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Group 32 / STREET RECLAIM
Zehra C
Presentation Day

Presentation Day was the day when we shared the work we had developed throughout the semester and the outcomes we gained during Action Week. No new material was produced on this day; instead, we presented our process, research, engagement activities, and final proposal through the publication, presentation, and project materials that had already been prepared.

The presentation took place in the Geoffrey Manton Building, and our collaborator was also present during the session. The project was presented through a shared narration by three members of the group. This allowed us to explain the research process, observations around the school, conversations with students, parents, teachers, and Manchester City Council representatives, the activities carried out with the children, and the design proposal in a more organised way.

During the presentation, we particularly explained how the project related to the School Streets programme and how the closed street could be reimagined not only as a space for movement, but also as a social, safe, and play-focused public space for children, families, and the school community. The drawings, games, and feedback collected from the site during the engagement activities were also presented as an important part of the project narrative.

After the presentation, we had the opportunity to speak with our collaborator. They said that they liked the proposal and mentioned that the documents we had prepared could be used for their own work and future discussions. This feedback was important because it showed that the project was not only an academic output, but also a useful and meaningful document for a real stakeholder.
Posted 18 May 2026 01:51
Group 16 / ACTIVE AXIS
Nadia Ibrahim Mourad Kadry Ahmed S
15/05
The day was finally here! Our presentation was scheduled at 11.15am in the GM building LT.1. We all went in from 10:00am and attentively listened to all the previous groups while they were presenting their projects. Fortunately, we were lucky enough to have ‘Lisa’ one of our collaborators joining us today. When our turn came, we presented our project and since the slides weren’t that many in relation to the number of people in our group, we collectively decided on who would present. After presenting, we could all feel from our collaborator’s positive reaction that she was quite fond of how we developed the idea and how it has evolved. She said “I love how you’ve developed the concept in a way that bridges the community of life leisure and the community of the school nextdoor.” Our collaborater also stated that she wishes that they could actually adapt this idea and execute it in life leisure. After listening to all the other groups present, we went out for pizza as a group for a well deserved celebration. Overall, MSA live was a pleasure as it gave us the chance to get to know each other and work on this project together throughout this semester. The end of MSA live is bittersweet but thank you group 16 for making this an enjoyable experience.
Posted 17 May 2026 19:10
Group 32 / STREET RECLAIM
Gokalp K
Action Week – Final Day

The final day of Action Week was focused on bringing all of our work together and preparing the final outputs for submission. We met as a group in the Geoffrey Manton Building, where we spent the day finalising both the publication and the presentation. At this stage, the main aim was to make sure that all the material we had produced during the week was clearly organised, visually consistent, and communicated the story of the project in a coherent way.

Throughout the day, we reviewed the structure of the presentation, refined the graphic language, and checked that the key moments from the week were properly represented. This included our site observations, conversations with students, parents, teachers, and Manchester City Council representatives, as well as the engagement activities we carried out with the children. We also worked on the publication, ensuring that it documented not only the final proposal but also the process behind it, from research and site analysis to testing ideas during Action Week.

A significant part of the day was spent editing, aligning, and completing the final drawings, diagrams, texts, and visual material. As all the individual parts of the project came together, we were able to see more clearly how the research, engagement, and design proposal supported one another. This final stage helped us reflect on the value of working directly with the school community and how their feedback shaped our understanding of the street as a social, playful, and everyday space rather than only a route for circulation.

Once all the submission materials were completed, we ended the week by going out for pizza together as a group. This was a small celebration of the intense work we had done throughout the whole semester, but also a chance to reflect more informally on the experience. Overall, the final day was not only about finishing the publication and presentation, but also about recognising the collaborative effort behind the project and the shared process that brought all of the work together.
Posted 16 May 2026 13:15
Group 14 / BUILT TO BELONG
Niamh H
Session 13: The Final Presentation

After weeks of meetings, surveys, revisions, publication edits, and more layout changes than any of us would like to admit, today was finally presentation day.

The session began with final checks, rehearsals, and making sure everyone knew their sections before presenting our finished proposal to tutors, peers, and collaborators. Although our own collaborator unfortunately couldn’t attend in person, we had been in contact beforehand and received really positive feedback, which reassured us that the scheme successfully responded to the brief and the needs of the space.

The presentation itself felt like a strong way to wrap up the project. It was rewarding to finally share the work after seeing how much it had developed from the early brainstorming sessions into a resolved proposal backed by community feedback, site analysis, and collaborative design decisions.

We also received encouraging commentary from tutors, particularly around the value of reflecting honestly on the collaborative process throughout the project. Looking back, the project became about much more than just the final design outcome. It was also a lesson in communication, adaptability, compromise, and learning how to work through challenges as a team.

A slightly surreal end to a very busy few weeks, but a satisfying one. Definitely earned the post-presentation food and coffee afterwards.
Posted 15 May 2026 23:20
Group 14 / BUILT TO BELONG
Niamh H
Session 12: Coffee, Communication & a Change of Scene

Before our scheduled day of building the publication and preparing presentation work, this session took a slightly different direction. After raising some communication issues within the group with our tutors, we were encouraged to step back from the project for a moment and spend some time together outside of the usual studio environment. The suggestion of “go for a coffee” becoming official tutor-approved advice.

So, after revisiting the budget, we decided to take the group out for coffee as a small team bonding activity before starting the day’s work. Not everyone was able to make it, so there weren’t any dramatic overnight fixes to the communication issues, but it was still a genuinely enjoyable way to start the session.

It gave us a chance to talk more casually before jumping straight back into publication layouts, presentation edits, and the usual organised chaos of deadlines. More than anything, it helped break up the monotony of the scheduled studio days and set a more positive tone for the work ahead.

A small change to the routine, but a useful reminder that collaboration is sometimes helped most by simply taking a step back together first.
Posted 15 May 2026 22:40
Group 03 / PETRI OF PLAY
Milia Marnissa Binti M
Final day of MSA Live
15/5/2026

Morning rehearsals, final timing checks, and one last run-through before the 3pm presentation in the lecture theatre. We closed the day with pizzas, coffees, and drinks, using our remaining budget to sit together one last time. A small celebration marking the end of the journey, and everything that came with it.
Posted 15 May 2026 22:35
Group 12 / TALK SHOP
Nandi Tlotlanang M
Action Week Day 4
Presentation finalisation!

The session was spent on adding the final touch-ups to our presentation slides. We then proceeded to go through the running order and important talking points for the presentation. We spoiled ourselves with sweet treats, for all our dedication and efforts.
Posted 15 May 2026 13:34
Group 33 / THE MOBEELITY HUBS
Natrada Y
Final run through! Thank you for everyone’s hard work guys! Today is the day of the final presentation and we are all pumped up, prepared and ready to go!
Posted 15 May 2026 13:33
Group 19 / PHASE TWO
Sean S
14/05/2026

We took today to run through and practice our presentation and finalise our publication as a team. We did this to practice our timing and execution to ensure that we were all feeling confident for the real presentation tomorrow. After some time informing Jake that his section couldn’t last the whole ten minutes, we were able to sort out timings for each section and perform several run throughs. We worked hastily today at the thought of sitting in a pub garden for a hard-earned pint and pizza as a group.
Posted 15 May 2026 12:34
Group 24 / THE SECOND ACT
Natalie S
How was our budget was spent?
On the penultimate day of our action week, we used our completely untouched budget, as our model was made of mainly scraps, which allowed us to buy some food to power on with the rest of the work!
Posted 15 May 2026 11:06
Group 24 / THE SECOND ACT
Natalie S
ACTION WEEK: day 4
Finished the model and took it to B12 for final photos, after that came a long time finishing different designs and annotations for our publication. We were able to finish that off to make the presentation for tomorrow!
Posted 15 May 2026 10:53
Group 06 / DIDSBURY IN UNITY
Logan J
Engagement Workshop - 21/03/26

After the presentation, we organised an engagement workshop with both the client and members of the church community, with the aim of gathering their opinions, experiences, and feedback.

Prior to the workshop, we developed a series of questions designed to help us better understand the users’ perspectives. These included questions about what they value most about the church, how the space makes them feel and what improvements they would like to see in our scheme. These prompts formed the basis for open discussions with the users and the client, allowing us to gain a better understanding of their experiences, interpretations and ideas for the space.

To encourage participation, we wrote the questions on multiple sheets of A1 paper so that participants could easily note down their thoughts and ideas. We also provided printed floor plans alongside images of the different rooms and hallways, helping users to navigate the spaces more clearly and annotate specific areas with comments and suggestions.
Following the workshop, we were able to collate and analyse the responses, using them as a foundation for our ongoing design development. This process ensured that our proposals responded directly to the outcomes of the collaboration and reflected the needs and aspirations of the community.
Posted 15 May 2026 02:02
Group 06 / DIDSBURY IN UNITY
Logan J
Engagement Presentation - 21/03/26

As part of our project, we presented our initial design intentions and interpretation of the building to the United Didsbury Methodist Church community. Presenting to the wider church community provided an opportunity to share the proposed design direction, outline our plans moving forward, and gather initial feedback from both the users and the client.

During the presentation, we first discussed the purpose of our visit and introduced the key design principles identified through previous meetings with the client, including diversity, community, and accessibility. We then presented our initial design concepts and relevant precedents to give attendees a clear understanding of the project’s progress and overall vision.
Posted 15 May 2026 01:40
Group 06 / DIDSBURY IN UNITY
Logan J
Site Visit - 21/03/26

Our group was welcomed by Rev. Catharine Hughes and Dr. Dave Armstrong to the Didsbury United Methodist Church to observe the building, gain insight into its current uses, and get to know the communities that use it. This site visit allowed our collaborators to explain the issues within the building more clearly, which helped us visualise the changes that could be made to the site. This visit allowed us to see the church's current state and begin to understand its range of demands as a venue for various community activities as well as a place of worship During the visit, we saw each of the spaces and took measurements of these areas. This helped us to understand where impact and improvement could be made and visualise our initial ideas for development.
Posted 15 May 2026 01:34
Group 06 / DIDSBURY IN UNITY
Logan J
Meeting 03 – 17/03/26

This stage of the project focused on creating the plan for our project engagement activity and overall project through a budget, project timeline, ethics application, risk assessment, and general project planning. These early planning stages helped us set out how the project will proceed forward over the few months.

We created a detailed project timeline that organizes the semester into tasks and deadlines including blog submissions, site analysis, initial idea development, engagement workshops, developing proposals, and final presentation outputs. Mapping the process made it simpler for us to understand connections between tasks and emphasized how important time management and collaboration will be throughout the project.

At the same time we prepared the risk and ethics documentation, budget allocation and resources required for the series of engagement activities we had planned, a site visit, a presentation of initial ideas, an engagement workshop and a QR code and opinions box. We talked about consent, inclusivity, professional communication, and how the project will consider the contributions of its members. Before the engagement day we met with our collaborator, Dave, to ensure transparent communication and finalisation of the logistics of the engagement day.
Posted 14 May 2026 20:24
Group 06 / DIDSBURY IN UNITY
Logan J
Poster Development - 20/02/26

The images above illustrate the development journey of our poster, from the initial concept sketches through to the refinement of the final selected design. Throughout this process, our discussions focused on reflecting the priorities identified by our collaborators, ensuring that the poster aligned with their ideas for improvement, experiences, and understanding of how the existing space functions for all user groups.

The final design aims to communicate the opening of the church to the wider community and surrounding street. It highlights key concepts identified during the initial collaboration discussions, including improved transparency, clearer and identifiable signage, enhanced entrance routes, and improved accessibility for all members of the community.

The collaborators highlighted these themes as essential to making the space more appealing and accessible to a wider range of users. They acknowledged the ageing demographic of current church members and emphasised the need for the space to be designed to accommodate a variety of user groups, creating an improved, more welcoming and inclusive environment for all members of the community. Through our poster we attempt to highlight these key aims.
Posted 14 May 2026 19:04
Group 07 / HART HAT CAFE
Ai Jia Angelove L
Sam Fender Mix = Curation Mode
/Intensive Week Day 4/

After a long day of drawings and production, Day 4 was mainly about curation and documentation. Most of the core work was already there, so the focus was on bringing it together in a way that feels clear and intentional. Plans, sections, structure logic and key visuals were in place, and the task was to shape them into a coherent set.

We spent the session putting the publication and presentation together side by side, deciding what matters most and what can be simplified. A lot of it was about consistency and clarity, making sure the drawings speak the same language and the story is easy to follow. It was less “new design” and more making sure the design reads properly.

We also ran through the presentation sequence as a group and talked through the narrative. What comes first, what needs a moment to land, and what can be shown quickly. By the end of the day we had a stronger structure for the file and a clearer plan for uploading, so we could go into the next day focused on delivery.
Posted 14 May 2026 17:14
Group 15 / SEED TO SOURCE
Lily A
Today marked our final rehearsal before the presentation, making it one of the most important sessions of the project so far. As a group, we worked collaboratively on the final touches to both the presentation and the publication, ensuring that everything was polished, well-structured, and completed to a high standard. We carefully reviewed each slide, checked that the information flowed clearly, and made sure the overall design looked professional and engaging.

We also spent time delegating speaking roles for the presentation so that each member of the team knew exactly what they would be responsible for. To help us feel more prepared and confident, we created and finalised presentation scripts, allowing everyone presenting to understand what they would be saying and which slides they would be covering. This rehearsal gave us the opportunity to practise our timing, improve the flow of the presentation, and make any final adjustments before the real event.

As this was our final MSA Live meeting, the session also felt like a celebration of all the hard work and effort we had put into the project over the past weeks. After such an intensive yet incredibly valuable learning journey, we decided to congratulate and reward ourselves by using the remaining project budget to order Subway together. It was a nice way to end the experience as a team and reflect on everything we had achieved throughout the project.
Posted 14 May 2026 17:12
Group 15 / SEED TO SOURCE
Sara Salah Eddin Omran A
13/05/2026

Action Week (Day 3)
On Day 3, we focused on strengthening the clarity and structure of our final outputs.

We added a site analysis section and made sure it linked clearly to our design decisions. We also began organising the publication layout, deciding the order of pages and how the visuals would be structured.

To communicate the project more clearly, we created before‑and‑after collages of the site, helping us visualise how the space currently works and how our proposals would transform it.

We also produced the first draft of the video walkthrough, mapping out the sequence and key moments we want to highlight.

By the end of the day, we realised we still had unused budget, so we decided to put it towards ordering food for the final day, a way to celebrate the work we’ve done and finish the week together on a positive note.
Posted 14 May 2026 17:10
Group 31 / HOLT TOWN HIVE
Ananya R
14/05/26

Action week day 4:

With our final day of action week and presentation looming near, it was time for the highly anticipated pizza party - a well deserved reward for all the hard work this year.

With bellies full and motivation high, the rest of the day was spent working on the presentation, choosing which of us were speaking and the accompanying visuals for the slides. A dry run of the presentation took us to the end of the day where we concluded, as ever, with a round-up of our outputs.

General consensus: Group 31 are feeling ready for the presentation tomorrow!
Posted 14 May 2026 17:07
Group 15 / SEED TO SOURCE
Lily A
Action week (Day 2)
Continuing on from Monday, we focused on completing our individual tasks in order to help put together the publication and finalise all of the material that would be included in it. We spent time reviewing our work and making improvements where necessary.

Alongside this as well, we also began working on our presentation for the project. Since we only have 10 minutes to present our entire project, we discussed the most important information that needed to be included and how we could explain our ideas clearly and effectively within the time limit. Overall, the session was productive as it allowed us to make good progress on both the publication and the presentation preparation.

Posted 14 May 2026 16:54
Group 15 / SEED TO SOURCE
Sara Salah Eddin Omran A
11/05/2026

Action Week (Day 1)
This week marks the start of our Action Week, where our focus is on preparing for the final presentation, publication, and exhibition.

On Day 1, we began by organising tasks and planning. Some group members worked on refining the colour scheme and adding more visuals for the publication, while others focused on developing the video walkthrough and final outputs for the water system and fountain.

We coordinated closely to stay efficient and checked each other's progress to make sure everything looked cohesive and aligned with the same visual language

The first day was about building momentum and preparing ourselves for the rest of the week, ensuring we had a strong, organised start before moving into the heavier production stages.
Posted 14 May 2026 16:49
Group 34 / CYAN+
Carla H
Our final intensive week session before the presentation required our team to work together efficiently and patiently. Today, we finalised our publication document and presentation for hand-in. We spent the day identifying gaps in the documents and adding final edits to our designs agreed by the whole team. The day ended with a final run through of our presentation, with notes taken and scripts prepared. Finally, we took a team photograph on one of the CyanLines projects next to Symphony Park as a project wrap-up memory.
Posted 14 May 2026 16:41
Group 27 / BLOOM WELL
Lucy P
Presentation preparation

Today we pulled together our publication and ran through our presentation in preparation for tomorrow afternoon. We ensured that our best and most relevant work was visible and easy to follow for our collaborator, tutors and MSA peers to understand.
Posted 14 May 2026 16:35
Group 21 / ART KINESIS VICTORIA HALL
Conrad G
After we finished adjusting the model to our proposal, we brought the model to our group to discuss our next steps.
We then made some final adjustments to the model with the suggestion from our group so before taking some final pictures of both a floor plan view as well as some perspective views of the model.
Posted 14 May 2026 16:04
Group 22 / (RE)WEAVING ACCESS
Alicia B
We did a pre-submission run-through presentation; we put it on the big screen to go through it as a group and let the speaker practice what they wanted to say. The whole thing is cohesive and looking really good; we are all super proud of how our work has come together; it's an honest, thought-out reflection of exactly what our collaborator asked us for back in January. We are basically done and ready for tomorrow!
Posted 14 May 2026 15:52
Group 03 / PETRI OF PLAY
Milia Marnissa Binti M
Final Presentation Preparation
14/5/2026

Following the second site visit and community feedback, our group gathered for a final working session to refine the overall proposal and prepare for Friday’s presentation.

During this stage, we finalised visualisations, colour palette, publication layouts, and landscape and rain garden palettes requested by MIB. We also organised presentation roles, scripts, and speaking tasks to ensure a clear and collaborative final presentation.
Posted 14 May 2026 15:46
Group 28 / STORY WORKS
Lillie J
14/05/2026

Today marked our final working day of action week, at the beginning of the day we reviewed what we had left to do and began adding finishing touches to our final outputs, presentation and publication. We then spent time reviewing our work, making sure we were prepared for the presentation the next day, we chose who was going to present and began practicing what we would say during the presentation.
Posted 14 May 2026 15:19
Group 01 / ALTAR-NATIVE
Bryanna Q
14/05/26

MSA Live Week - Day 4

As we were now onto the last day before the presentation, we decided to use this day to do a final review on presentation and check for any mistakes or overlaps. We finalised the structure and content of our project and discussed the key points we wanted to verbally cover as well as assigning speaking roles to various team members.

Posted 14 May 2026 15:18
Group 07 / HART HAT CAFE
Ai Jia Angelove L
From Design to Delivery
/Intensive Week Day 3/

Today’s session was mostly about tightening everything up and making the project behave like a final proposal. We focused on finalising the design direction, running through development iterations, and checking feasibility as we refined the layout, structure, and how the cafe/event setup actually works in use.

A key step was pushing the design from sketches into a 3D model so we could look at it properly together. Seeing it in volume made some decisions feel obvious, and also flagged a few things we needed to adjust. We went back and forth between model and drawings, testing proportions, movement, and how the parts come together, then iterating until it started to feel more resolved.

In between all that, we also took a group photo, and Alika’s going to sketch it for the publication. Alongside the design work, we spent time coordinating outputs by aligning the publication and presentation so they share the same graphics and tell the same story. We also started shaping the presentation sequence, deciding what needs to be simplified and made more visual, and what can sit in the publication for the detailed explanation.
Posted 14 May 2026 15:10
Group 22 / (RE)WEAVING ACCESS
Alicia B
Group 22 has spent the budget!!! Part of the budget was spent on materials for the engagement day, leaving more than half over. Since it was the last day to boost morale and as a reward for the group's efforts, the budget was spent on a Pret lunch and some snacks for the afternoon when we went through our final submission.
Posted 14 May 2026 15:02
Group 03 / PETRI OF PLAY
Milia Marnissa Binti M
Designing Through Community Feedback
8/4/2026 - 13/5/2026

Before the intensive week and second MIB site visit, our group also carried out online community engagement through a Google Form survey targeted at MIB staff and children as part of our user research for the interactive exhibition space.

With around 62 responses received, the survey provided valuable feedback that helped inform our design decisions, showing how engagement extended beyond physical site visits into digital participation.
Posted 14 May 2026 14:54
Group 22 / (RE)WEAVING ACCESS
Alicia B
Group 22 is on its last day of the intensive MSA Live week, and we're putting everything together to submit. Most of today has consisted of polishing our final outputs and finishing the development sketch so that everything is cohesive when put together. Throughout the other days, we have all been delegating tasks and working productively to get everything done! Two people are working on putting together the presentation and the publication, as work comes in from the others. We are utilizing all group members' skills that suit them best while also communicating to maintain stylistic consistency.
Posted 14 May 2026 14:51
Group 01 / ALTAR-NATIVE
Bryanna Q
13/05/26

MSA Live Week - Day 3

A big issue for the church was finding a good cheap option for insulation that would let the stone walls breath and not produce mold:

Option 1: recessed mortar painting into the crevices of the limestone walls.
Option 2: covering the stone walls with the mortar and insulation aggregate and carving to imitate stone.

We then decided to opt for option 1 because this solution allows the original limestone blocks to remain exposed, which may be a requirement for a listed building.
Posted 14 May 2026 14:51
Group 12 / TALK SHOP
Nandi Tlotlanang M
Action Week Day 3
Completing Our Visualisations!

Our round table talk was about the logistics for our presentation, and drafted a checklist of what goals we aimed to achieve by day end. We then went on to split into two groups to complete the final drawings, visuals and outstanding text.
Posted 14 May 2026 14:48
Group 01 / ALTAR-NATIVE
Bryanna Q
12/05/26

MSA Live Week - Day 2

On the second day of Intensive Week, we reviewed the information given to us by our collaborator and we realised we needed to find a solution in relation to the condition of the stone. The stone sweats, which means the existing plasterboard rots and is stripped away over time. As a group, we thought of here using high performance natural hydraulic lime mortar mixed with a lime cork insulation aggregate, which allows the stone to breathe, while providing insulation to the wall.

Posted 14 May 2026 14:39
Group 01 / ALTAR-NATIVE
Roshni P
11/05/2026

MSA Live Week – Day 1

We kicked off the week by having a group catch-up. We all talked about what we have been working on over the past few weeks and what we need to complete. After that, we gave each other feedback and planned out our next steps as a group. Together, we looked at options to improve walls thermal comfort by adding insulation. While this was going on, a few members of the group worked on the publication.
Posted 14 May 2026 14:35
Group 01 / ALTAR-NATIVE
Bryanna Q
09/05/26

Solar Analysis

A solar analysis was undertaken to understand how sunlight interacts with the site and building. We realised that the South facing roof receives the strongest solar exposure while the North side receives less solar radiation meaning it needs extra insulation. Based on the daylight analysis, there are many indoor areas that don’t receive enough natural light and so additional artificial light is needed. The pictures uploaded show the proposed optimised lighting strategy.

Posted 14 May 2026 14:31
Group 01 / ALTAR-NATIVE
Roshni P
05/05/2026

Group Call

On this day we had a quick group WhatsApp call to talk about what our next steps. We planned what we were going to do over the next ten days leading up to the presentation. Together we talked about who would take on what task so we were ready for MSA Live week. The BA1s would work on the blog while the MArch students would work on completing the publication.
Posted 14 May 2026 14:17
Group 01 / ALTAR-NATIVE
Roshni P

29/04/2026

Site Visit

Our group went on a site visit to Rossendale. Our client, Simon Dalley, showed us around the site and pointed out key things that we need to consider. We used data loggers to take some temperature and humidity readings to understand what parts of the building need thermal improving. From our data we found that the temperature ranges from 16°C to 17°C. We noticed that the singular layers of glass and wall were not good at keeping heat inside. After identifying the weak spots in the building envelope, we were able to see what was existing there and what we would need to add and/or change to improve it. Seeing the space in person gave us an idea of what it feels like to be there. From this we realised that some spaces will require artificial lighting because they don’t receive sufficient daylight. Overall, the visit highlighted what we need to preserve (because it is a grade II listed building) and what we need to add on.
Posted 14 May 2026 14:13
Group 18 / GROUP 18
Karl David Raphael G
brainstorming and research session for publication
Posted 14 May 2026 14:13
Group 03 / PETRI OF PLAY
Milia Marnissa Binti M
From Sketches to Final Direction
13/5/2026

Following the MIB site visit, our group met again to further develop and refine our tour concepts. Everyone shared sketches, ideas, and references, allowing us to discuss different approaches and collaboratively work towards a final common direction.

The session helped us consolidate our ideas before proceeding with the development of final 3D models, drawings, and renders.
Posted 14 May 2026 13:24
Group 01 / ALTAR-NATIVE
Tre-Kwan M
21/04/2026

Rhino Model Development

During this week we started on developing a rhino model of the site which progressed from just a simple massing study into a detailed analysis of the site. Early stages focused on the surrounding area and massing out the local environment, understanding the building forms and site context. The final visualization uses colour mapping to analyse light demonstrating our design progression and environmental evaluation.
Posted 14 May 2026 13:18
Group 10 / HYDE COMMUNITY COURTS
Mahek Romil V
Action Week day 03 - 13/05/26

In today’s session, we were only two days away from the final presentation, so the team focused on refining and completing the remaining detailed aspects of the project.
For both the physical and digital modelling work, the focus was on refining and developing the remaining details of the project. The physical model involved laser cutting the final building massing pieces and adding more structural detail. At the same time, the 3D model was mostly complete in terms of the site amenities, including the main pitch, landscaping, car park, and surrounding facilities, with the remaining work focused on refining the building model itself and producing the final rendered visuals. The architectural floor plans were also nearly complete, requiring only minor adjustments and final detailing.
In terms of documentation, the presentation had been completed, allowing the team to continue work on organising the publication content. By the end of the session, many of the foundational and technical aspects of the project had been resolved, bringing us significantly closer to the final output.
Posted 14 May 2026 13:10
Group 01 / ALTAR-NATIVE
Bryanna Q
17/03/26

Deciding our next steps

After we submitted our applications, we began to sub-group our remaining tasks, dividing responsibilities regarding the Details, Model, Blog and IDD. Now that we were clear on our overall progress, we further updated our collaborator on our solar/thermal analysis- derived through modelling the Church
Posted 14 May 2026 12:59
Group 03 / PETRI OF PLAY
Milia Marnissa Binti M
Second Site Visit
12/05/2026

Our second visit to the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology (MIB), led by Ulrike on Tuesday, gave us the opportunity to gain valuable final feedback before developing and refining our tour concepts further.

Beyond discussions, we were also brought into the laboratories to experience the spaces, technical equipment, and working environment first-hand. Seeing how researchers operate within the building helped us better understand MIB’s role, research culture and spatial needs.
Posted 14 May 2026 12:51
Group 01 / ALTAR-NATIVE
Bryanna Q
10/03/26

Feedback Discussion

After we had submitted our ethics application, risk assessment, budget proposal, and project timeline, we came together to discuss ways we could improve. We received formative feedback and our ethics application was accepted on the first try which meant we could focus on improving the rest of our submissions. Our tutor commented that everything was quite easy to read with minor setbacks that we were able to discuss and resolve in our group discussions.
Posted 14 May 2026 12:48
Group 18 / GROUP 18
Karl David Raphael G
Team hard at work designing bench options for our client
Posted 14 May 2026 12:42
Group 17 / SEEDS TO SEATS
Iris F
11/5/26 Seventh Meeting
For our first meeting of the intensive week, we assigned roles for making a scale model of Design 1, a 1:10 model of Design 2, creating an instruction manual, drawing 3D perspectives, and putting together a presentation for the Friday deadline. As the final designs had already been made, all we had left to do then was choose a final layout to propose to our clients and cleared up any final enquiries about the schedule.
Posted 14 May 2026 12:33
Group 24 / THE SECOND ACT
Natalie S
ACTION WEEK: DAY3
Creating the model!
After finalising concepts and working out the pre-existing measurements, we were able to get started on the model. Looking at our ‘creative’ section of our proposal, we are able to focus on the detailed specifics of the structure. While not currently finished, the work will continue!
Posted 14 May 2026 12:10
Group 26 / LEARNING WITH LORETO
Brygida F
30/04/26
Today was our last workshop with the Loreto students. first they showed us what they had been working on the week before and we discussed that with them. then we gave them foam blocks representing classrooms chapel etc. we helped them explore the space and scale. they experimented with different pathways and orientations. this helped us lights around to set up the master plan.
Posted 14 May 2026 12:05
Group 01 / ALTAR-NATIVE
Roshni P
03/03/2026

Completing Documents

In this meeting, we had quite a few documents to complete. We had an ethics application, risk assessment, project timeline and budget proposal. We divided these tasks between the group such that two to three people would work on each one. This way we were able to get the task for the week done quickly and efficiently. In our risk assessment we considered hazards that we could encounter during our weekly meetings and site visit. After that, decided what precautions we would take to keep everyone safe. Our budget included money for travel to our site, stationary and food for meetings. The ethics application was used to ensure that everyone in the group feels safe and included. Finally, the project plan outlined our next steps for the following two months.
Posted 14 May 2026 12:01
Group 23 / HOUSING WITH HERITAGE
Olatokunbo F
Intensive Week Day 3
13/05/2026
With our model complete and a clear plan for how our housing schemes would be presented, the focus today was on bringing all of our material together in one place. This included renders, site plans, diagrams, graphs, and photographs, all of which will form the basis of our final presentation. As with earlier stages of the project, we divided tasks selectively among the group before compiling everything into a cohesive set.

Overall Mood(s): Organised
Posted 14 May 2026 11:46
Group 28 / STORY WORKS
Lillie J
13/05/2026

On day 3 of our action week, we continued working on the final presentation and publication which helped celebrate what we had done so far but also determined what we had left to do. From this we divided up the tasks for individuals to work on during the day with some people working on sections, some on renders and some on how the space functionally works. At the end of the day, we were able to share what we had completed and point out anything that needed to be changed or improved.
Posted 14 May 2026 11:30
Group 26 / LEARNING WITH LORETO
Brygida F
30/04/26
Today we received last weeks work from the students at Loreto College.
Posted 14 May 2026 11:25
Group 28 / STORY WORKS
Lillie J
12/05/2026
On day two of our action week, we began by discussing our current designs and what we needed to prioritise before finalising our design and drawing scaled floor plans. We’ve continued to work on our final presentation and publication, bringing together everything we’ve done so far.
Posted 14 May 2026 11:12
Group 28 / STORY WORKS
Lillie J
11/05/2026

On day one of intensive week, we reviewed the notes from our engagement activity and used it to synthesise our initial design ideas to accommodate for the writers’ requirements. We also started the layout for our presentation, reflecting on the collaborative aspects of our MSA live experience.
Posted 14 May 2026 11:10
Group 12 / TALK SHOP
Nandi Tlotlanang M
Action Week Day 2
Reshuffling the workspace!

We decided to relocate to the MTC so that everyone could have access to software and found that this worked efficiently.
Since the project focuses solely on redesigning and improving the interior space, we decided to capitalise on incorporating indoor appropriate activities, privacy and soft furniture. Renders of the new furniture and lively interior were produced during the session, while 2 members of the group spent the day in B15 making a model of the furniture that has been redesigned for the space. It was quite the strenuous task as we wanted to ensure that we could meet the deadline we had set for ourselves, and the dynamic duo managed to do this. “Submit this into the modelmaking competition” ~Scott Miller, 2026.
Posted 14 May 2026 10:24
Group 01 / ALTAR-NATIVE
Bryanna Q
24/02/26

Starting a Rhino Model

As we started off our project, we decided to create a Rhino model of the site as it would be useful for a thermal analysis. It is also useful because our site is quite far so the Rhino model would allow us to observe the site and make changes without having to frequently visit the actual site. We first did a rough draft on Rhino to understand the shapes of the building.
Posted 14 May 2026 09:13
Group 01 / ALTAR-NATIVE
Bryanna Q
13/02/26 - 17/02/26

Designing the poster and coming up with a Group name

Over the course of two group meetings, we were able to successfully design a poster that represented our project, as well as come up with a group name. We initially had two poster designs: one was more monochromatic and minimalistic, while the other used a variety of colours.
During our meetings, we discussed which design would best suit our project and held a vote, which resulted in a general consensus that option 2 was visually stronger but would benefit from incorporating more colour, similar to option 1.
Following this, the design team worked on a final version that featured a revised colour palette and included our group name. In our meetings, we also considered possible group names that would clearly represent our project. We brainstormed ideas until we came up with the name “ALTAR-NATIVE.” As our project revolves around the repurposing of Bacup Christ Church, the use of “ALTAR” references the church and creates a play on the word “alternative,” reflecting the new purpose we are giving the building.
Posted 14 May 2026 09:08
Group 12 / TALK SHOP
Nandi Tlotlanang M
Action Week Day 1
The final stretch has begun!

Our first day of intensive week began slowly, however we made significant progress. All present members of the group went around and shared our new updates to the project, complete or incomplete, just so that we could gain a clear understanding of how many tasks were still outstanding. Collectively we shared the digital and physical iterations of the redesigned space, and we provided feedback and suggestions of elements that could be improved. We proceed with working on our digital model and renders, capturing scenes of the interior space. Once our outputs were completed, we set out a plan of how we will make our final model and the final drawings. We ran through our publication to highlight any criteria we still needed to complete as well.
Posted 13 May 2026 16:26
Group 12 / TALK SHOP
Nandi Tlotlanang M
March 17 - Publication

This day consisted of looking through past publications as a general guide of what we should produce for our Talkshop Publication. We then began with identifying the content needed to supply readers with an overview and process of The Talkshop. We then moved onto testing out various layouts for the publication booklet and finally dividing out tasks for the group to do over the Easter Break. By deciding to distribute the tasks among the group we would be able to manage balancing MSA Live with our other course modules. The assigned tasks consisted of development sketches,precedent studies and writings.
Posted 13 May 2026 16:25
Group 34 / CYAN+
Liesje Amelie K
In session 3 of the intensive week we continued individually working on content for the publication. Frequently checking in with each other and evaluating work, finding strengths and improvements to develop upon. Everyone worked hard on their own task, working within their own strengths, helping others out and striving to get work done. We met at the end of the day and went through the publication and presentation so far, discussing what still needed to be done and making a comprehensive to-do list. It was a good way to gauge where we were as a group and to be able to get collaborative input on what was left to do on the final day of the intensive week.
Posted 13 May 2026 16:03
Group 01 / ALTAR-NATIVE
Chisom Blessing I
03/02/26
Day 1 - Meeting our collaborator: Hannah Weinhold

Kicking off with a series of introductory ice-breakers, we discovered each other’s individual interests, strengths and relevant experience. This helped us to assign internal tasks to complement our abilities, whilst we collaborated further ideas on Miro. By the evening, we met our collaborator- Hannah Weinhold. Hannah shared multiple photos with us, discussing issues with heating, service and the original planning application. As we talked about budget, physical conditions and ideas to partition the space, Hannah mentioned a potential shift in the main access point + disability ramp. She also emphasised hopes for a sympathetic design- making it clear that she wanted to retain the original character of the existing Church!
Posted 13 May 2026 16:03
Group 02 / SALE THROUGH TIME
Harmonie C
Over the last few days, our team has been busy in the B15 workshop completing the model for one of our outputs. With many hands involved, we managed to finish it quickly and efficiently, while also working well together to overcome a few challenges.

Initially, we had planned to make two separate models. However, we decided to merge the concepts of both into one, making the final model more interactive as a result. Although we ran into some complications along the way, we managed to turn them into an opportunity and produce something stronger in the end.
Posted 13 May 2026 15:57
Group 23 / HOUSING WITH HERITAGE
Olatokunbo F
Intensive Week Day 2
12/05/2026
This day was focused on tidying up the last parts of the final site model. in doing so, we used small tiles that reflected different housing typologies to test out different town layout and evaluating each one against planning regulations and accessibility before finally settling on a final layout. In parallel, some of the group began collating previous work in preparation for upcoming presentations and feedback.

Overall Mood(s): Productive, Evaluative
Posted 13 May 2026 15:41
Group 07 / HART HAT CAFE
Ai Jia Angelove L
Budget Deployment: Pizza Engagement Session

Before diving back into work today, we finally executed the most important line item from our budget proposal: the pizza treat. In the spirit of being responsible professionals, we did the correct thing and consulted the stakeholders (the group) on preferences first. Democracy was tested, everyone got a say, and we managed to keep it inclusive without needing a second ethics application.

There were the usual tiny debates (a couple of pineapple sceptics, a few Texas BBQ enjoyers catching a few comments), but overall it was just a genuinely nice reset before we got back into work. We had 80s music in the background, and Rahat turned up with an 11/10 banana cake. Having everyone in the same room, fed and chatting, made the day start on a good note. Pizza as community infrastructure… on brand.
Posted 13 May 2026 15:39
Group 16 / ACTIVE AXIS
Nadia Ibrahim Mourad Kadry Ahmed S
11/05
Action Week.
This main goal for this week was finalizing the presentation, publication and exhibition in addition to a making a physical and digital model. We needed to be as time efficient as possible so we divided the tasks amongst ourselves. Everyone was aware that the presentation was approaching soon so we were all cooperating and working at a very good pace. While not all of us were not working in the same place, some people being in the b15 and some in the GM, we managed to keep the communication and updates going back and forth to ensure everyone was on the same page and notified of any changes. We aimed for an earlier deadline so that we would have time to finish early and practice the presentation and to get things in order. Some people worked on completing the outputs themselves and some working on putting the publication, presentation and exhibition together. Overall, we were satisfied with the progress being made due to our coordination this week.
Posted 13 May 2026 15:34
Group 31 / HOLT TOWN HIVE
Ananya R
13/05/26

On our third day of Action Week, the group continued developing our travel hub proposal. Some focused on the visuals for the final design — including 3D modelling and rendering — while others worked on the graphics and text for the upcoming publication and presentation.
One key outcome from today was further developing and visualising the modular nature of our design hub. Each hexagonal unit can be adapted to suit the context of its site, making the travel hub flexible and responsive to different surroundings. By exploring how the design could be configured across the various sites we had considered, we were able to demonstrate the adaptability, scalability, and range of possibilities within the proposal.

At the end of the day, we reflected on what had been completed and what still needs to be done, with everyone sharing the progress they had made on their individual tasks.

As we approach the end of the week, we are at both a critical and exciting stage where the proposal is beginning to fully come together. Everyone’s individual contributions feeding into the wider group outcomes means we are on track for our final submission and presentation this Friday.
Posted 13 May 2026 15:31
Group 14 / BUILT TO BELONG
Haoyan D
This session was all about getting ready for the presentation. We spent most of the time writing our script, refining what we wanted to say, and making sure the project could be explained clearly and in the right order.

While working on the script, we also finalised the form of our design. This was helpful because it meant we were no longer speaking about possibilities, but about a clearer final proposal that everyone in the group understood. We also looked back at church precedents again, making sure our ideas were still grounded in research and relevant examples.

To finish the session, we did a short rehearsal of the presentation. It was useful to test the timing and see whether anything needed to be shortened or adjusted. Luckily, the timing worked well, and we were able to keep it within the required length.

A calm but important session. Less about changing the design, and more about making sure we could present it with confidence and clarity.
Posted 13 May 2026 15:31
Group 16 / ACTIVE AXIS
Nadia Ibrahim Mourad Kadry Ahmed S
21/04
This week was the final overview for the outcome of the engagement session. We also discussed the latest progress of the work overall. This was an opportunity for the design and the visualisation team to plan what is remaining to do for action week so that when it starts we immediately begin getting on with things. We planned a template of the presentation and publication slides, allocating a slide for each of our outputs and organizing them in order to have a clear idea of what still needs to be done. We looked at previous publications as precedents to understand what is required and got on with it. We reflected on how much is left to do in relation to how much time we have left to get a clear understanding of where we stood in terms of completing the outputs required .
Posted 13 May 2026 15:30
Group 07 / HART HAT CAFE
Ai Jia Angelove L
From Notes to a Proposal /Intensive Week Day 2/

Back in studio, the session became a proper catch-up and push-forward moment. The site visit feedback helped ground the conversation quickly, but most of the time was spent getting into the design itself and making it more real. The group ran through feasibility questions and started tightening the proposal from a general concept into something that can actually be built, moved, and operated.

We looked closely at the structure as a modular unit: dimensions, clearances, and how the cafe core, canopy, and movable elements work together. We discussed mechanisms and practical use, including how panels open, how the layout adapts, how circulation and serving works with a small team, and how the space can switch between everyday cafe use and pop-up events without becoming overcomplicated.

Somewhere in between the serious design talk, the Pendle sweets made a comeback, and the session briefly turned into a very unofficial tasting and sugar break. That somehow spiralled into an impulsive portfolio sharing moment, which was unexpectedly wholesome. Lots of “oooh” and “wait, that’s mad” across the table. Basically team bonding disguised as an architecture crit.

After that, we got back into it and started discussing how the proposal should read in both the publication and the presentation. We talked through the narrative sequence, what visuals need to carry the story, and how to keep it clear without over-explaining. By the end of the day, the site impressions had fed the direction, but the real progress was in resolving the design with proper spatial thinking and buildability in mind. It felt less like a concept floating around and more like an actual proposal we can now develop and communicate.
Posted 13 May 2026 15:25
Group 04 / RE:WILDING: MERSEYWAY
Lucy G
12/05/26

This week, we started to analyse the outcomes of our community engagement task in depth. By reviewing where people had placed pins on the map indicating where they thought could be improved, we began to notice a clear trend emerging across the site. Although several different areas were highlighted, we were particularly drawn to the idea of creating a journey through the space. We began asking ourselves key questions: Where would people begin? What would attract them to the site? And how would they move through it?

This led us to consider a series of pop-up spaces and temporary interventions throughout the area. We explored what kinds of arts, crafts, and cultural activities could be introduced into these locations, drawing directly from the responses written by the public on the feedback board. We looked closely at which suggestions appeared repeatedly, what had been written two, three, or even four times, to identify the ideas that resonated most strongly with residents.

Once we had narrowed these responses down to the most popular themes, we began combining the findings by placing these ideas within the areas of the site that the public felt were most in need of improvement. This allowed us to create a proposal that responded directly to community feedback while encouraging movement, interaction, and engagement throughout the site.
Posted 13 May 2026 15:19
Group 33 / THE MOBEELITY HUBS
Natrada Y
This afternoon Emily came in to visit our workspace, so we decided to give her a short presentation about our project. After a short preview of Friday, Emily gave us some feedback before praising us and moving on to the next group. Responding to the feedback, we are now working on adding more client information onto the slides. Thank you for your feedback Emily!
Posted 13 May 2026 15:06
Group 04 / RE:WILDING: MERSEYWAY
Lucy G
11/05/25

This week marked the beginning of our intensive week, a key stage in the development of our project where our ideas, research, and community engagement work began to come together in a more focused and collaborative way. As a group, we started the week by reflecting on the progress we had made so far, discussing how everyone was feeling about the work ahead, and evaluating the success of the community engagement task. This conversation allowed us to identify what had worked well, what still needed refining, and how we wanted to move forward collectively.

On Monday, we spent time devising a clear structure for the publication, discussing how the pages would flow, and deciding which content would be most effective in communicating our ideas and findings. This involved thinking carefully about layout, sequencing, visual presentation, and how the publication could best reflect both the community feedback and our own creative responses to it.

Alongside planning the publication itself, we also divided responsibilities amongst the group. We wanted to ensure that everyone had a role that suited their individual strengths and interests, whether that involved writing, graphic design, research, editing, or visual development. By allocating tasks in this way, we were able to work more efficiently while also making sure that everyone felt comfortable and confident with the workload given to them throughout the week.

Posted 13 May 2026 15:04
Group 33 / THE MOBEELITY HUBS
Natrada Y
The MAs have finished all site context modelling today and will touch up on before confirming the finalized version. The details of the 3D site look amazing, good job MAs! After that, they will help the MArchs with the rest of the digital work as previously planned. We are very excited to pitch out work to the clients this Friday!
Posted 13 May 2026 14:36
Group 09 / COMMON GROUND
Amanee M
Intensive Week Day 3: 13/05/26
We began the day by finishing the renders of the church proposal. Once these were complete, some of us started sketching directly onto the renders to visualise how the spaces could be used, adding elements such as a basketball court, food pantry, and social areas to make the project feel more realistic and engaging.

At the same time, others completed the physical models in B15. The simplified church model was designed so that the children’s mural designs from the workshop could be inserted into the structure, helping connect the community activities back into the architectural proposal.

Throughout the day, we also continued developing the final presentation by organising images, sketches, renders, and resources gathered throughout the project so far. Towards the end of the day, we held a trial presentation session where we planned who would speak during different sections for both the primary school workshop on Thursday and the final presentation on Friday. We wrote and practised scripts to help improve the flow and confidence of the presentations.

Before finishing for the day, we printed and prepared all of the materials needed for Thursday morning’s trip back to Wigan, ensuring the worksheets, presentations, and activity resources were organised and ready to use with the children.
Posted 13 May 2026 14:31
Group 09 / COMMON GROUND
Amanee M
Intensive Week Day 2: 12/05/26
We started the morning by planning our visit to the primary school and organising how we would run the activities throughout the day. As a group, we discussed how we would introduce our project to the children and created a presentation to clearly explain our ideas in an engaging and accessible way. Alongside this, we developed worksheets and supporting idea sheets that the children would use during the activities.

Throughout the day, the group split into smaller teams to continue developing different aspects of the project. Some focused on the final presentation for Friday, while others worked on the SketchUp model of the church and began producing renders to support the proposal. In B15, model making also continued, including a site model, a simplified scaled model of the church, and a 3D printed model.

We also created practice examples of the activities we planned for the children, testing the worksheets ourselves through drawing, colouring, and assembling them. This helped us understand how the activities would work in practice and allowed us to refine them before the school visit.
Posted 13 May 2026 14:25
Group 01 / ALTAR-NATIVE
Tre-Kwan M
Meet the Collaborators

Rossendale Digital brings together skills, spaces and opportunities from across the local digital and tech community. Much of this work is led by people already living and working locally. They exists to help connect that activity, make opportunities more visible, and support collaboration in ways that are practical, inclusive and most importantly rooted in place. They believe in the power of community so the project of reworking the church into a community technology hub works perfectly for the local residents. Through workshops, events and shared spaces, they’re cultivating an environment where knowledge and creativity flourish, and everyone can contribute.
Posted 13 May 2026 14:23
Group 09 / COMMON GROUND
Amanee M
Intensive Week Day 1: 11/05/26
We started off the day setting out a clear, organised plan for the rest of the week. We allocated people to different sections of the pamphlet, and a few of us made their way to B15 to work on the site model. We then discussed concepts and ideas for which activities would take place within the church, and designs that would facilitate these. To explore and consider each other's ideas, we created bubble diagrams and rough sketches which highlighted a variety of design initiatives.

After lunch, some of us focused on developing a weekly timetable for when each activity would take place, taking school hours and age ranges into consideration. We also started developing a sketchup model of the church, and began developing a layout for the pamphlet.

To end the day, we reflected on the work we'd done throughout the day and discussed how we would use our time the next day.
Posted 13 May 2026 14:17

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