MSA Live 25

We have a week full of fun activities and creative opportunities! We aim to end the week with a presentation at our collaborators in the Burnside Center showing off the work we’ve produced during this first development week :)

Third Site Visit - 7th May

Today we had our final visit to the museum (as a group of Master's students), followed by a tea meeting with the collaborators to go over the final details of the Action Weeks. Stay with us - exciting things ahead!

Meetings Recap

For the past months, we have been meeting weekly to discuss the Action Weeks Plan. We have met both in person and online, depending on our schedules.
We managed to divide the task equally in order to prepare things like CAD drawings, Sketchup models, Templates and Forms. What is more, we communicated with our collaborator to prepare site activities involving volunteers. As a result, we prepared the Action Weeks we are really excited about!

Watch this space for more updates :)

Detailed action plan for week 1

Jacob Hodgson
First Year, Master of Architecture
Atelier: Infrastructure Space

After earning my architecture degree from the University of Nottingham in 2023 and completing my Part 1 placement at AJ100 practice Gilling Dod Architects, I am eager to continue my academic journey at MSA. The Master of Architecture program offers an exciting opportunity to further develop my skills, particularly in social impact, sustainable design, and cultural sensitivity—key themes from both my studies and industry experience in healthcare and mental health architecture.

Proficiency in CAD software has been essential in communicating and delivering projects effectively. I am especially excited to engage with Tameside Council’s Chadwick Dam Park project, which aligns with my design values and offers a real-world opportunity to strengthen community connections.

I look forward to collaborating during Action Week to create meaningful impact in reactivating the Chadwick Dam community.

17/03/25 - Finalising Plans for the Action Weeks

In our latest meeting with the collaborator, we planned their involvement during the Action Weeks.

We’ll begin with a team visit to the library, giving everyone an opportunity to meet the collaborators and explore the space. Later in the week, we will host a collaborative design workshop where we will finalise the project concept. To end the MSALive weeks, we’ll host a soft launch, presenting a 'proof of concept' to the library team. This will include:

- A 1:5 scale prototype
- Full set of detail drawings
- Construction manual
- Material schedule
- User manual

This package will give the library everything they need to secure funding and commission a high-quality final piece. It also offers a great chance to gather feedback from visitors before moving ahead with the project.

We can't wait to get started!

Action Plan Week 2

This two-week plan follows the complete trajectory of a design project, from initial research to final presentation.
The first week emphasizes early-stage exploration and preparation, including site analysis, teamwork, brainstorming, sketching, and initial modelling to define the project direction.
In the second week, the focus shifts to design refinement and presentation. Teams will develop their ideas further, improve models and drawings, and prepare clear, well-structured final outputs for review and submission.

RISK ASSESSMENT
This highlights the key points from our official Risk Assessment document for the United Didsbury Methodist Church site. As part of the MSA LIVE project preparation, we carefully identified potential hazards—from equipment handling and weather risks to interactions with church staff—and developed appropriate mitigation strategies. These precautions aim to ensure a safe, respectful, and inclusive research environment for all team members during site visits and project activities.

Here is the Action Week Plans!

Final Tutorial With Lindsay

Following our final meeting with Lindsay, her enthusiastic guidance on the EthOS Application, Action Plan, and Risk Assessment has us buzzing with anticipation for Action Week. We're excited to unite with the rest of our team and dive into the design process. Keep an eye out for updates as we begin our creative journey!

March 25th - Meeting with Emily
In our last meeting with Emily, we had a constructive discussion covering key aspects of our project. We spoke in detail about the ethics application, budget planning, action plan for the intensive week, and the consent forms for the school. We also shared updates and ideas about the site and proposal, receiving helpful and thoughtful feedback. Emily’s inputs were insightful and encouraged us to refine our approach. The meeting helped us clarify our next steps and strengthen the overall direction of the project moving forward.

We can’t wait to meet you all! 🎉

Here’s the game plan for our two weeks together as we dive into the MSA Live project soon!

Hello! My name is Kunal, and I am currently pursuing my MArch degree in the Infra atelier. I graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture from Measi Academy of Architecture in 2023, after which I gained valuable professional experience working in the field for a year.

My current focus is an adaptive reuse project, where I'm exploring innovative methods to retain existing structures, transforming them into contemporary, functional spaces. My skill set includes proficiency in software such as Revit, SketchUp, V-Ray, Enscape, and Lumion. I'm also actively expanding my expertise into Rhino and Grasshopper.

Outside of architecture, I enjoy travelling and playing cricket, activities that help me recharge creatively.

I'm excited to connect—feel free to reach out!

ACTION PLAN WEEK2
This week we will focus on making more detailed plans based on the design and installation of the solution selected last week, making the solution feasible. These actions will help Plastic Shed better activate this community!

Site Visit: Exploring the Potential for Transformation

As a group, we recently had the opportunity to visit our project site in Old Trafford, just a short walk away from old Trafford stadium. This location, especially lively on match days, presents both an exciting challenge and a great opportunity for regeneration.

We were met by Ruth, a member of Gorgeous Gorse Hill, who guided us through the site and shared insights into its history and potential. The site itself is an abandoned toilet block that has been out of use for many years. While it currently stands as an overlooked structure, efforts have been made in the past to improve its appearance—most notably through artwork painted onto its exterior. However, with this project, we now have the chance to go beyond surface-level enhancements and completely reimagine its purpose.

Our brief is to transform the space, breathing new life into it and creating something that benefits the local community. Given its prominent location in a high-footfall area, the site holds great potential to become a meaningful and functional space that integrates seamlessly into its surroundings.

This visit allowed us to not only assess the physical condition of the site but also to begin envisioning its possibilities. Seeing it in person helped us understand its context within the urban fabric of Old Trafford and consider how our intervention could contribute to the area’s ongoing regeneration.

With this first step complete, we’re now ready to begin developing ideas that will turn this forgotten space into something truly impactful.

The two-week program revolves around the complete process of designing the project.

The first week focuses on concept exploration and preliminary preparation, including teamwork, brainstorming, prototype testing, and preliminary modeling to lay the foundation for further design.

In the second week, we enter the phase of scheme optimization and results presentation. Through Client DRP review, model improvement, final drawing and publication arrangement, we ensure the final landing and smooth submission of the design scheme.

Catch up 6 - Final Meeting with Emily

Our final meeting with Emily was all about tying up loose ends. We made sure to have most things in place — from the ethics and action week plan to the budget — so we could get her feedback on nearly finished drafts. It turned into a really useful Q&A session, giving us the chance to ask any remaining questions and show her what we’ve been working on. The process of collaborating with Emily and bouncing ideas off her really highlighted how effective teamwork and planning can drive a project forward.

- I'm Luke!
- MArch I
- Continuity

I'm particularly interested in cultural and theoretical narratives and how they can enhance and engage with a place. Studying in Continuity has consolidated my interests in contextual architecture, heritage and history.

For my undergrad, I studied at the University of Nottingham, focusing on crafting stories through architecture and deeply linking the building to its users or communities.

After completing my undergrad, I worked for DLG Architects based in Leeds particpating in a mix of large scale commercial and industrial projects. Following this, I worked at HG2 Architects; a small practice located in Harrogate with an eye for contextual detail with a contemporary approach.

I chose this MSA Live project due to the rich history of Lindow Moss and its expansive ecology at risk due to Peat extraction. The collaborators at Groundworks are enthusiastic and are strongly engaged in the project. I look forward to the two weeks in which we'll venture to the site and have fun creating outputs Groundworks can use to increase exposure of Lindow Moss

Getting Presentation Ready!
Today's team meeting consisted of making a presentation for tomorrow's meeting with the church committee to propose initial ideas for the site and rally some help for building in the intensive week!
We sat down as a team and made a model of the site, added our initial idea for the pagoda and raised planters and created visuals from it.
Let's hope the Monton Community are excited by the project and want to get stuck in!

Meet Our Collaborator!

Hi everyone, please meet our lovely MSA collaborator for this project, Jade!

"Hi, I’m Jade Ibegbuna, Head of Cultural Partnerships at Bradford Council. I have the pleasure of working with so many incredible cultural and community groups across the district whilst enabling projects (such as this one) to innovatively amplify our Bradford story. I am a proud Bradfordian, passionate about changemaking and I’m also a Clore Fellow 2025: https://bit.ly/43M3vBC

Working as a collaborator on MSA Live is an absolute joy as I get to work with amazingly talented minds and creative energy – the passion, care and imagination that the students show for Bradford shines through and is reflected throughout their designs. Bradford 2025 is the UK ‘City of Culture’ so this year’s MSA Live designs are being created at a pivotal moment in Bradford’s history.

MSA Live is a fantastic programme, fantastic students and a fantastic team – I am very much looking forward to what this year brings."

First Site Visit

We visited the venue for the first time and kate harrison, service manager at Healthy Me Healthy Communities CIC, joined us for a tour of the current state of the garden. As well as the vegetables planted on the site, and some dilapidated pergola. and learnt in conversation how the previous gardens came to be. What their needs are today. What they most desire the garden to look like and what kind of space they envision that would help them work and be more beneficial to the community. And it gave us some ideas to think about.

Fancy joining us?

During our 2 action weeks, we will be producing design responses to our collaborator's vision, but we would also like to use this time to help you develop skills you wish to learn. We plan to help you explore skillsets such as producing architecture drawings, visualizations and model-making.

We will use our individual strengths to help you develop your skills, and hopefully in group working, we will learn some skills from you as well!

If anything here sparks your interest, or you have any questions, please do get in touch!

Hi, I'm Ke Han.
I am from Malaysia.
I completed my undergraduate degree at the Manchester School of Architecture and am currently pursuing a Master of Architecture at CPU Atelier.

I am confident in using Rhino, Grasshopper, AutoCAD, InDesign, and physical modeling.

My interests include designing with a clear narrative, ensuring that every thought process behind it has a strong justification. Besides that, I enjoy working with both digital and physical mediums, allowing me to experiment with both the real and virtual worlds. Outside of architecture, I also enjoy writing short stories, watching K-dramas, playing badminton and chess, and traveling.

I am excited to work with Brick by Brick and Oswald Road Primary School to see how the younger generation thinks outside the box and expresses their creativity. This opportunity inspires me to share knowledge that might encourage them to explore architecture in the future.

My name is Kiruthyik Karan. I am a 24-year-old student from Chennai, India. I am currently pursuing my Master’s in Architecture and am part of the SKN Atelier. My hobbies include watching movies, playing football, and working out, with my favorite vegetable being the mushroom. A quote that is close to my heart is “Architecture is frozen music.”

@TheGrange in Blackpool is a large community hub on the Grange Park estate. It has been highlighted as a centre of best practice for engaging local residents in wellbeing activity through the support provided by
the team at Groundwork.
The site includes a library, café, theatre, community farm, free to use laundrette and various meeting rooms.
Space is now at capacity and in order to deliver more activities for community benefit we want to look at reimaging underused spaces. This would include:

1) Redesigning the complex toilets and storage spaces to improve the quality of toilet facilities and create more functional community space.

2)Redesigning the open public spaces within the building providing a better flow and bringing the outdoors in. This would include design options to create a mixed library and café space and reimaging the outdoor patio space.

Our plan for the two weeks working with us includes a variety of exciting activities! We’ll start by welcoming you to the team and providing all the information you’ll need to get started. You'll meet our collaborator, and if all goes well, we may even arrange a site visit. Along the way, we’ll have group tutorials and creative sessions designed to foster collaboration and skill-building. Our goal is to create an engaging and informative environment that closely mirrors a real-world working experience.

In week one, we’ll focus on laying a solid foundation, setting us up to hit the ground running in week two. During this time, we’ll pay special attention to placemaking within a heritage setting and other key aspects of the project. In week two, we’ll dive into refining the final designs, visuals, and presentations to share with our collaborator. To wrap up, we’ll have a presentation and handover to potential collaborating architects, followed by a celebration to mark the success of our time together!

TIA TIAN

I’m a practical architect based in Beijing and a dedicated researcher on smart architecture at MSA.
With an innovative and passionate approach to design, I explore multiple narratives within projects of varying scales, attributes, and contexts.
Beyond architecture, I find inspiration in the untamed beauty of the mountains, where I love to hike and travel—seeking new perspectives, fresh air, and the quiet wisdom of nature.

Hi, I’m Yiyu Luo!

Course: MA Architecture and Adaptive Reuse

I'm from Zhejiang, and I studied product design in the International Department of Wenzhou Business School, which seems to be completely different from my current major.

In my free time, I enjoy cycling and swimming, and occasionally go to some extreme sports as a challenge.

The reason I joined the Manchester Climate Coalition group was because I felt that climate conditions were essential for survival. What we're doing may not be big, but we're trying to improve the climate, and that's why I'm very interested in this group, doing my part.

Name: Yukun Tang

Hometown: Changsha, China

Atelier: &

Skills: Autocad, Sketchup, Enscape

Undergraduate Education: Wuhan Institute of Technology

Architectural interest: Minimalism

Hobbies: Durm

Favourite music genre: Digital Music, Punk Rock

Hey, I'm Yukun from China and after graduating from Wuhan Institute of Technology with a Bachelor's Degree, I've worked in Shenzhen as an Interior Designer specialising in Real Estate. Currently, I am studying for a Master's degree in Architecture and Adaptive Reuse at Manchester School of Architecture to prepare myself for the future trend of urban regeneration. Also, characteristically, I always tend to understand things in a simplistic way.
I believe that radio diamond is a very special project that provides us with a unique perspective on how things should be done. I look forward to welcoming new members!

In the heart of Stockport, What If is a hidden space with the potential to become a resilient and thriving community hub. Tucked away behind a busy main road, it’s time to bring it back onto the map!

Hi, I’m Nathan, an MArch 1 student at Manchester Metropolitan University. I’m absolutely thrilled to be part of the MSA Live project, contributing to the restoration of the community allotment. This initiative is a fantastic opportunity to make a real impact, fostering sustainability and community spirit. I’m eager to collaborate, learn, and bring fresh ideas to this meaningful project. Looking forward to an inspiring journey ahead!

Name: Minrui Chen

Country: China

Course & Atelier: MA Adaptive Reuse

Current Project in MSA:
I am currently involved in a historic building transformation project in Stockport, which aims to bring a derelict monolithic office building back to life. My design philosophy is to transform the local culture and urban memory into the architectural language by digging deeply into it and subtly integrate it into the old building in a micro-interventional way. On the basis of protecting the original building structure, I hope to preserve the historical memory of the building through careful design, but also inject new vitality into it, making it a link between the past and the future. This process is not only the transformation of the building itself, but also the continuation and innovation of the urban context.

Software + Other Skills:
Sketchup, Rhino, photoshop, AutoCAD, Enscape, Lumion.

Short Introduction:
I am an architectural practitioner with nearly one year's work experience, and I have accumulated some project experience in practice. I have a special interest in small buildings, especially those that reflect humanistic care and respond to social issues.
In my spare time, I love sports and often play basketball to keep my vitality. I also like to experience different life stories through movies. In my spare time, I often travel with friends to explore different urban landscapes, while also delving into cooking in the kitchen and enjoying the fun of creating delicious food. These diverse interests and hobbies enable me to maintain keen observation and creativity in my work.

Hey! I'm Matt. I'm a student here at MSA studying for a master's in architecture. I am currently in the FLUX atelier, which focuses on ‘play’ in architecture and other unorthodox approaches to civic design and community engagement. I studied my undergrad at the Canterbury School of Architecture, and after that, I worked in practice in Guernsey, in the Channel Islands for 2 years. My favourite architecture includes brutalist, classical and anything a bit different. I’m excited for the opportunity to collaborate with other students and with Life Leisure to re-imagine some outdoor spaces, which frankly need some re-imagining.

Hello,

I’m Ella an Interior Architecture graduate from Liverpool John Moores University and a current student of Architecture and Adaptive Reuse.

My main interest within architectural design is the reuse of existing buildings, allowing them to have a new lease of life but also celebrating the historical footprint of what is already built. I love buildings which are full of character and hope that I will be able to work with listed buildings such as churches, industrial structures and many more in my proffesional practice.

Having the opportunity to work on Waterbarn Baptist Church is very exciting and relevant to my interests. I’m looking forward to proposing a plan to restore and repurpose the church with my MSA
Live group and hope we give the Valley Heritage team lots of positive ideas.

Hi, I’m Ellie I am currently doing my MA in Architecture and Adaptive reuse.
My bachelors is in Interior Design which I finished in 2023, after finishing I worked as an Interior Designer where I developed a strong foundation in spatial planning, materials and user-centred design.
With a keen interest in designing interiors in keeping with their history I felt that the two went hand in hand.
I am excited to be working on the Agecroft Cemetery project as we will have the challenge of protecting the history of the building but making it useable and accessible for the community, while remaining mindful of the importance of the building.
I am looking forward to the action weeks where we can work together, brain storm ideas and come up with a proposal that is mindful, inclusive and timeless.

On 25/02/25, we took an exciting first trip to Nelson and the 3B Systems space with our collaborator Michael. With our notebooks, cameras, and plenty of ideas, we explored the town, toured the site, and got a strong sense of its potentials and limitations.

A big focus was on designing engaging spaces for the local youth group while respecting the existing church building. We sketched, took photos, and recorded our thoughts, bouncing around ideas on how to make the space more dynamic, welcoming, and flexible.

By the end of the visit, we left with tons of inspiration, a clearer vision, and plenty of excitement! We can’t wait to bring it to life!

Aim:
The project aims to inspire real-world change by activating and rejuvenating the underused public space at the Milton Park skate park through a bespoke physical intervention or series of interventions. Positioned within the “alternative” cultural sphere, the project will engage with local people, particularly young residents, to highlight new possibilities for the space, foster social connections, and promote Alsager as a destination. It will coincide with the “Alternate Alsager” event, combining music, food, and street art to create a fun, engaging, and safe environment for self-expression.

Output:
A site-specific installation that interacts with the place and its surroundings, designed and prototyped based on insights from community engagement. The process will include speaking with local people, particularly young residents, with discussions and sketches recorded and presented using other potential deliverables.

Hi,

I am Ahmed Darouache and I studied my Bachelors at Liverpool John Moores University. I am in the Non-Standard Habitats Atelier.

Modelling and 3D visuals are my passion and I want to make more out of it after my master degree.

As I am originally from Morocco, I have a strong interest in Islamic Architecture and how patterns works. I know that materials used in hot climate aren’t the same in the cold climate and I am interested in how these functions.

With these skills and passion, I like to vision how the architecture works in today’s modern world.

Hi, Im Will

Atelier: & Architecture

I studied architecture at Liverpool John Moores University before moving to Manchester to begin working as a Part 1 at AEW Architects, where I am currently employed while also studying at MSA.

I love being outdoors and am passionate about sustainable design, so I’m really excited to be working on a community project like this. I’m eager to collaborate closely with Growing Togetherness CIC and help bring their vision to life. I’m also looking forward to learning from both my group and the Growing Togetherness CIC team, as their knowledge will offer valuable insights and inspire new ideas that I can apply to any future sustainable projects I work on.