Group 09
HIDDEN IN PLAIN SITE

Clayton Hall is a Grade 2 listed building and a rare example of a moated, medieval site, situated in Clayton Park. It is a site of very considerable heritage and ecological significance and has a fascinating social, architectural and cultural history. The aim of this project is to create a scheme for community and leisure activities centered around the Clayton Hall and surrounding moat site. Responding to heritage is a key aspect of this brief which will involve exploring design ideas of moat and a new community building with a classroom, cafe and kitchen, providing volunteer opportunities for adults with learning difficulties to coffee mornings for the retired and elderly. The project also provides opportunities to express ideas through physical models, drawings and visualisations. Clayton Hall is owned by Manchester City Council and managed by the Trustees and Friends of Clayton Park and we will collaborate with BB Heritage Studio. For more information visit: http://claytonhall.org/

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Ruochen L / Nur Zarifah Binti Z / Aiman Shabbir K / Finnley M / Jonathan M

Ruochen L
Name: Jonathan McVinnie​

Hometown/Country: Edinburgh / Scotland​

Atelier: Continuity in Architecture ​

Undergrad: The University of Edinburgh ​

Working Experience: Oberlanders Architects ​

Skills: 3D modeling, Hand drawing, Graphic design, Technical drawing ​

Interest: Conservation, Architectural theory, Heritage, Hand drawing​
Posted 12 Mar 2023 23:57
Ruochen L
Name: Finnley Morris​

Hometown/Country: Wigan / United Kingdom​

Atelier: Architecture and Adaptive Reuse​

Undergrad: University of Central Lancashire ​

Working Experience: Visual Merchandise​

Skills: 3D modelling, Digital/hand drawing, Photoshop​

Interest: Heritage architecture, Interior design, Adaptive reuse​
Posted 12 Mar 2023 23:58
Ruochen L
Name: Aiman Shabbir Karachiwala​

Hometown/Country: Bangalore / India​

Atelier: Adaptive Reuse​

Undergrad: Visvesvaraya Technological University​

Working Experience: RSP, India​

Skills: Photoshop, 3-d modelling (Sketchup, Revit), Digital drawing​

Interest: Conservation, Urban Design, Transportation architecture​
Posted 12 Mar 2023 23:58
Ruochen L
Name: Nur Zarifah Zainal​

Hometown/Country: Malaysia​

Atelier: Some Kind of Nature (SKN) ​

Undergrad: University of Technology MARA (UiTM)​

Working Experience: JKR; Roos Design Build Sdn Bhd; TR Hamzah& Yeang Sdn Bhd, Malaysia​

Skills: Hand Sketching, Photography ​

Interest: Photography, Cinematography​
Posted 12 Mar 2023 23:58
Ruochen L
Name: Ruochen Lu​

Hometown/Country: Guangzhou / China​

Atelier: Infrastructure Space ​

Undergrad: Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University; University of Liverpool​

Working Experience: Guangdong Architectural Design Institute, China​

Skills: Rhino modeling, Photoshop, Illustrator ​

Interest: Interior, Landscape, Housing, Collage​
Posted 12 Mar 2023 23:59
Ruochen L
The Collaborator
Bernadette Bone works as a conservation architect and heritage consultant and is the Director at BB Heritage Studio which was founded with the key aim of supporting these projects, ensuring that historic places can continue to tell the stories of their communities. Early in her career she worked for practices that combined contemporary architecture with a careful and considered approach to the historic environment. She is now on the Blackburn Diocese list of ‘Quinquennial Inspection’ architects who inspect church buildings every five years, and she sits on Manchester’s Historic Buildings and Conservation Areas Panel.​
Posted 13 Mar 2023 00:25
Ruochen L
The Skills
The project provides opportunities to express ideas through physical model making and develop visual communication skills through hand drawings and digital software such as Photoshop, and Illustrator. We will also introduce the principles of adaptive reuse and sustainable development to help respond to heritage.​

We will be producing a series of illustrative visuals, sketches, and physical models to help communicate design concepts to our collaborators and to help engage other communities not currently involved with the site.​
Posted 13 Mar 2023 00:45
Ruochen L
Social Impacts
The new community building with classrooms, café, and kitchen can provide activities and learning opportunities, from partnering with local elementary schools to provide volunteer opportunities for adults with learning difficulties, to coffee mornings for retirees and seniors. ​
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The ambition of the trustees, friends, and volunteers is to be able to continue to provide for these groups in a sustainable way and to use the site to expand these opportunities.
Posted 13 Mar 2023 12:37
Ruochen L
Day Two - Idea Development
In the afternoon, we discussed our initial concept ideas by drawing the plans and sections to explore the spatial organizations.
Posted 15 May 2023 10:32
Ruochen L
Day Two - Site Visit
In the morning, we met at Piccadilly Gardens and travelled together by bus to Clayton Hall. We were met by two of the trustees who gave us a tour of the inside of the building and explained the issues they currently had. With some further questions, we clarified that they would like this building to fit in with the Tudor/Victorian Clayton Hall and to celebrate the moat, which they hope to restore by filling it with water again. The site visit not only gives us a preliminary understanding of the site, but the given information from the clients is also instructive for our design.
Posted 15 May 2023 10:36
Ruochen L
Day Three - Site Analysis
In the morning, students developed the site maps to create a more engaging depiction of the existing site. Clayton Hall is an exciting location, and we wanted the site maps to convey this. Students also created new maps which analysed the current use of the surrounding buildings, methods of transport and vegetation of the surrounding area of the site. Students then shared their maps with the class and what they learnt about the site and how this changed their opinion of the project.

In the afternoon, March students gave a tutorial to the class on how to use the software Rhino. In the tutorial we created a model of the existing site, this was an informal tutorial where students collectively gave input, sharing ideas and methods of how to model a landscape.
Posted 15 May 2023 11:03
Ruochen L
Day Four - Massing Development and Model Making
In the morning, students began sketching initial ideas for the layout, massing and exterior of the event space. Beforehand we showed the students some precedent images as well as our own initial sketches to give an idea of the direction which the design was going in. We then grouped together to share ideas, through this activity we decided on the massing and layout of the new building. We also had a number of ideas for the exterior materiality which we would develop further the following week. Simultaneously, a number of students worked on an initial model of the site.

In the afternoon, March students held another tutorial of Rhino, creating a file which was to be laser cut, creating a second site model. This one depicted a section of the moat in higher detail. Students also developed the drawings from earlier that day, to combine ideas, producing a final floorplan.
Posted 15 May 2023 11:04
Ruochen L
Day One - Introduction
In the morning, March students gave a quick presentation of the project and introduced themselves. Then, undergraduate students introduced themselves and explained why they chose this project. Then, we started to research precedents and brainstormed our ideas regarding all the possibilities we could do with the moats and buildings. And all students were divided into two groups for discussion. Finally, we gathered and presented our ideas. It was great to learn more about our colleagues’ ideas and thoughts. This activity was a good opportunity to welcome and create an inclusive atmosphere. It was also a great way to work in teams and have interaction with each other.
Posted 15 May 2023 11:17
Ruochen L
Day One - Brainstorming
In the afternoon, we brainstormed all the possibilities of what the moat and buildings could be.
Posted 15 May 2023 11:17
Nur Zarifah Binti Z
Day Five – Design Development
In the morning, students split into three groups, one began modelling the design in rhino, the second finalized the physical model from the previous week, adding greenery and details, and the third worked in the workshop, laser cutting 1:100 terrain models and assembling.

In the afternoon, students split into two groups, BA1 students began to compile all the site analysis strategies while BA2 students and March students discussed with the layouts of the buildings and kept finalizing the design.
Posted 15 May 2023 16:23
Nur Zarifah Binti Z
Day Six – Design Development Progress
A brand new day has begun! To keep things running smoothly, we divided the students into two groups. We split the team based on each student's preference: either engaging in physical model making or working with 3D digital modelling software such as Rhino, SketchUp, and Revit. The students in the model making team are currently located in the Benzie building, where they are introduced to architectural modelling techniques using wood. On the other hand, the students in the 3D digital model group are situated in the Geoffrey Manton building, eagerly exploring the world of software-based design.

In the afternoon, we reconvened at the Geoffrey Manton building to discuss the forms and layouts of the buildings. We continued refining the design, engaging in collaborative discussions to reach the finalization stage.
Posted 17 May 2023 12:25
Nur Zarifah Binti Z
Day Six – Design Development Progress
We are delighted to present our physical site model! Through ongoing discussions, we have made several iterations to enhance its design. In our efforts to bring life to the model, we have added human figures, benches, and stalls, which we are continuously refining in order to complement the moat.
Posted 17 May 2023 12:46
Nur Zarifah Binti Z
Day Seven – Finalising The Design
A brand new day has arrived, and we are filled with excitement as we approach the finalisation of our design. In the morning, we gathered at the Geoffrey Manton building, eager to conclude our plans for both the building and the moat, following our productive discussions from the previous day. We have successfully completed the floor plan drawings for the building using AutoCAD and are now transitioning to constructing the 3D model in Rhino.
To foster collaboration and gather valuable input, we projected the model-making process onto a big screen, allowing everyone to observe and share their opinions. This interactive approach enables us to not only receive feedback but also encourages the exchange of new ideas. It proves to be an effective method of involving everyone in the decision-making process and gathering their final thoughts.
Posted 17 May 2023 15:01
Nur Zarifah Binti Z
Day Seven – Finalising The Design
During the afternoon, we divided the students into two groups. The first group focused on finalizing the 3D digital model, while the second group worked on completing the physical model at the Benzie Building. We engaged in a discussion regarding the choice of materials for the final outcome, considering the various options available to us. Additionally, we strategised the rendering techniques to create compelling visualization images for our project.
Posted 17 May 2023 16:32
Finnley M
Day eight- With a completed design it is time to finalise the 3D model in ready to be rendered. We divided the students to work on creating some final visuals of the design which depict both the event space, garden, and moat. We also wanted to capture the excitement and attraction within the engaging spaces which we have created. We are approaching the final day so today is all about creating high quality images which we go into our publication; the second-year students are doing this. At this point everyone is cracking on with their tasks, we have first years Working on creating parts for the model as well as illustrating our master plan for the design.

In the afternoon everyone continued with the same tasks from the morning. We also worked on our presentation for the following day which we are excited about. We hope that our client and the friends of Clayton like our design, as the project is so personal to them.
Posted 18 May 2023 17:06
Aiman Shabbir K
Day 8
We created the final visuals of the cafe and the classroom while preparing our physical model for our presentation tomorrow.
Posted 19 May 2023 11:17
Aiman Shabbir K
Day 9
Our completed model is prepared for presentation to the client and to our collaborator.
The client was able to picture the suggested building attached to the moat creating a community space around the moat and a bridge that crosses the moat to connect to the market.
Posted 19 May 2023 12:51
Jonathan M
Day 9
The final proposal was presented to the client, involving engagement from both the design team and external collaborators. The process of ideas and final design decisions were communicated through sketches, models and a final presentation. The conclusions drawn from the project were received with enthusiasm and have inspired the next phase of attracting funding and interest in the future of Clayton Hall . The work produced throughout the two weeks has brought new ideas to the development of the site and has provided a valuable tool to spark conversations regarding funding and feasibility. Overall, the process of collaboration and teamwork has been a successful and enjoyable exercise across the two action weeks, and has allowed for the development of leadership, teamwork and time management skills which are essential for the role of architects and designers.
Posted 19 May 2023 12:52