WHAT IS THE BOILER HOUSE

The boiler house is a former power station located in Moss Side, Manchester. In the 1990s it functioned as a power station for thousands of homes, and since has been repurposed for a social enterprise, Sow the City. It provides free and low-cost workshop spaces, tools, and equipment. They have hosted a number of workshops that promote the development of skills for employment, health and well-being, circular economy, and promoting gender and race equality. In the past their workshops have ranged from wood ring making, to fabricating new products, to growing new products . The boiler house provides a space for everyone of all ages, backgrounds, and gender to participate in hands-on ways to shape their lives and communities.

GROW YOUR SKILLS

The skills you will develop through our project are research about sustainable products, construction of wood and insulation through a design build, and graphic design.

Though you may not have some of these listed skills, you will develop them through engagement and passion put into this project.

THE PROJECT OUTPUT

In short, the project is to utilize the workshops that the boiler house offer to design and build a physical pod for people to sit and work in. This pod will provide an opportunity to engage with the public as a way of showcasing the workshops used to build it.

Additionally, the pod will display how mushrooms can be used as insulation. The research collected during the two weeks of the project will help provide the boiler house with future funding to insulate their building with the same material used in the pod.

Hi, I'm Binyang

I am from Beijing, China and did my undergrad at the Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture.

I am in the studio: Infrastructure Space. I have previously worked at Architectural design and Research Institute of BUCEA Co.,LTD. Over the years I have developed skills in physical model making, Rhino, AutoCAD, Sketchup, and the Adobe Suite. And beyond architecture I am interested in travel, painting, sports.

Hi, I’m Ugne!

I graduated from the University of Westminster in 2021.
I’m currently in Continuity in Architecture Atelier. I love old and unique buildings, and adaptive reuse projects as older buildings often have historical significance and architectural details that cannot be replicated in new construction.

I'm excited to have a chance to work with the new members of our team!

Hi, I’m Mary!

I graduated from Central Saint Martins in 2021 and spent a year out working in a primary school with children who were behind due to Covid.

I’m currently in the Some Kind of Nature Atelier, and love considering how designs can bring people closer to nature, be that mediated through the use of natural and renewable materials or employing design strategies that either frame or support the growth of nature.

I’m looking forward to meeting the new members of our team and getting started!

Hi, I'm Holly!

I am from Leeds, UK, and previously studied at the University of Nottingham. During my year out I worked at the Associated Architects. Currently, I am in the atelier: Continuity in Architecture.

I am interested in art, travel, music and illustration. I am looking forward to meeting all of our new team members and getting started with the project!

Hi, I’m Lauren!

I graduated from the University of Toronto in 2021 and worked at Perkins & Will for one year. Currently, I am in the Some Kind of Nature Atelier. I am interested in creating comfortable designs through sustainable methods.

Outside of Architecture I am interested in food, travel, medical dramas and true crime.

DAY 2 Site Visit
The build team corresponded with the client throughout the day to get design feedback and utilized provided site specifications to create initial design ideas.

Following the end of this design day, the team was able to get a quick look at the allotments the eco-shelter will be moved to and the current storage shed they have. We were able to see where Sow the City grows vegetation that the mycelium-insulated shelter will function for. Tomorrow we look forward to refining our build ideas to accommodate for the new site information we were able to get!

Day 6: Build Team
Today the build team started cladding the timber frames we built yesterday with OSB. Prior to that they had to be coated with timber preservative to protect from decay and insect attack. Cladding with OSB helped strengthen the timber frames, and we all became more comfortable with using a track saw. After this was done the rest of the timber we order was delivered and we were able to create a timber frame window using a recycled window. One of the eco-shed walls had to be modified to fit the frame. This also had to be soaked with timber preservative. While the window was being made some of the team started putting the walls together with corner posts. It was really exciting seeing everything start to come together. With two of the walls up we started cutting 3x2 treated timber for the floor. It was important to get treated timber to protect the floor from future water damage, and other things that can lead to decay and rot. Today was an exciting and productive day, with everyone becoming more comfortable and skilled with the various tools we are using. Tomorrow will be very exciting to see more and more of the eco-shed come together. And eventually the lean-to shelter.

With some of the walls up it is easier to imagine the exposed mycelium insulation that will fit between the timber studs. While the research team may not be contributing to the eco-shed physically they are helping with the research that will help make the space warm and comfortable. All together the eco-shed and research will help show funders the power of mycelium and showcase the benefits of adding mycelium insulation to the Boiler House building.

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.