MSA Live 26

Week 3 - 03/03/2026

Today we presented and reviewed the site analysis we have been developing since our last meeting. We have each developed an understanding of our chosen sites in smaller groups and were enthusiastic to hear about each other’s work today.

For each site, we went through analysis of traffic routes, congestion points and important crossing areas. It was pivotal to gain an understanding of the potential weak points in the existing site before moving into the design stage of the project. This is beneficial in our process as safety and travel routes are at the forefront of this project. We also discussed what each of the schools and wider community had access to and, in contrast, what each could be wanting. These included things such as availability to green spaces, playground equipment and communal meeting spaces. Now that we have identified these elements we can confidently move forward in the design process to developing site specific interventions. Each site is unique and poses an exciting opportunity for a community space we look forward to working on.

Before the next session we have arranged for a second meeting with our collaborators to organise community engagement meetings with the schools relevant to this project. This will be an opportunity for us to refine the community opinion of the sites in person, rather than relying solely on our initial desktop studies. We look forward to expanding the depth of this project through these conversations.

Project Kick-off
3 February 2026

Today marked our first official group meeting and the beginning of a collaborative and exploratory journey. We selected one of the suggested ice-breaker activities, allowing us to get to know each other in a relaxed and engaging way, setting a positive tone for our collaboration. We engaged in a focused discussion prompted by guidelines on working methods, clarifying individual preferences, communication styles, and collaborative approaches to lay the groundwork for effective teamwork. Based on the project brief, we compiled a list of questions to better understand the project context and needs during our upcoming meeting with the collaborator. In the evening, we met with our collaborator from Liverpool. Through face-to-face conversation, we gained a clearer understanding of the project’s main content, vision, and expectations, further defining the direction for our research and design.
It has been an inspiring start—everyone is enthusiastic and looking forward to the journey ahead. We’ll keep you updated as we progress. Stay tuned!

Site Visit 1 - We had a walking tour from the Etihad Stadium through Holt Town, ending at New Islington, alongside our collaborator Transport for Greater Manchester and a representative from Manchester City Council.

As we walked through Holt Town, the council representative explained the regeneration plans and their long-term vision for the area. Experiencing the site on foot gave us valuable insight into the opportunities and constraints within Holt Town, as well as a clearer understanding of what future residents may need in terms of connectivity, public space, and infrastructure.

This was a successful site visit, as it provided strong contextual grounding and clarified Holt Town’s relationship to Manchester city centre. The discussions from this meeting informed our first steps towards identifying a new location for the proposal of the Holt Town Travel Hub.

Yesterday the group used our timetabled meeting to get some work done and enjoy the sun! We discussed the online meeting we had with our collaborator, Steve, last week, narrowed down and distributed our roles for the festival output, and planned our trip to Sale today.

Second Meeting 17/2/2026 – From Ideas to Action

Today’s session marked a strong progression from our introductory meeting into a more structured action plan. Since last week, the poster team has produced a beautiful poster that captures the essence of Active Axis. We began by reviewing it together as a group, discussing refinements and ensuring that the key principles: accessibility, vibrancy, community, greenery etc. were communicated effectively.
We then shifted our focus towards the practical foundations of the project. We divided into four groups to work efficiently: Budget Planning, Risk Assessment, Project Timeline and Ethics Application. Each group was led by at least one Master’s student, supporting BA1 students. Working in a focused 30-minute interval, we developed our respective sections before regrouping to share progress. This allowed everyone to comment, add missing details and stay aligned with each other’s work.
The Budget team presented first, followed by the Risk Assessment team. As discussions developed, we agreed that we should work on the Ethics Application collaboratively to reflect the shared responsibility of the project. We concluded by reviewing and refining the timeline, adding more detailed stages to ensure clarity moving forward.
Our tutor later joined us to provide feedback on the poster and guidance on today’s tasks, helping us refine and strengthen our direction. Towards the end of the session, we began brainstorming ideas for community engagement, including integrating a QR code on the poster or organising a physical activity, both aimed at encouraging the users to contribute their opinions on what they would like to see within the community.
We ended by summarising progress, setting deadlines and allocating responsibilities, ensuring clear direction for the week ahead. Check the next blog as Active Axis continues to grow.

Meeting 3

03.03.2026 - Preparing for Site Visit

Developing ethical applications, consent forms, participant information sheets. Discussions around risks assessments and budgeting for the project. First draft of a timeline developed by BA1 students and reviewed by the team.

Hello, I’m Yagmur Iz, a BA1 Architecture student from Istanbul, Turkey.

Even though my interest in both mathematics and visual arts played a great role in me pursuing architecture, what really encouraged me to study architecture was the opportunity to shape the way people live and create environments that foster hope.

Being engaged with The Talk Shop gives me the opportunity to design a space that prioritizes connection, inclusivity, and well-being and to assist people whose needs are often overlooked.

I am looking forward to learning from diverse communities and developing imaginative and socially conscious approaches to architecture while working with other MSA students.

3/3/2026

Todays session began on a strategic note. Before jumping into design, we sat down to carefully structure the framework around it — finalising and discussing the Budget, Risk Assessment, Ethics, and our Project Timeline. It was important for us to ground the project in reality, ensuring that our ideas are not only ambitious but responsible, feasible, and aligned with the values of Monton Unitarian Church.

As the conversation developed, it naturally transitioned into early design thinking. With clearer constraints of budgets and risk assessments and a direction in place, we began preparing material to pitch to the client.

Each of us brought forward relevant precedents, which we analysed collectively, asking how they support user wellbeing, encourage gathering, and create moments of retreat. We sharpened our focus on our chosen user group and considered how the proposal could reflect both the client’s ethos and the lived experiences of those we are designing for.

A major milestone for this session was the completion of our 3D site model. Having a digital base to work from allowed us to begin experimenting visually. Testing massing ideas, exploring spatial relationships, and conceptualising how our intervention might sit within the existing context. Moving between conversation, sketching, and modelling made the process feel dynamic and collaborative, marking the first real moment where our research began to translate into form.

Minecraft Soundtrack = Creative Mode

Week 2 was us sharing vibes and brainstorming for the less glamorous but very necessary bit: getting the project properly organised. We split into smaller teams to tackle different tasks (planning, timeline, ethics, engagement, risk, and budget), then kept regrouping to compare notes and make sure we weren’t all quietly building different versions of the same project.

We also pushed the design forward and wrapped up the posters. Working in mini groups helped us move faster, but the best part was coming back together to review them as a whole team; lots of debates, a few ruthless cuts, and a shared agreement that clarity wins (even if we were emotionally attached to certain layouts).

In parallel, we started properly sharing design references and early ideas, building a quick inspiration board, swapping case studies, and throwing around thoughts on temporary/lightweight/movable structures. Nothing too precious yet, but enough to get everyone on the same page and start shaping a shared visual direction.

Day 2 - Pre-project Admin - 17/02/25
During our second meeting, we regrouped to review progress across the different workstreams. The poster team shared updates on their developing visuals, while the blog team presented the current structure and direction of the written content. This check-in helped ensure alignment across the group and highlighted areas that required further development.
Our discussion then shifted towards gathering meaningful insights from the local community. As a team, we explored potential approaches to engagement, including identifying which site to prioritise and considering the value of conducting a visit to Wigan. We discussed how direct interaction with local residents, youth groups, and community stakeholders could help ground our proposals in real needs and lived experiences.
Building on these conversations, we began outlining a clear strategy for moving forward. This included recognising the need to prepare a risk assessment for any site visit or public engagement activities, alongside developing an initial budget plan to account for travel and material costs. We also acknowledged the importance of establishing a realistic time plan to coordinate research, engagement, and design development effectively.
Day 2 marked an important step in shifting from initial understanding towards structured planning, ensuring our next actions are both responsible and well-organised.

03/03/2026

On a scorching day at the beginning of March in an even more scorching Crawford House seminar room our plan for today was to teach all the BA1s AutoCAD to produce the necessary architectural drawings for our project. Jake showed a great deal of patience during the downloading process of the programme, as well as in his teaching methods, greatly helping the BA1s, who are often heard to miss digital skills sessions due to heavy Tuesday nights out after MSA Live sessions. Once agreeing on who was drawing plans and who was drawing elevations, Mr Hyde (not to do with Dr Jekyll) helped us wrap up our session today.

Hi my name is Milena Ereh,
I'm a First year architecture student at MSA. Previously i studied Art and design, maths and chemistry at A-Level. My current skills revolve around analogy drawing however I’m excited to learn more about digital techniques throughout this project. Outside of architecture i enjoy oil and watercolour painting as well as charcoal drawing. Sine high school I've had a passion for art surrounding nature and landscape that's only grown with my interest for architecture. I hope that working Moor Allerton Preparatory School in this project will help me understand the importance of the relationship between a community and nature better and how both can thrive unanimously.

Group 13: Withington Baths ‘Internal Reflection’
As our group is getting closer and more stuck in with our project at Withington Baths, we wanted to take a moment to have a quick "internal interview" with the team.

Communication:
The general consensus - we’re actually talking to each other! Jiabin and Song both highlighted that our communication has been a major strength from day one. Ben agreed, noting that the team has shown great input and attendance across the board.

One of the big "unknowns” going in was how the different year groups would mesh. Mia, Laiba, and Manouka admitted they were a little worried that the Masters students might be intimidating. Thankfully, they’ve found the opposite to be true!

The Workload:
We’ve been pretty strategic about how we divvy up the workload. Our group all feel that jobs have been assigned based on people’s strengths as well as opportunities to learn.

Split into subgroups, we’ve all worked well to produce a successful poster and blog, a thorough plan of action, a budget proposal, and a detailed risk assessment.

In the mini interview that took place during today’s group work, many also pointed out that everyone is "pulling their weight" and meeting deadlines, which is always a massive win for a university group project.

A ‘What If’ Exercise with the Budget Team
We asked: What would happen if our budget suddenly doubled?

Our budget team agreed that while we can still do a lot with what we have, extra cash would mean:

1. Physical Models: More 3D explorations of our ideas.
2. Easier Community Engagement: we could create even better Withington community engagement.
3. Site Logistics: It could make site visits even easier for the whole team.

What’s Not Working?:
Every project does have its hurdles though! It has been noted that our Tuesday sessions can feel a bit drawn out, however we are working to stay flexible and keep everyone involved.

A recurring issue raised in the interview is that slightly itchy phase we’ve found ourselves in where we’re waiting for the ‘real’ design work to kick off. There’s definitely an appetite to see layouts and examples of previous submissions so we can really start to visualise our final output.

One more thing we need to fix: not everyone has been to the site yet. Getting everyone down to the Baths is top of the priority list!

Looking Ahead:
Overall the mood is high and we’ve realised we have a "nice" group (Mackenzie’s words!), and that’s half the battle won already. We are specifically looking forward to the visualisation stage, and getting more stuck in with the community.

March 1
Hi, my name is Pengjia Dai. You can just call me Daisy. I’m a postgraduate student from MSA. I graduated from the University of Liverpool. During the gap year, I interned at many types of companies. It’s my first time engage in a landscape project. Because of the TV show ‘Clarkson’s Farm’, then I got interested in the ecology and agriculture in the UK. I'm happy to join this project and put it into practice.

03/03/2026

Today we brainstormed ideas on how to engage with the community at the garden ahead of our second site visit next weekend. We decided to collate precedents of water features which we will print and show the volunteers and members of the Salford Croquet Club who play on Saturday afternoons. We are planning on giving them coloured paper to vote for which ideas they like or dislike, allowing us to get a holistic idea on what design style is favoured before we start designing the water feature in the coming weeks, as well as allowing the community to have a say in the design process.

During our meeting today, we had a doughnut birthday party! This was to celebrate the birthdays of three of our team members. As we continue our MSA Live journey, these moments of team bonding help to keep our motivated and relaxed meetings.

Hi, I’m Weixian Cai from China. a postgraduate student currently pursuing MAAR at MSA. With a solid foundation in architectural design and a keen interest in urban spatial dynamics, I am committed to exploring innovative and sustainable solutions within the built environment.

My academic journey at MSA has further refined my technical skills and critical thinking, allowing me to bridge the gap between theoretical research and practical application. I am passionate about creating spaces that are not only aesthetically compelling but also socially impactful.

GREENHOUSE MEASURE-UP

Today our group visited Blossom’s greenhouses to take accurate site measurements using a laser measurer. We recorded key dimensions of the greenhouse structure to help us map the layout correctly. We left with a clear set of measurements and photos, ready to turn into scaled drawings and start developing our first birdhouses design proposals.

17/02/2026
Today was our second scheduled meeting. Starting with the poster we discussed the current design and suggested improvements to be made before the submission. We uploaded our project description, completed our first few blog posts and started to talk over our: project timeline, budget, risk assessment and ethics application. Finally we divided up the tasks for the next two weeks.

My name is Haoyan Duan , and I am a Chinese first-year BA Architecture student at the Manchester School of Architecture. I have a strong interest in site- and landscape-led design, and in the relationship between architecture, historical context and user experience. I aim to further develop my spatial thinking and technical skills throughout my studies, and to pursue an environmentally and socially responsible design approach. I am proficient in Photoshop and SketchUp, using them for visual communication, architectural collage and three-dimensional modelling to support design development.

17/2/26 Site visit

We visited the site and met with the Friends of Worthington volunteers to better understand the space we will be designing for. This visit was extremely helpful, as it gave us a clearer understanding of the clients’ needs and expectations for the project. Being on-site also helped us identify practical challenges and environmental considerations that may influence our design decisions. During the visit, we discovered that a fox den is currently located in the area where the seating is planned. As a result, we will need to collaborate closely with the volunteers to ensure that any changes are handled ethically and responsibly, allowing the foxes to safely relocate to a suitable alternative area before construction begins.

Hi, I’m Jewel, a BA1 student at the Manchester School of Architecture. I’m originally from Myanmar, a country rich in traditional architecture. I have always enjoyed studying mathematics and have a strong interest in understanding how spaces are defined and used, which inspired me to pursue architecture.

Since both of my parents are architects, I grew up in an environment filled with drawings and people designing houses, which further strengthened my passion for the field.

I am eager to take part in this MSA project alongside peers from diverse cultural backgrounds. I truly appreciate the opportunity to gain new knowledge and skills through this project and to collaborate with my peers to create a better space for Stockport.

Hello, my name is Natasha and I am a first year student in architecture. As I am new to the course, I am still exploring the possibilities and types of projects I would prefer in the future. This project is my exploration or larger, communal designs and I am very excited to take another step in my journey of self discovery.

17/02/2026

This day was more about coming together after meeting with our collaborators to develop our ideas for the project and also to think about our project timeline and costs. We split up the tasks so that they were equally divided between all the group members for efficiency. We also worked together in brainstorming activities for the year 4 students, which allowed us to find similar precedents for inspiration and to use as a reference when communicating with our collaborators. Our structured approach for the day improved our overall productivity and created a strong sense of teamwork within the group.

Session 2 – Engagement activities and necessary documents!

In our second session, we focused on engagement activities and worked through some key documents. To keep things organised, each MArch1 student was given a task, supported by a BA1 or Foundation student. It worked really well - we were able to learn from each other’s strengths while keeping everything moving at a good pace.

The documentation included a Project Timeline, Ethics Application, Risk Assessment, and Budget Proposal. The budget task especially pushed us to think more creatively about engagement. We started brainstorming how we could make our activities interactive and enjoyable for the users of the site, particularly the kids at HYDE Community Courts.

This session helped us understand how much thought goes into planning meaningful engagement, and how important it is to design activities that people actually want to take part in when we head to site!

Meeting 02 — 17/02/2026

On our second group meeting, we focused on further improving the poster and its supporting description. We discussed the overall look and its definition of United Didsbury church, including texture, layout decisions, and agreeing on clear titles that communicate the project direction.

Project direction
We then divided into smaller groups to cover the key project strands. This included developing the risk assessment, outlining ethical considerations, setting up the project timeline, and starting a basic budget framework so we can track deliverables and responsibilities more clearly moving forward.

Hello, I’m Yisheng Li, currently studying MArch 1 at the Manchester School of Architecture.

I’m not a professional hiking enthusiast, but I enjoy sports and I’m always happy to take part in a long-distance walk or a casual ramble from time to time. I often focus on large-scale architectural projects, so having the opportunity to explore smaller-scale installations is a refreshing and valuable experience for me.

I’m familiar with most digital design software, and I’m confident that I can contribute more on the computational and visual design side of the project. Spending weekends or holidays close to nature, especially on the outskirts of the city, is always a great choice. Therefore, I’m really looking forward to bringing new energy to the Great Manchester Ringway and attracting more people to engage with and become part of this initiative.

This Monday, Group 5 took the initiative to visit the site in Macclesfield for the first time. After meeting with our collaborator, she guided us on a tour through the museum, walking us through each exhibition space and sharing her perspective on the current challenges the site faces. Seeing the space in person immediately helped us better understand some issues we had previously discussed. One challenge was that the exhibitions felt disconnected from one another in accessibility and theme. The access points between rooms were often unclear, which made navigation confusing and disrupted the overall visitor journey. We also observed that some areas felt cluttered, with displays competing for attention, while others were much more thought-out. The room with the looms and historic flooring, in particular, stood out for its thoughtful layout, demonstrating how impactful the space could be when designed with care. This contrast highlighted the potential for improvement across the rest of the museum. The layout itself was occasionally disorienting. For example, the first exhibition visitors encounter focuses on ancient Egypt, which feels unrelated to the museum’s core theme of silk. This raised questions about how the museum's narrative is introduced and whether the sequence of spaces could be restructured to create a clearer, more cohesive story, for example, by moving the initial access point and the cafe to the other side of the building. During the visit, we documented the space by taking measurements and photographs to support our later analysis and design work. This practical step felt important, as it gave us concrete information to refer back to when developing our design proposal. Overall, the visit was extremely valuable. Experiencing the museum firsthand gave us a much clearer understanding of both its strengths and its problem areas, and it helped ground our ideas for engagement and design in the realities of the space. The trip left us feeling better prepared for the next stage of the project.

Hi! I’m Thabisile, a Foundation Year student at the Manchester School of Architecture, helping to design the forthcoming school in Aweil. I got into architecture because of how well-rounded the subject can be; it’s a balance between philanthropy, art, logic, and business. It challenges how I think. As personally fulfilling as architecture is, I also enjoy the community that it creates. Architectural design connects like-minded people, in the same way that MSA Live has. I’m excited to work with my peers to create something that has an impact on a community outside of my own. Loreto Sixth Form is the college I attended for my A-Levels and it’s great knowing I have the opportunity to work with them to help develop the skills and confidence of other girls, just as Loreto did for me.

I'm Harry - I've just completed my undergrad at MMU in interior design and am now studying Adaptive reuse at MSA. I'm looking forward to working on a live project which involves real clients as a group. I'm particularly interested in how aesthetics, space and the built environment influence our behaviour and what role we as designers play in shaping that.

Hello! I'm Roshni Patel a BA1 student at the Manchester School of Architecture. I am of Indian heritage and growing up experiencing different cultures has given me a unique outlook on architecture. I studied maths, physics and 3D design at A-level which have all set me up for my journey at the MSA. I like this project because it is adaptive reuse and has a wide range of users to consider. I can't wait to work with my team, learn from others and make a real impact on the Rossendale community. I am very excited to see this project grow!

Meet the Collaborators
03/02/2026
The first task was introducing members of the team, assigning roles and establishing team values and expectations. This was closely followed up by a meeting with our collaborators where we discussed the brief and possible outcomes from the brief in greater depth. Meeting with Thornton Manor representatives also gave us further insight into the history of the sight, allowing us consider how its context may be applied in future outputs.

Overall Mood(s): Curious & Excited

18 Feb 2026 @ Mossley Community Centre

/ Site Visit
MArch 1 students visited Mossley Community Centre to spend time with the community and hear their thoughts, stories, and hopes for the space. Through conversations and careful observation, we began to understand how the centre is used and what truly matters to its users. We also took measurements and documented the existing conditions to support the next stage of our design development.

Course: MArch 1
Atelier: CPU(AI)

Hi, I’m Milia from Malaysia. I completed my undergraduate degree there before coming to MSA. Having studied and lived in different places, I’m interested in how context shapes the way people use and experience spaces. I’m drawn to architecture that focuses on everyday use, and this project is a chance for me to explore how design can make knowledge more open and engaging.