Group 22
URBAN EDEN

Our project for Gorse Hill Community builds on the rich potential of an existing farmhouse and its surroundings, transforming them into a hub for sustainable living. With an eco-shop, shared kitchen, and open social garden, Urban Eden fosters creativity, connection, and ecological awareness. By reimagining these spaces, we aim to create a welcoming environment where people can gather, learn, and explore new ways of integrating nature into urban life. This is our step towards a greener, more inclusive city—where urban meets eden!

Benedetta P / Bingqing X / Nathan W / Ruihan Z / Yining Z / Yufei L

Bingqing X
Hello!My name is Xue bingqing and I am from China.
I major in Architecture and Adaptive Reuse. My Skills: CAD, Rhino, Photoshop, and Illustrator. I'm very interested in community updates and interaction design. Also, I like watching movies and traveling. Looking forward to meeting you！
Posted 9 Mar 2025 23:40
Ruihan Z
Hi, I'm Ruihan. I'm a student of Architecture and Adaptive Reuse.
Skills：CAD, Sketch up, Adobe suite. I like drawing and reading. Looking forward to meeting you！
Posted 9 Mar 2025 23:41
Yining Z
Hello! My name is Yining Zheng and I am from China. I specialise in architecture and adaptive reuse. I like reading novels and crayons. My skills: CAD, Sketchup,PS,AI. I look forward to working with you. I'm sure we'll have an interesting output.
Posted 9 Mar 2025 23:42
Benedetta P
Hi! I'm Benedetta, currently doing my exchange semester at MSA and attending MArch1 Infra. I'm originally from Italy and completed my Bachelor in Architectural Design at the Polytechnic of Milan.

Throughout my academic and professional journey, l've developed a strong interest in adaptive reuse projects, exploring how architecture can give new life to existing spaces.
I recently had the opportunity to experiment hands-on with reuse strategies during a recent workshop, where we transformed discarded materials into urban furniture.
I'm now continuing my research in my current atelier and I'm looking forward to engage with the Gorse Hill community!
Posted 10 Mar 2025 08:36
Yufei L
Hello, I'm Yufei Li, originally from China. I am a student in Architecture and Adaptive Reuse. Skills: CAD, SketchUp, Photoshop, and InDesign. I have a strong interest in architectural design and adaptive reuse. Nice to meet you!
Posted 10 Mar 2025 10:42
Nathan W
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!
Posted 10 Mar 2025 14:52
Bingqing X
Visit the site
On the 8th of February our group members went to the venue together to do research. Our venue was in the grose hill allotment association. we had an interview with the employer to interview them about their needs for the renovation. And, as the site did not have a specific floor plan, we measured the site together.
Posted 13 May 2025 11:04
Bingqing X
After conducting the venue research, our group had our first discussion. We summarised the requirements of the employers and the information about the venue. And, we had a preliminary discussion about the posters, budget, action plan, etc. that we need for the next step.
Posted 13 May 2025 11:07
Bingqing X
This week, our group made a preliminary poster and action plan and had a discussion with the tutor about what needs to be updated and changed next.
Posted 13 May 2025 11:08
Bingqing X
Action week-day 1
Today was the first day of action week and our group had a brief project introduction in the morning. Firstly we introduced ourselves, then our group members described the information pictures of the venue, the employer's needs, the schedule of activities for the fortnight and the final outcome we need for the new members from ba1 and ba2.
Posted 13 May 2025 11:42
Bingqing X
Action week-day 1
In the afternoon, our whole group travelled by bus to the venue (grose hill allotment association) to carry out research and provide a basis for further design. Firstly, the employer introduced us to the scale of the site, the buildings and gardens that needed to be updated, and clearly set out the problems they wanted to solve. After understanding the employer's needs, the team split into two groups, one to take photographs of the site and the other to take measurements of the site. It really has been a very interesting piece of research!
Posted 13 May 2025 11:47
Bingqing X
Action week-day 1
To commemorate the first time the whole group travelled, we took a group photo!
Posted 13 May 2025 11:49
Bingqing X
Action week-Day 2
Today our group started to find some preliminary design directions. In the morning, we had a group brainstorming session to summarise the employer's needs and each group member shared their own precedent and design ideas. In the afternoon, we all got together to share case studies and design proposals, and we started sketching some designs on the printed site plan.
Posted 14 May 2025 13:03
Bingqing X
Action week-day 3
Today the team members started to work on the design of the project. In the morning, all the members got together to discuss the previous day's design results, and had an in-depth study and discussion on the building's dimensions, structure, floor plan, materials and so on, giving feedback to each other. In the afternoon, the group members continued to divide up the design work based on the morning's discussion, and consolidated the complete programme.
Posted 15 May 2025 11:57
Bingqing X
Action week-day 4
Today our group members got together in the morning to discuss the final complete programme and finalise the design details. The group members then began to divide up the work of making the diagrams, some modelling, some making the master plan, and some beginning to plan the final publication
Posted 16 May 2025 15:03
Bingqing X
Action week-Day 6
On Monday of the second week of action week, all the group members got together to complete the preparation work for the model making. Some people did the rendering drawings, some people did the master plan, and then we all discussed the materials and dimensions that we need to use for the model making.
Posted 21 May 2025 12:36
Bingqing X
Action week-day 7
From today, our group split into two parts, half of us went to B12 to start modelling and half of the members stayed in the classroom to start the layout and visual design of the brochure.
Posted 21 May 2025 12:38
Bingqing X
Action week-day 8
Today all the team members went to b15 to make models for the final presentation.
Posted 23 May 2025 19:36
Bingqing X
Action week-day 9
Today was the last day of our action week and we were honoured to have two employers from Grose Hill Allotment Association to attend our final presentation. we presented our design ideas, design results, physical models and a brochure to introduce the project to the employers. The employers were very satisfied and interested in our design, and gave us more feedback on the materials and functionality of the space to be remodelled. The msa live session was very interesting and helpful for everyone in the group to follow up on the design, especially in terms of teamwork and meeting the employer's needs.
Posted 23 May 2025 19:47