical” and efficient way of spatial allocations, easy for the artists to adapt to themselves. Ironically, this piece sparked deeper conversations about the cyclic norm of artists giving spaces new life before having them taken away by regeneration (investment opportunities and affordability), the practicalities and habits of artists at work “with their stuff along one wall…where do they go if the wall moves?”, and the multifaceted world of costs and a need for change in existing business models.

Posted 19 May 2023 17:26

Proposal 3: Atrium Artspace (by Amani and Kiki)

For the initial design ideas, we decided to add an artistic element to the space to encourage more young artists to the area. We wanted to utilise the large empty space on the ground floor by adding more open studios to make the space more collaborative and engaging and adding life back to area.

This scheme can be seen as transient or temporary, with the flexibility to be converted into spaces for external events which could potentially also generate income for the stakeholders involved. At the same time, it acts as a traditional gallery space in the cloak of the old marketplace and contemporary potential - a simple makeover that provides unexpected change and rejuvenation, perhaps?

Posted 19 May 2023 17:26

Proposal 2: Cosy Cove (by Mohammed, Landa and Remon)

The aim of this proposal is to connect the growing art community with the wider community by transforming St Helens marketplace into a cosy home for art, culture and the community.

Our modular approach aims to create a flexible work/live environment where artists can live, create and exhibit their art by having hybrid spaces where art can be created collectively or individually in personal pods on the ground floor, along with plenty of space for exhibiting and showcasing art.

Through our proposal we have very carefully considered the wider community where we have designated exhibition spaces for displaying glass installations from the World of Glass museums to make St Helens market place a cultural and creative hotspot.

To achieve a sustainable project we have used recycled industrial material for the construction of the pods to complement the industrial theme of the existing site while creating a cosy space and neighbourhood for the community to make it their own.

Posted 19 May 2023 17:24

Proposal 1: Glass & Canvas (by Finbar and Letitia)

When looking to expand upon the art studio space in St Mary’s market, we planned to preserve the culture of the space through using architectural elements synonymous with British markets. We intend to pay homage to the heritage of the market, while complementing the contemporary setting, by combining the sleek, angular forms of modern architecture with the materiality and ornate motifs of a traditional marketplace.

The prominent use of glass and wrought iron in this design is reminiscent of Victorian-era architecture, with decorative motifs and ornamentation present throughout the design. The traditional metal frameworks hold large glass panes that create a pleasant light-filled studio and multi-use space below. The extension will provide a comfortable amount of space for the artists of St Helen’s and the outdoor multi-use space will draw in a wider audience, creating a bustling scene and restoring the buzz to the market. At the rear of the building, we have introduced a set of stairs and a ramp, making the building accessible for all.

This proposal re-imagines St Mary’s Market as a vibrant center of creative thought for all, with a flexibility of outdoor use that caters to a wide variety of users, whether they are an artist themselves, or curious about the arts and looking to learn more.

Posted 19 May 2023 17:22

Group 32 / UTOPI-AGE

Ziyan C

After two weeks of work, we have finally completed and submitted our project portfolio! Let's look forward to the summer holidays with great anticipation!

Posted 19 May 2023 17:22

Final Outcomes

We unveiled the proposal visualisation boards, printed student-made postcards and two 1:100 proposal models to the artists and the public, made to communicate our ideas through different means and perceptions - visual, spatial, creative arts and conversational.

“It’s very fulfilling to be able to see our student work showcased in public, printed and out in the open…as we haven’t gotten to the chance to do pin-ups in studio so this is nice.” - Letitia, BA1

Posted 19 May 2023 17:21

Sparking Conversations

The students showed amazing initiative when it came to engaging with the artists, planners, each other, the public, and curious passers-by who were interested in our display - conversing their way through the layers upon layers of ideas each proposal stood for. We quickly realised the benefits of being part of these intimate discussions, where you find out easily overlookable things like “oh, I wish that ceiling could be lowered so shorter people like me could reach equipment there” that would have never been thought to be prioritised amongst our architectural plans and technical approaches.

Looking to the future, these enjoyable conversations revealed the crucial need for more collaboration and exchanges of information between designers, their clients, and everyone involved in between - no matter how “unimportant” some of the aspects might perceive to be. Every little change truly does go a long way.

Posted 19 May 2023 17:20

Art x Architecture

Taking the train from Oxford Road to St Helens Central, the students arrived in St Mary’s Market at 10:45am to help set up the consultation boards and models on easels brought by the artists - and utilised the existing market tables and pathways. The grand glass atrium of the market served as the backdrop to the display, set up to attract inquisitive members of the public towards our displays and invite fruitful discussions. The proposal boards were curated and organised according to the level of change made on the existing scheme: from feasible and practical to radical and utopian - inviting a wide range of ideas to comment on.

Posted 19 May 2023 17:19

Day 8: Consultation Day

Thursday, 18th May 2023, 11:30am-4pm in St Mary’s Market. The big day! Energy levels were high as we kicked off the long-awaited community consultation, of which the local planning authority and creatives were invited to, to form new connections between different parties and encourage conversations about the regeneration of St Helens in relation to the resident artists and people who have made the market their homes.

The consultation also served as a precursor event running up to the Artist-Led Reside* artist residency program and city regeneration consultation scheduled for the coming weekend.

Posted 19 May 2023 17:18

Group 14 / PICTURE THIS

Keating W

That's a wrap!
We'd like to extend our thanks to everyone who has worked with us within the action weeks and beyond, it's been an invaluable experience for all of the team.

Group 14

Posted 19 May 2023 17:16

FINAL DAY! The team worked together to merge the mini projects into the final submission document, ensuring that the publication followed a cohesive narrative and all questions of the brief were answered. Final finishing touches were made to the group masterplan.

Posted 19 May 2023 17:14

Group 37 / INFRASTRUCTURE EXHIBITION

Katie G

Today we finalised the changes which the client had requested we make. This included putting the chosen options of street light and bus stop into the final publication. After finalising the documents, we all went for food together to celebrate completing MSA Live.

Posted 19 May 2023 17:10

Anjali B

Week2 // Day 5: WE FINISHED !! On the last day of MSA Live, we quickly debriefed with our BA students and presented the publication our MArch had been creating over the 2 weeks. We later printed some of our posters which we had curated as a team and pined these up on our 1.1 prototypes, we pitched our panels to Richard and Sam and it was smiles all around! To end our MSA Live journey, the MArch submitted the publications and all did a happy dance.

Posted 19 May 2023 16:57

Group 14 / PICTURE THIS

Xin S

DAY 9
It's the final presentation day with our collaborators, showcasing our final ideas, schemes and visualisation renders of the Chorlton area being revitalised. WRAP UP AFTER PRESENTATION.

Posted 19 May 2023 16:57

Group 25 / BACKYARD SOCIAL

Hannah G

Final outcomes of the project, visuals, floorpans, construction details, sketches and models. We hope to meet up with the clients after the project has finished to hand over the physical model and publication. This contact will help gain some feedback on the project and discuss how they can take the design forward to be built in the future.

Posted 19 May 2023 16:45

Group 13 / CO GREEN

Simran M

DAY NINE!

the final model!

Posted 19 May 2023 16:31

Group 13 / CO GREEN

Simran M

DAY NINE!

it's the final day, finalising all the documents for our collaborators and getting the portfolio ready for submission!

Posted 19 May 2023 16:30

Group 25 / BACKYARD SOCIAL

Hannah G

Afternoon - final publication and completion of images for the client

Posted 19 May 2023 16:28

Group 20 / COMPASSION CREW

Jiawen Q

On Day 9: Presenting to the Client

On Day 9, we finalize our work and bring all the elements together to create a comprehensive proposal. Additionally, we prepare a detailed presentation that offers a thorough perspective on the BCC community and its future. During the presentation, we received valuable feedback from the client, which helped us enhance our design process.

Posted 19 May 2023 16:25

Today we presented our proposal to Burnside, who loved our project. This has been such an enjoyable process with a creatively free brief!

Posted 19 May 2023 16:06

MOAT ANALYSIS

Posted 19 May 2023 16:00

Group 25 / BACKYARD SOCIAL

The final day of MSA LIVE!

Posted 19 May 2023 15:57

Matthew S

After completing the final touches as a group, we photographed the 1:50 model ready for the final presentation and handover to the client.

Posted 19 May 2023 15:51

Group 39 / [ESC]APISM

Amelia S

Day 9, the final day of the intensive weeks, was deadline day! Following the meeting with collaborators yesterday, we decided to get the physical model over to Gorse Hill Studios with a physical copy of the presentation so they could share with all the young people there. Another group were going to Gorse Hill Studios so agreed to take our model with them. We also emailed a recording of the zoom meeting along with the presentation to Lizzie as she wanted to present it to the staff and young people the next week.

After this we spent the day finalising and checking the publication and 10 image submission, ready to be uploaded before the deadline at 9pm. As well as this, the MArch students completed the 60 words max review on the BAs individual engagement and contribution.

Posted 19 May 2023 15:49

Group 15 / RIGHTS TO THE STREETS

Kelly Ka Wai L

THANK YOU!!!

Group 15 would like to say a big thank you to our clients, Kelly and Eve, for giving us this opportunity to design a fun and engaging project. From this project Rights to the Streets, we have gained a stronger insight how female in public spaces have been under looked, and many spaces should consider more about the inclusivity, safety, and activeness of women. We hope that by doing this project we have helped the clients out in creating a precedent to the area in Trafford, and this will catalyst more projects around more suitable spaces and infrastructure for women.

Many thanks to the community and the gorgeous Gorse Hill Studio and Anthea who helped us understand the community and context better and give us a stronger understanding of what the community wanted.
Finally thank you for all the Undergrads and Participants who helped us with the project!!

GROUP 15

Posted 19 May 2023 15:47

3D ISOMETRIC VIEWS for 4 mini projects; Bothy House, Moat, Cockpit Fighting and Tennis Court.

Posted 19 May 2023 15:46

Group 15 / RIGHTS TO THE STREETS

To support Burnside in creating the modular units we created detailed specifications in the form of a specs booklet.

Posted 19 May 2023 15:39

Kelly Ka Wai L

EVENT DAY

Poetry Slam, Meaningful conversation, emotional talks and much more.
The event was held at Gorse Hill, with the locals and people on site, we were able to engage with them and express the various concerns around the area and explore different methods how the sculpture Hygieia can give them a starting point to push forward their ideas into creating a safe space for the community.

The sculpture acted as a platform to express individual ideas, and many people began to express their thoughts next to the goddess sculpture. Chloe one of the MArch 1 Students, performed a beautiful poem of hers, expressing her problems with society and how people and communities should take charge of their space. From this project we hope this can catalyse further infrastructures that will allow the communities and people to take charge of their home and feel safer and more powerful, especially for women in Trafford.

Posted 19 May 2023 15:34