Group 01
HALF-TIME HUB

We’re teaming up with Gorgeous Gorse Hill to transform an underused space into a vibrant, community-driven hub. This flexible space will offer coworking, business support, education, and a place for everyone to connect. With innovative designs and a sustainable model, we aim to empower local businesses, provide hands-on training, and build a stronger community—ensuring the area thrives every day, not just on match days! Throughout the workshop, students will develop skills in physical and digital model making, project planning, teamwork, networking, presentation, and sustainable thinking.

Ahmed K / Aparna J / Ioi Kei P / James P / MSA S / Naba Arshad U / Saman S / Teresa T / Test S

Teresa T
Name: Teresa Trieste
Course: MArch Architecture
Atelier: Continuity

Hi, I’m Teresa. I’m currently in the first year of the master’s in architecture at the Continuity Atelier as part of the Erasmus program. I’m originally from Milan, where I also attend Polytechnic University. I’m excited to explore new perspectives here in Manchester and engage with different architectural approaches.
My architectural interests focus on the importance of respecting and conserving existing buildings. I recently completed a thesis on HBIM, which has deepened my commitment to preserving cultural heritage while incorporating modern technologies. Outside of architecture, I’m passionate about drawing and music, which I find really inspiring in my creative process.

I’m particularly excited about the opportunity to contribute to the Gorse Hill community. I believe there’s great potential in reimagining the disused space we’ve been given, showing how it can be repurposed rather than demolished, with a focus on environmental sustainability. I look forward to engaging with the community and working together to bring new life and value to the area.
Posted 7 Mar 2025 12:12
Naba Arshad U
Name: Naba Arshad Usmani
Course: MA Architecture & Adaptive Re-Use

Hello! My name is Naba, and I'm from Mumbai, India. I studied Interior and Spatial Design for my undergraduate studies and after graduation worked for almost 3 years as a designer, strategist and researcher in the fields of interiors, conservation and heritage, especially Adaptive Re-Use. Additionally, I recently started a multi-disciplinary design studio in India and have developed successful projects which boast collaboration in design. I am very passionate about heritage and conservation, especially about the connection between the culture, community and the building in different contexts. Hence, I decided to pursue my Masters studies in Adaptive Re-Use here in the UK.

I’m excited about this opportunity to meaningfully contribute towards developing design ideas for the Gorgeous Gorse Hill community. Such projects offer a chance to develop spaces that not only re-use existing spaces, but also directly involve and help the community, making it a wholesome empathic process that deepens the impact of design on the people and the environment. I look forward to working with my team and making this a successful collaborative project.
Posted 7 Mar 2025 20:42
Ioi Kei P
Name: Ioi Kei Pun
Course: MArch Architecture
Atelier: CPU[ai]

Personal Intro: Hi, my name is ioi! I was born in Macau and lived there for most of my life. I've always been passionate about travelling and seeing different parts of the world. This prompted my decision to pursue my undergraduate studies in Architecture in the UK at the University of Nottingham and to obtain professional experience working in an Architectural firm in Hong Kong. I am currently doing my Masters at the Manchester School of Architecture and I look forward to seeing where this journey takes me in the future!

Architectural Interests: I believe that Architecture is not static, but temporal and dynamic. I am interested in the temporal dimension of Architecture, through the exploration of fluid, adaptive spaces, and integrating ideas about continuity and gradation. I strongly believe that technology enables us to be better designers. I am passionate about computational thinking and incorporating the latest digital tools into my design workflow.

Working with the Gorsehill Community in the renovation of a rundown toilet block is a unique brief requiring an adaptive, dynamic intervention to balance the needs of the local community with the needs during match days in Old Trafford. This is an exciting opportunity and I look forward to our collaboration.
Posted 8 Mar 2025 07:54
Saman S
Personal Introduction:
Hi! My name is Saman. I did my undergrad at MSA and graduated in 2023 before returning again this year for my Masters.

Architectural Interests:
I’m particularly interested in humanitarian architecture and social housing.

Project Involvement:
This project is both practical and exciting due to its real world approach and it offers the perfect opportunity to gain exposure to real life projects.
Posted 9 Mar 2025 13:21
James P
Name: James Prideaux
Course: MArch Architecture
Atelier: SKN

Hi, I'm James. I was born and raised in Preston, Lancashire and is where I completed my undergraduate degree in architecture. After graduating I worked for 6 months as a planning officer specializing in determining householder applications and have been working at my current job for 2 years at a Manchester-based architecture firm called Horizon Fletcher Rae. During my time practice I have worked on numerous projects ranging from high rise residential developments, schools, industrial units, adaptive reuse for buildings of heritage value and master planning.

The project we will be working on is a great opportunity to collaborate with and alongside the local community in Gorgeous Gorse Hill to bring a new lease of life and purpose into the existing toilet block. Though a small project the impact could be great!!!
Posted 9 Mar 2025 14:46
Aparna J
Name: Aparna Jayanti
Course: MArch Architecture
Atelier: & Architecture

I am particularly interested in conceptual design and space planning, for all scale of projects. My professional experience of 3+ years gave me a better understanding of construction techniques, and detailing.
My expertise lies in bridging a gap between the past and the renewed styles, while retaining its essence.
I received my bachelor’s degree in architecture from India, where I developed skills such as; Revit, BIM based workflows, Adobe Suite, and other rendering engines. And further handled projects from India & USA.

I chose this MSA Live project as it aligns with my interests in flipping existing space to act more functional and diverse to its community. The idea of giving something back to locality, is definitly inspiring and exciting to work on.
Posted 9 Mar 2025 23:56
Ahmed K
Name: Ahmed Adel Khalil
Course: MArch Architecture
Atelier: Infrastructure Space

Personal Introduction:
Hi, my name is Mido! I study architecture in Paris and am currently at MSA as part of the ERASMUS exchange program for this semester. Prior to my arrival, I completed an internship at Herzog & de Meuron.

Architectural Interests:
I am particularly interested in public facilities, heritage restoration, and urban planning. These areas allow me to engage with both historical contexts and future urban needs.

Project Involvement:
This project is both challenging and stimulating due to its realistic approach to architectural practice. It offers the opportunity to work collaboratively within a team while maintaining direct engagement with stakeholders.
Posted 10 Mar 2025 01:01
Naba Arshad U
Hello reader.
Welcome to the Half-Time Hub, our MSA Live Project! With our amazing collaborators at the Gorgeous Gorse Hill, we aim to give a refreshing transformation to an unused site in old Trafford. The site in focus is a former toilet block, currently sitting idle, with an incredible potential to be transformed into a thriving ‘hub’, which gives the centre stage to the local community.
We want to re-imagine this forgotten space by exploring design strategies through creative placemaking, that prioritize sustainability, social engagement, accessibility and urban renewal. The projects would bring together students from diverse backgrounds and experiences, making it a wholesome process to develop empathic and effective solutions.
Follow our journey as we work closely with our collaborators at the Gorgeous Gorse Hill and develop a vision for an amazing and vibrant neighbourhood.
Stay tunes for updates!
Posted 10 Mar 2025 21:01
Saman S
Meet the Collaborator: Gorgeous Gorse Hill

For this project, we’ve had the privilege to collaborate with Gorgeous Gorse Hill, a passionate community group based in Old Trafford, Manchester. Made up of local residents, their mission is simple yet impactful: to make their neighborhood a more beautiful, welcoming, and vibrant place for everyone.

Gorse Hill, home to Manchester United’s football ground and Lancashire County Cricket Club, is a diverse and well-connected suburb. However, like many urban areas, it has its share of underutilised spaces, neglected greenery, and opportunities for community-driven transformation. That’s where Gorgeous Gorse Hill steps in.

Through a combination of gardening, public art, and community events, the group is actively revitalising the area. They transform waste ground, abandoned flower beds, and forgotten verges into thriving green spaces filled with insect-friendly plants, colorful flowers, and even fruit trees. Volunteers from the local community help maintain these spaces, ensuring they remain beautiful all year round.

Art also plays a big role in their work. Collaborating with local artists and schoolchildren, they’ve brought creativity to the streets of Gorse Hill—decorating bollards, roller shutters, and utility boxes with nature-inspired artwork, as well as commissioning large-scale murals that celebrate the area’s identity.

Through their ongoing efforts, Gorgeous Gorse Hill is proving that small, community-led initiatives can have a lasting impact. Their work not only enhances the local environment but also strengthens social connections and civic pride—making Gorse Hill a more engaging and inspiring place to live.
Posted 26 Mar 2025 09:55
Saman S
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.
Posted 26 Mar 2025 10:04