Group 08 FRIENDS OF WATERHOUSE (Posted 16 May 2025 11:35) – MSA LIVE 25

Group 08 / FRIENDS OF WATERHOUSE

Ariana MJ

DAY 3

Building on the critical observations of the site from Day 2, Day 3 shifted focus towards understanding the demographics and community. Students explored the social context of the chapels and their surrounding area, aiming to build future design decisions in the lived realities of local people.

The day began with an investigation into the demographics of the area using digital tools such as Digimaps and Snazzy Maps. These tools enabled students to visualise patterns of age, ethnicity, household composition, and socio-economic data, highlighting how spatial decisions can and should respond to the needs of the Ince community. By overlaying this data onto the site, students began to ask: Who lives nearby? Who visits? Who feels welcome here and who doesn’t? As a result, students developed a map integrating all of the data.

To expand this thinking, we looked at two precedent studies. These projects exemplify how temporary and adaptive design interventions can foster community engagement. We analysed how these spaces invited participation, created atmosphere, and responded to their urban or cultural context.

In the afternoon, we introduced iterative AI image generation tools to help students develop speculative design concepts rooted in the earlier demographic findings. This session was not about finalised proposals, but rather about translating insights into early design language. "How might a space reflect the diversity of its users?" "What forms could community participation take?" Using AI as a generative partner, students began to sketch and model initial responses to these questions, visualising architecture as a mediator of community identity and memory.

Overall, Day 3 encouraged students to think beyond the physical attributes of the chapels and begin considering the socio-spatial relationships that underpin meaningful design.

Posted 16 May 2025 11:35