Name: Ellesse
Course: M.Arch
Atelier: Continuity

Hi everyone!

I'm Ellesse. I am currently studying my Master of Architecture here at MSA. I previously studied my Bachelor of Architecture at Salford University and, after graduating, did a placement year working as an architectural assistant at Stockport Council. During my time there, I worked on a wide range of projects at different RIBA stages, I took pride in knowing that all the projects would make a positive and lasting difference to the people of Stockport.

I'm interested in community-focused design, the impact that spaces can have on people and ensuring that all spaces are accessible to everyone within a community. I enjoy sketching to explore my ideas and concepts. I am currently in the Continuity atelier.

I'm looking forward to working with a great team! and collaborating to deliver a vibrant, inspiring area where the youngest students of Prospect Vale primary school can learn in a functional, creative environment.

The project will not only enable a positive educational environment for the students but also, allow parents and the wider community to see the positive impact on the children’s growth and well-being.

Catchup 2 - Our first site visit to Prospect Vale Primary School.

All of the team members met at the site on the 27th of January with the Headteacher. Luke (Headteacher of the school) gave us a tour around the site and into the chosen rooms for the project.
During the visit, we were able to understand the scale of the project, assess the suitability of proposals and understand the requirements of the space. We were also able to gain first-hand experience from teachers who use the space daily and understand some of the constraints they are having with the current design of the space.
Luke shared with us the feedback from teachers and students using the space, this enabled us to understand what worked well in the space and where there were necessary changes needed.
We were also able to access the current outdoor space and see first-hand the current lack of indoor-outdoor connectivity and how this can be rethought.

Catchup 3 - meeting as a group

Before our first meeting with Emily, we got together as a group of master’s students to reflect on the incredible experience of our site visit. It was a great opportunity to share our thoughts and ideas, align our project aims, and discuss the potential impact we could have on the children’s lives. We also used this time to delegate tasks within the group, ensuring that everyone had a fair role and that each member could contribute equally. It was clear that everyone was just as eager and motivated to help in whatever capacity they could. The meeting left us feeling inspired and united in our goal to create a meaningful and lasting change for the kids.

Meeting 1 - Meeting the Collaborator:

Near the end of last year, we had the exciting opportunity to meet our enthusiastic stakeholder, Luke, who shared his vision for the project. It was a fantastic chance for us to understand exactly what he had in mind and align our design approach with his goals. We also took the opportunity to present some of our initial ideas, which sparked a really productive discussion. Luke’s passion and clear direction gave us a strong foundation to build on, and it was a great way to kickstart this exciting project that we hope will have a lasting impact on the school’s future.

Catch up 4 - Meeting with Emily

We had our first catchup with Emily to discuss our MSA Live project at Prospect Vale Primary School. We ran through the stakeholder’s vision for creating a more engaging and functional early years learning environment, focusing on both indoor and outdoor spaces. Emily gave us some valuable feedback on our initial ideas, including creating interactive learning zones, sensory-friendly areas, and flexible play spaces. We also discussed how to use the project outputs to help the school secure funding. It was really helpful to get her insight, and we’re feeling confident about the direction we’re heading in!

Catchup 5 – MSA Live project aims with Emily

After the first few weeks of group work and collaboration, we had developed a set of base images and draft posters for our MSA Live project. We presented them to Emily, who gave us valuable feedback on which design worked best. After considering her input, we agreed on a final poster that reflected the culmination of great teamwork and creative thinking. Emily’s feedback helped us refine the concept and make sure it aligned with the stakeholder’s vision and MSA live brief. We also discussed the next steps, including our plans to get creative with the kids at the school by running fun, hands-on workshops to engage them in the design process. It’s exciting to see the project taking shape!

Stakeholder Meeting -

Today we met up with Luke on Teams to finalise the action week schedule and activities, and it was great to see how excited he was about the project. Balancing our timetable with the school’s commitments was tricky — some days were already busy, so we had to stay flexible without losing structure. The meeting was really productive, helping us strike the right balance and clarify the final outputs Luke is expecting. It’s exciting to see everything coming together!

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.

12/05/25
Kicking Things Off with the BA Team

We had a great first meet-up with the BA students, and it couldn’t have started better! We began with some quick-fire introductions to break the ice, followed by a chat through the brief and what the project’s all about. Instead of jumping straight into rules or structure, we focused on getting to know each other — what people enjoy, what skills they bring, and how we all work best. It really helped build a sense of team early on. Once we’d settled in, we split into smaller groups to get everything ready for Inspiration Day. All in all, an amazing start to what’s shaping up to be a really exciting project!

13/05/25
Inspiration Day: Our Official Site Visit to Prospect Vale.

As part of our Inspiration Day, we had our official site visit to Prospect Vale Primary — and what a day it was! We spent time with the children, staff, and headteacher, and honestly, it exceeded all our expectations. The kids were full of energy and ideas, and it was incredible to see how enthusiastic they were about getting involved. From creative workshops to open conversations, the day was packed with fun, inspiration, and genuine moments of connection.

The staff were so welcoming and supportive, and it was clear how much this project means to the whole school community. It gave us all a real sense of purpose and reminded us exactly why we’re doing this — to create a space that truly reflects the imagination, needs, and voices of the people who use it every day. It was one of those days that made everything feel real, and we walked away feeling more excited than ever for what’s to come.

Heading Home After Inspiration Day
13/02/05

After an amazing day of workshops and our assembly at Prospect Vale, we travelled back together as a group to make sure everyone got home safely. The journey gave us a perfect chance to reflect on everything that happened — what was said during the assembly, what worked well, and how the kids responded to it all. There were lots of smiles all around, and a real sense of pride in what we’d achieved. It was one of those moments where we all knew: this was a great day, and we’re doing something that really matters.
Some of us also drove to/from the site, as they lived locally!

Turning Inspiration into Ideas
14/05/25

After our amazing Inspiration Day, we came together as a group to unpack all the brilliant feedback we gathered from the kids, staff, and stakeholders. It was time to start imagining what the spaces could actually look like. We broke into smaller groups to begin shaping ideas and exploring how to turn their input into real design proposals.

We also held a series of informal presentations within the group to share progress and test ideas. It was great to see so many creative contributions, especially from the BA students who brought fresh perspectives and strong concepts to the table. It was another great, collaborative day — full of creativity, teamwork, and energy. The project is really starting to take shape, and we’re excited about where it’s heading!

A Day of Design in Full Flow
15/05/25

Today was a full-on day of intense, quick-fire design sessions. We broke off into focused groups, each tackling different parts of the project — from outdoor space to sensory zones and visual outputs. This approach helped us tick off loads of items from our checklist and gave the BA students a real sense of how an architectural practice runs: not everyone works on the same thing, but all the pieces come together to create a cohesive, well-rounded project.

The BA students brought some amazing ideas to the table, and their input really helped push the project forward. It was a great example of teamwork in action and a massive step in shaping the final outcome.

From Workshops to 3D Modelling (with Ice Cream on Top!)
16/05/25

Another great day from a great team! Today’s session was packed with intense workshops and crits, but a real highlight was the 3D digital modelling tutorial we ran for the whole group. It was brilliant to see the master’s students sharing their skills, guiding everyone through modelling furniture pieces that will actually feature in our final design — making the session both fun and purposeful.

We ended the day on a sweet note with an ice cream party (because who doesn’t love ice cream on a hot summer’s day?). It was the perfect way to celebrate everyone’s hard work and appreciate the amazing energy the group continues to bring.

Initial design of spaces
19/05/2025

Today, the groups worked on the designs for the interior and exterior spaces. Using software skills and existing site plans, the team designed and drafted the proposals, using the research and analysis that had been done to use as inspiration and guidance.
The team also looked into the Building Regulations and guidance for designing primary schools (such as the BB103 documentation), this was key as it helped all students in the team to understand that there are specific guidance and requirements set out for the deigning of different spaces.

A Productive Step Toward Our Final Design Proposal
20/05/2025

Today’s session proved to be one of our most productive yet. With clear objectives and strong collaboration, each group member took ownership of specific tasks—either working independently or teaming up to tackle shared goals. This approach allowed us to make significant progress on key elements of our final design proposal.

Throughout the session, we maintained a steady workflow, regularly checking in with one another to align our efforts and ensure cohesion across different components of the project. Whether it was refining visual concepts, developing written content, or organizing research findings, every contribution brought us closer to a well-rounded and thoughtfully constructed final design.

The energy and focus in the room were palpable, and it's clear that our group is becoming more confident and cohesive with each working session. We're excited to see how today’s work contributes to the final product—and even more eager to keep the momentum going.

Today’s a sweet reminder that it's not just about the work we do — it's about the people we do it with. To celebrate the wins, the progress, and just working as a great team, we’ve brought in a little treat... donuts!

The Final Push: Designs, Details, and some Chocolate!
21/05/2025

Today, all the final pieces were pulled together for the project, ensuring everything was ready for our next session, presenting to the collaborator/client. Final design decisions were made, plans and elevations were finalised and photoshopped, and renderings for both the interior and exterior were produced. Everyone had a role, and every detail mattered.

Desks were cluttered with laptops, coffee cups/juices, and chocolate wrappers — the unofficial fuel of the day. Motivation came in many forms: the excitement of seeing ideas come to life, the satisfaction of overcoming design challenges together, and the occasional sugar rush courtesy of chocolate.

We’ll walk away from this project with more than just a portfolio of finalised drawings and visuals. We’re taking with us a shared sense of accomplishment, and a deeper appreciation for what can happen when creative minds come together (with plenty of sweet treats along the way).

A Milestone Achieved: Final Presentation, Client Handover & A Well-Earned Pizza Celebration for the team
22/05/2025

After several days of hard work, designing the spaces for the brief, our final architectural presentation and handover to the client approached very quickly. And we’re happy to say: it couldn’t have gone better.

The Final Presentation
There’s something uniquely satisfying about walking a client through a shared vision from several design team members and collaboration. The presentation began with a recap of the journey — from initial concepts and site analysis to the evolution of the design language and material palette. With visuals, models, and a well-crafted narrative, we highlighted how each decision supported the project’s goals, both functionally and in terms of meeting budget requirements. This happened through presenting a phased approach to the design.

What made this presentation particularly memorable was the client’s reaction. They were genuinely moved by how their vision had been translated into a thoughtful, tangible space for the school's students and staff. They appreciated not just the aesthetics but the attention to detail: how the larger window openings would allow light to enter the existing dark area, the orientation of the workspace for collaboration and sensitivity to sensory pupils, along with the storage improvements and the subtle material transitions that would improve the feel of the space, creating a much more welcoming environment and allow users (students/pupils) to be able to take a journey around the space and explore.

Handover: The Project is Now Theirs
With all documentation finalised — including drawings, specifications for materiality and storage solutions, and the digital model — we officially handed the project over in various forms (A2 poster, booklet, presentation etc). It’s always a bittersweet moment to come to the end of an exciting project, but also deeply fulfilling. After all, our role as designers and the purpose of architectural design is to focus on the people. About creating environments that support and inspire.

Celebrating with Pizza (Of Course!)
Once the nerves settled and the final words of gratitude were exchanged between the collaborator and the team, it was time to do what every hardworking team deserves after a job well done: celebrate.

We headed back to the studio to indulge in some well-earned PIZZA. Laughter replaced presentation nerves, and a reflection of our time spent together took place.

We are all extremely happy with the outcomes of the project and presentation, and the positive reaction of the clients from Prospect Vale! Who were pleasantly surprised and very grateful for transforming their ideas into a visual design that can be used for future improvements at the school.

Final day - Submission and Final outputs (A proud moment for the team)
23/05/2025

Today, we feel a celebration of creativity, collaboration, and commitment. From our first conversation as a group back in January, we knew we wanted to create learning spaces that went beyond traditional expectations. We aimed to design classrooms that inspire curiosity, encourage collaboration, and support the diverse needs of students and staff using the spaces.

As we look at our finished renders, we’re genuinely proud of what we’ve accomplished. Each aspect of our design reflects thoughtful decisions: from natural lighting and flexible furniture layouts to well thought out storage solutions, colour palettes, and accessibility. We wanted our design to reflect the vision that was expressed from the Headteacher (Luke) and the teaching staff at the school. And that we did!!!

Working together as a group has been a big part of what made this project so rewarding. Every member brought something unique to the table, different perspectives, strengths, and creative approaches to designing, and that blend of ideas is what brought our vision to life.

We are very proud as a group, and our hard work is reflected in the final pieces that we have created :).