MSA Live 25

Hello, my name is Sophie. I am a first year M.Arch student in the FLUX Atelier.

I studied in Ann Arbor, at the University of Michigan for my undergraduate degree, returning to the UK after graduation in 2022.

Over the past few years, I have been working at Arkilab Design Studio in Manchester, gaining experience across various RIBA stages. I have specialised in education projects while also working on residential and leisure developments.

Outside of academia, I enjoy playing water polo.

Feel free to contact me at sophiejackson2103@gmail.com

Posted 9 Mar 2025 16:24

Hello, my name is Alliah, and I am a 5th-year MArch student in the AND Atelier.

In 2023, I graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Reading, where I focused on cultural and vernacular architecture through a linear and historiographical visual art style. I also have a strong interest in pedagogy and construction detailing.

I spent a year in industry working in London as both a Part 1 Architectural Assistant and an Architectural Building Regulations Consultant. During this time, I managed projects from appointment and concept design through to snagging and handover. My experience at one of the UK’s leading firms in luxury retail architecture allowed me to operate on both micro and macro scales, managing projects, handling tenders, and engaging directly with clients.

While studying at MSA, I have developed a keen interest in ultra-sustainability and community development, which I explore through iterative rendering and visualisation. I aim to continually refine my skills in software such as V-Ray, Lumion, and Twinmotion while also improving my pedagogy skills to help others optimise their own.

Outside of architecture, I enjoy playing the piano, keeping fit through horse riding and running, and, most importantly, getting a good night's sleep!

Please feel free to contact me on Mahasin.Nadeem@stu.mmu.ac.uk. I am excited to begin our work together!

Posted 9 Mar 2025 17:14

Ayesha T

Hi, My name is Ayesha Tariq. I am a 2nd year part time student of MA Architecture and Adaptive Reuse. I completed my bachelor’s degree from the National College of Arts (NCA) in Pakistan, and I am currently pursuing my master’s in architecture with a specialization in adaptive reuse. This program allows me to explore innovative ways to repurpose existing structures, merging historical significance with modern functionality. My aim is to contribute to sustainable architectural practices that respect the past while fulfilling contemporary needs.
Email: ayeshatariq5860@gmail.com

Posted 9 Mar 2025 19:24

Hii!! My name is Sakshi Ahuja
Atelier: NSH (Non Standard Habitat)

As a first-year M.Arch student, my academic journey has been shaped by my love for drawing and music, ultimately leading me to architecture. My passion for the subject has only grown, particularly in how geometry and the fusion of solid shapes are potent sources of inspiration. My goal as an architect is to develop an efficient and sustainable approach to today’s challenges, with a strong focus on responsibility and sensitivity. I also enjoy creating graphical visuals with Photoshop and Illustrator. In addition to my academic pursuits, I hold a bachelor's degree from the SAL School Of Architecture, Ahmedabad, India, and have gained 16 months of valuable experience in an architecture and interior firm.
Interests outside of architecture: I enjoy dancing, creative writing, and yapping.
Contact email: sakshi9913@gmail.com

Posted 9 Mar 2025 22:07

We are enthusiastic individuals who believe in creating environments where people can play freely, explore, and develop crucial social skills. By refurbishing existing play equipment and introducing new, innovative structures, we aim to create a safe and stimulating space where people of all ages can enjoy outdoor activities. This project is about improving a park and fostering a culture of inclusivity, wellness, and community engagement. We are all moving towards a healthier and more inclusive future. Stay tuned for updates on fundraising events and ways to get involved in shaping a park that genuinely serves everyone. Get ready to be part of something exciting!

Posted 10 Mar 2025 00:07

Welcome to the Site!

Neighborhood green space providing a soccer field, playground & a BMX & skateboard area.
Highlights: Dogs allowed · Picnic tables · Playground
Departments: Basketball court
Address: Stretford Rd, Manchester M15 4ZY
Hours: Open 24 hours

It is located in Manchester's prime location. Significant landmarks like Deansgate Towers, residential areas, a Community center, and the Church surround the park, which is usually busy.

Posted 10 Mar 2025 00:18

Fancy joining us?

During our two action weeks, we will produce a design response to the site and brief, but we would also like to use this time to help you develop the skills you wish to learn. We specifically focus on visuals regarding 2D and 3D renders, digital or physical modeling, sketching, collaging, rendering, or preparing presentations. We will use our individual strengths to help you develop your skills. According to the action plan, we will be split into two groups, and the winning group will get a Prize!!

If anything here sparks your interest, or you have any questions, please get in touch! We also love food, especially Pizza, and kindred people!! See you soon:)

Posted 10 Mar 2025 00:19

Kunal J

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!

Posted 28 Mar 2025 16:48

We met at the Geoffrey Manton building at 9 a.m. to prepare for the day. We collected pastries and drinks from Tesco, slightly exceeding the budget requirements set out prior to starting. The students began arriving at 10 a.m., and we waited to begin the introductory presentations.
We ran through the project introduction, including the site introduction, project brief, scope of works, and competition outline. This went faster than anticipated (as outlined on the action plan), so we headed to the site to have a look around.

Posted 12 May 2025 14:25

We visited the site, first introducing the key elements within our scope of work. The students were given 45 minutes to explore, taking photos, sketching designs, etc. We then met the collaborator at the basketball courts and were given a guided tour of the park, during which they re-iterated our project brief, demonstrating their unique ideas and passion for the project.

Posted 12 May 2025 22:26

The afternoon began with a walkthrough of our existing 3D model of Hulme Park. This was followed by a detailed breakdown of the three software we will be using (Enscape, V-Ray, Lumion), including pros and cons, different uses, etc. We showed example renders extracted from each as well as some of our own from previous university projects. We discussed with the students their preferences for which software they would be interested in learning and separated them into three teams for the competition.

Posted 12 May 2025 22:32

Day 2!
We kicked off the day at 10am with a presentation from Kenneth, who walked us through the different areas of Hulme Park that the students would be rendering and visualizing. Once most of the group had arrived, we split into smaller teams focused on Enscape, Lumion, and V-Ray. From there, we began exploring the basics of SketchUp and Revit. Students started downloading the software and exchanging early ideas with one another.

Posted 13 May 2025 14:45

In the afternoon we reconvened in our teams to work on developing the models. The afternoon involved investigating viewpoints, adding materials and further exploring the rendering software. The enscape group worked primarily in Revit focusing on the skatepark as a starting point, with a view to looking at the other areas including the community centre, amphitheatre etc. in the days to come.

Posted 13 May 2025 15:39

We met in the Geoffrey Manton building at 10 am. Kunal conducted a short presentation highlighting the action plan for the week, setting out the time frames and expectations for deliverables. We then separated into our three teams and continued to work on creating the visuals. The Enscape team began developing their skills in SketchUp, and we had some issues with the software, but we managed to swap computers around to ensure each student had a working SketchUp and Enscape set up. The Lumion and V-Ray teams relocated to the CAD lab to conduct their workshops. The primary focus for the day was on adding materials to the models.

Posted 14 May 2025 15:20

Sakshi is leading the SketchUp and Lumion training sessions in the CAD lab. The sessions began by introducing students to material applications, plugin usage, and importing objects from the SketchUp Warehouse.

The following day, they were briefly introduced to Lumion, covering navigation, user interface, material editing, and adding objects and effects to their scenes.

Today, the focus has shifted to rendering views in Lumion. Each one is working on an individual project zone, including the community area, basketball court, and skateboard park.

The sessions aim to equip them with the skills required for visualization, rendering, and post-production workflows.

Posted 15 May 2025 14:37

Throughout the day, the Lumion team worked in the CAD lab with the Enscape and V-Ray teams congregating in the Geoffrey Manton building. The day consisted of adding and editing materials for the renders, the teams splitting the various development areas, with each member focusing on developing one zone of the park. The Enscape team managed to extract a high-quality visual of the community centre to be taken into post-production, with a view to finishing the other three tomorrow (Friday) morning. So far, the students have picked up the software well and are creating some exciting visuals.

Posted 15 May 2025 23:11

To start the day, Ayesha gave a half-hour workshop demonstrating the basics of Photoshop and how it could be used to help enhance the quality of the visuals. From there, the group separated into their teams, all remaining in the Geoffrey Manton building. Across the morning, the students developed their renders, some teams further along than others, based on technical issues and illness across the week. At lunch, we collated the images to show to the rest of the group as part of a presentation. To finish the day, we had a short discussion about how the students had found the software, any issues, as well as things they'd picked up from their peers' work. The files were collated and sent to the collaborator for feedback. There were some issues with people missing the Friday due to work and illness; therefore, some of the renders produced could not be included in the submission. We will be looking to send an updated version on Monday if possible, giving the collaborator time to review before Tuesday.

Posted 16 May 2025 16:01

Over the weekend, we (the master's students) spent time reviewing the visuals submitted as part of the mid-project review, marking them up using red pen to illustrate areas of improvement to be addressed on Monday prior to receiving the collaborator feedback.

Posted 18 May 2025 15:13

Following our weekend red pen review session, during which we thoroughly assessed the submitted visuals for mid-project review, the feedback was marked directly on the renders to clearly identify areas needing refinement. These annotations helped structure the next round of improvements, ensuring clarity ahead of the collaborator feedback.

Yesterday, we shared a glimpse of the updated renders with collaborators for early insight. Today, the bachelor's students are actively implementing the suggested changes, focusing on enhancing the quality of visualization, rendering, and overall post-production workflows. Their hands-on involvement has been pivotal in refining the outputs further.

We are now entering the final stretch of the project phase, aligning all elements for a cohesive and impactful presentation. The momentum is strong, and the collaborative effort across levels is showing impressive results.

Posted 19 May 2025 12:33

This morning, we were a little bit low on numbers based on pending undergraduate deadlines and illness. Unfortunately, despite our agreement for the collaborator to provide feedback by today, we received no information from them. As a result, we conducted 1 - 2 - 1 tutorials with the students to help develop their renders further. We struggled, missing some master's students, and therefore, we had to re-arrange, and some of the students had to use different computer setups and software to achieve their daily outputs.

Posted 20 May 2025 16:36

This afternoon saw slightly lower numbers than this morning, however our individual tutorials continued. Our Vray team were busy creating grass scatters, figuring out great ways to combine guests in order to create diverse context. Similarly, our Enscape team were busy using photoshop, polishing up renders, ready for feedback. Due to the slower morning, this afternoon did lack some energy, however student output was on track for our final presentations.

Posted 20 May 2025 20:13

Yesterday was one of the busiest days, as everyone was working on the verge of producing the best renders.

Posted 22 May 2025 15:06

Morning Celebration Highlights! 🍕

Today, we kicked off the morning with a Pizza Party to celebrate everyone's hard work and creativity! A big congratulations to our winners from each group:

🏆 V-Ray Group – Joseph
🏆 Enscape Group – Nicola
🏆 Lumion Team – Arena

We’re so proud of all the efforts — well done, everyone!
Here we share some joyful moments from our celebration! 📸✨

Posted 22 May 2025 15:20

🎉 Behind the Scenes & Beyond the Party!
Sophie and I rehearsed the prize ceremony to ensure everything ran smoothly — and it did! Post-party, we dove straight into publication work.

But don’t worry, the party spirit stayed with us — the images say it all!
Highlights:
Sophie’s love for chocolates is now officially documented (she couldn’t resist)!

Here are the images — the joy, the laughter, the learning, and yes, the chocolate. 🍕📸

Posted 22 May 2025 16:00

The final day consisted of finishing up the final edits. Sophie worked hard completing the publication while I wrote up the last of the text. We all jumped on a video call to discuss final objectives and uploading, so let's cross our fingers everything is right! We all came together, glad and happy to have achieved everything in the past two weeks, reminiscing on our struggles and our wins.

Posted 23 May 2025 15:39