MSA Live 26

Nadia Ibrahim Mourad Kadry Ahmed S

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

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 04 / RE:WILDING: MERSEYWAY

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

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 04 / RE:WILDING: MERSEYWAY

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

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

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

Group 27 / BLOOM WELL

Al-Megdad AH

design development

During Action Week, we began developing our final proposal by testing different design iterations and evaluating materials based on cost, longevity and overall value. This process was collaborative amongst the group, contributing ideas and assessing options to determine what would be most suitable for the site.

Posted 13 May 2026 13:06

Jia En L

By today, the MAs are wrapping up all the 6-site context modelling. They have been working very hard as the large task has only been divided between the two of them. If they manage to finish that today, they will help the MArchs with the rest of the digital work. So far things are looking very bright and going at the exact pace we hoped it will. Let's keep moving Group 33!

Posted 13 May 2026 13:02

Adam I

Action 3 - 13/05/2026

After yesterday's engagement with Co-Op Academy Medlock, we continued today by summarising our learnings at the Geoffrey Manton Building and putting forward our efforts to develop the proposals further. With the help of the fruitful discussions we had with the kids and parents yesterday, we are much clearer about our way forward. In addition, we received many valuable insights into what should be included in our designs. Today's tasks focused on improving the quality of the modelling, sketches, presentations, and overall organisation of the work.
To begin with, we started off with a team discussion to reflect on our experiences during yesterday's engagement and to share the insights gained. Thanks to the children's drawings and the comments from parents during drop-off and pick-up, we have gained a much deeper understanding of what the daily street experience looks like and how community members would like to see it changed. All of this formed the basis of the next steps we would take and ensured that all the design decisions made today were rooted in what the users actually want.
The smaller working groups had already been formed before our visit to the school on the 11th of May, so today we were able to dive straight back into our respective tasks with renewed energy. The team responsible for modelling was busy working on the furniture, building elements, and surrounding structures within the software, considering all the details of their placement within the project. Simultaneously, the team working on the presentation developed the layout of the slides and drew up a timeline of the project's implementation. Both teams worked in parallel, which made our work much more efficient, as several tasks could be progressed at the same time without losing the integrity of the overall project.
In summary, today has been about modelling, sketching, presentation, and organisation, but everything remained focused on preparing a strong proposal grounded in the outcomes of yesterday's engagement. Picking up where we left off before the school visit allowed us to gain real momentum and complete our tasks quickly and efficiently.
Overall, today has been a very productive day, and we have managed to get through a lot of work. Working from the Geoffrey Manton Building gave us a calm and focused environment to push the project forward, and by the end of the session, we left with the feeling that the project is slowly but surely taking shape.

Posted 13 May 2026 12:53

Natrada Y

On the third day of our intensive week, the BAs are continuing to assist on any possible tasks. As per usual, I am looking over and editing all the vlog posts, then helping Jason with writing up information for the presentation after I finished the presentation’s visualisation of the project time line from yesterday. Rodrigo is finalising the material lists and searching for collaborators in Manchester or anywhere nearby. Carrie is working on Harvard referencing for all the information. Silvia is editing the visuals for the project timeline while Kai is finishing up his graphs. We are boosting morale by taking more expressive photos for the vlog!

Posted 13 May 2026 12:48

Dingchao X

Action 2 - 12/05/2026

Today, we visited the Co-op Academy School. We brought some chalk with us for an activity with the children. Our plan was to invite them to draw on the school street, allowing us to observe how they responded to taking back the street. This could potentially inspire our design, while also attracting the attention of children and parents.

The activity was a great success. Everything went smoothly when we arrived at the school in the morning, and the division of labour within the group was clear. Some members guided the children as they began drawing on the ground, which encouraged other students to join in, and even some parents joined in too. Others took photographs and observed the different ways students travelled to school.

We received some wonderful feedback, including one child who said, “I want to do this every day in the morning!” It was honestly a fantastic experience and a real success for the group.

Posted 13 May 2026 12:47

Group 10 / HYDE COMMUNITY COURTS

Wai W

Continuing from yesterday, Jason is continuing to finish the presentation, Jie En is making diagrams for design development and Alexandra is rendering the final designs. We are moving quickly and working very well as a team. If we finish what needs to be done early today, the MArchs are going to show the BAs a few software that would be useful for the later years.

Posted 13 May 2026 12:26

Group 01 / ALTAR-NATIVE

Bryanna Q

Hi, I'm Cayden, a first year architecture student. I grew up in Malaysia and, so far, studying in Manchester has given me an entirely new outlook on architecture on top of my previous perspective.

In this project, I am excited to gain some insight into the experience of working in real-life industry and the dynamic of between collaborating parties, in this case between MSA and The Rossendale Digital CIC.

Posted 13 May 2026 11:58

Mahek Romil V

action week day 02- 12/05/26

In this session, we decided to resume the same work pattern as before by dividing tasks.
We had one team working on adding more detail to the site model, such as the surrounding context and landscape elements, while others continued work on the 3D modelling of our site and the technical documents for the building. Alongside this, we made the site/ contextual analysis and focused on bringing everything together for the main presentation and publication.
In addition to these major tasks, we made final refinements to the design poster and reviewed our progress with our collaborators at HYPE.

Posted 13 May 2026 11:50

Group 17 / SEEDS TO SEATS

Iris F

21/4/26 Sixth Meeting

In this meeting we reflected on our public participation event and the topics it had raised. For example, we decided that dogs should be allowed but not encouraged and that the fox den can be saved by moving our social area to the other side of the orchard. We also concluded that it would be out of our budget range to make designs with rain shelter as this is not modular and will require heavy duty materials and tools.

We then assigned roles for the following week such as creating two designs: one bench and one planter

Posted 13 May 2026 11:39

Group 17 / SEEDS TO SEATS

Iris F

3/2/26 Third meeting
In this session we thought further about planning a public participation day to present and visualise our plan for the benches clearly. We decided to build a site model and use post it notes to encourage volunteers and visitors to engage in the design process a fun and interactive way.

We also finalised our budgeting and discussed the practical aspect of construction such as which tools we will need and where to acquire them.

Posted 13 May 2026 11:12

Intensive week session 2 saw us split off into groups, starting work on developing the sketches from the previous session. Each group had a different focus area for the publication. Developing our findings from the original meetings with the collaborators, site visits, community engagements, and idea-generating sketches, translating them into our final outputs and the way in which we are planning to present and communicate them. Some of us worked digitally, using 3D modelling software and others made physical models and drew by hand. We met half way through the session to consolidate our work and to check that time was being divided and managed efficiently, before splitting off again and continuing work. It was a very productive day for everyone in Cyan+.

Posted 13 May 2026 10:50

In the first session of the intensive week, we met as a whole group and worked collaboratively. We went through the work we had so far for the presentation and highlighted what still needed to be done. We noted which tasks took priority and where to dedicate the most time. Together we created an action plan for the rest of the week, dividing into groups to split the workload. We started sketching out initial ideas, frequently coming back together to discuss. This meant that we had multiple iterations of each idea, allowing us to create strong, final concepts derived from multiple different ideas. It was a great collaborative practice! Towards the end of the session Emily checked in with us and gave us some examples of the publication booklets, we looked through them together and made note of ideas that we could take inspiration from, for our own development. We ended the day with a plan of how to start the next day in the most productive way.

Posted 13 May 2026 10:49

A few members of our group met and carried out a community engagement at a litter pick event in Platt Fields Park. We spoke to the members of public in attendance and asked them answer how they travelled to the park on that day, we used a pixel diagram and asked them to colour in a square in the appropriate area in order to easily visualise which the most popular mode of transport was. We also asked them to fill out our questionnaire, answering how accessible they feel that green and blue spaces are to them. We asked about how safe they felt in these areas and if they had any suggestions for improvements and development. It was a great insight into how the public views their green and blue spaces around our area of interest, and how we might use this data to plan the proposal of our CyanLine 3 extension into Platt Fields Park.

Posted 13 May 2026 10:47

Group 14 / BUILT TO BELONG

On the 2nd of March, we met, as a group, with one of our collaborators, Megan Brown from Manchester City Council. We presented our work so far, in order to showcase what our ideas are and how we plan to further them. We then discussed the requirements of the brief and CyanLines generally. It was useful to get the collaborator’s insight on the progress of our project so far and to hear Megan’s thoughts and opinions on the work. The meeting allowed us to focus on key aspects understand which of our ideas and concepts were worth spending the most time developing. It was great to speak to Megan and hear her outlook on the project, and it put us in a strong position to continue the project.

Posted 13 May 2026 10:25

Chengshuai Y

Session 11: The Synthesis and Refinement Session
Today’s session was highly productive as we undertook several critical tasks to propel our project forward. First, we took the time to review and reflect on the sections we completed yesterday, ensuring that our overall trajectory remains aligned with our core objectives. A major focus was revisiting and refining the historical timeline of Brookfield Church. We recognized the need to correct specific historical details to guarantee their accuracy, as any misinterpretation of the past could potentially mislead our future design decisions. This rigorous fact-checking process ensures that our proposed scheme is built upon a solid and authentic foundation.
Secondly, we dedicated a significant portion of the meeting to unifying our drawing and graphic styles. By establishing a standardized visual language across all our diagrams and plans, we are not only presenting ourselves as a more cohesive and professional team, but also ensuring that the publication reads as a complete, unified body of work. This harmonization of aesthetics is crucial for eliminating any disjointedness between individual contributions, ultimately elevating the overall quality and clarity of our final presentation.
Finally, we shifted our focus to the digital models, engaging in continuous adjustments and refinements. This phase was deeply collaborative, as we actively brainstormed and tested different spatial solutions together. By pooling our diverse perspectives and constructively critiquing each other's ideas, we are constantly pushing the boundaries of our design. This collective effort and shared dedication reflect our ongoing commitment to achieving the best possible outcome for the final project submission.

Posted 13 May 2026 10:20

Group 31 / HOLT TOWN HIVE

Jitisha S

12/05/2026
Today, we focused on finalizing the site location for the proposed Holt Town Travel Hub bus stop. We evaluated the strengths and weaknesses of each option, considering factors such as accessibility, available space for amenities, and proximity to residential areas. After detailed discussion, we collaboratively selected the site that best supported accessibility and community engagement.
With the site confirmed, we shifted our attention to refining our proposal and preparing publication and presentation materials for the upcoming presentation day. One group developed a narrative to communicate our design philosophy, while another worked on visuals, including slides and graphics.
We also brainstormed features to create a welcoming environment for users, such as passive surveillance, nearby amenities, and green landscaping. As we prepare for the presentation day, we look forward to sharing our vision and seeing our hard work come to fruition.

Posted 13 May 2026 02:21

Group 30 / HARTLEY HUTTERS

Yiran H

Action Week D1
11 May 2026

Welcome to Day 1 of our MSA Live Intensive Week! We kicked off this Monday morning by reviewing our core objectives and mapping out the remaining tasks. With the final presentation coming up this Friday, we knew we needed a highly structured approach.

After a productive group discussion in the studio, we officially distributed the workload. Some team members are focusing on finalizing the site plan and 3D modeling, others are crafting detailed architectural sketches on the iPad, and the rest are structuring our final publication in InDesign. The studio is buzzing with energy and focus. It feels incredibly rewarding to see everyone collaborating so effectively. It’s a busy and intense start, but we are fully geared up for the challenge ahead!

Posted 13 May 2026 00:46

Group 30 / HARTLEY HUTTERS

Yiran H

1st Client Meeting--Unlocking the Potential of Hartley Huts
31 March 2026

Today we had our 1st Client Meeting and presented our initial 3D models. The feedback was incredibly positive and gave us a clear direction for the weeks ahead. Here are the key takeaways:

·Phased Strategy ("Bronze/Silver/Gold"): We will present our full vision (the "Killer Image") as the ultimate goal, but also provide scalable options to adapt to different funding levels without losing the site's heritage value.

·Storytelling Facades: To ensure security and engagement when the huts are closed, we will use perforated metal panels. These will act as secure grilles while visually telling the dock's maritime history.

·Flexible Public Realm: The landscape around the ramp will be kept natural and flexible. Instead of fixed functions, it will easily accommodate runners, cyclists, and pop-up events year-round.

We are heading back to the studio to refine our 3D models and prepare for the final presentation in May. Stay tuned!

Posted 12 May 2026 22:56

Shao Xuan J

Action 1 - 11/05/2026

During the final action week, which was also our engagement week. We were all excited to sit down together and have a discussion about the engagement, publication, and presentation with full passion and enthusiasm. We began assigning groups according to different tasks, focusing on the modeling, sketching, and drafting of the questions that we are going to ask during the engagement session.

Everyone was highly energetic and showed their passion for contributing to the idea in the proposal, ensuring the publication and presentation process would run smoothly and efficiently. Not out of duty or responsibility, but out of passion. The healthy and supportive environment encouraged everyone to actively engage with the team and work together. Most importantly, everyone tried their best to contribute to the success of the team.

By the end of the day, everything was well prepared for the engagement with the students and parents from Co-Op Academic. We were all very excited and looking forward to tomorrow's engagement!

Well Done!

Posted 12 May 2026 22:26

Group 24 / THE SECOND ACT

Conrad G

After we discussed our next steps with the group, we went to the maker space in MTC during the afternoon to update the model and focusing on the interior partitions.
We made some structural changes with the additional walls for the storage unit as well as an extra door in the mid section of the building to create a fire safety corridor.
Tomorrow we plan to finish creating the different partitions then bring the model to discuss the placement with the rest of the group as well as take perspective photos inside the model.

Posted 12 May 2026 21:17

Juwan EG

ACTION WEEK: day 2.
Today was all about developing our final outputs. We started by revisiting our engagement reflections, identifying key interactions that could help inform and develop our design proposal. Dividing the workload like visuals, plans, sections, and concept sketches between us proved efficient once again. We each began producing individual outputs before gradually combining and building on one another’s work throughout the day. Our main focus was finalising our spatial zoning and determining what alterations to the existing theatre would best support the concept, working specifically on the refining the existing plans and sections.

Posted 12 May 2026 21:06

Group 23 / HOUSING WITH HERITAGE

Cultural Engagement: Site Visit (Snack-Based Community Research)

Two of the team drove down to Pendle (in Rahat’s 4 Series, because fieldwork can apparently be done in style) to visit the Pendle Rise Shopping Centre area in Nelson. They met Saj from 3B Systems, a previous collaborator with This Is Nelson, and spent time walking the site and surrounding streets to get a real sense of the place beyond maps and screenshots. Being there helped sharpen what the project is actually responding to, and gave a clearer feel for the town centre atmosphere and the community priorities on the ground.

They also took time to look closely at local businesses and the everyday economy around the site, which opened up useful conversations about how the project could support existing independent activity rather than landing as a standalone pop-up. Rahat fully leaned into “cultural engagement” by briefly popping behind the counter at a sweets shop, which was both a hysterical moment and a direct way of thinking about local business models, community interactions, and what makes a small, approachable setup work.

They brought back local sweets and treats, and we all had a taste of the place in the most literal way. What was unexpectedly useful was the packaging itself - the patterns on the bag felt like a small piece of local identity, and we started talking about how that kind of everyday ornament and graphic language can be translated into the cafe’s panels and signage. It’s a small gesture, but it helps keep the project rooted in the culture it’s meant to serve.

Posted 12 May 2026 17:36

Olatokunbo F

Intensive Week Day 1
11/05/2026
Intensive week is here and it’s time for action!!
Our day started off by sharing our findings from our last meeting. We had discussions on town planning and potential zoning options, sharing research that had been done since our last meeting.
Once we had our discussions, it was straight to the workshop where we began working on our model context and creating a base where we can map out our final plan of action, in response to the brief.
Overall Mood(s): Creative

Posted 12 May 2026 16:10

Group 19 / PHASE TWO

Sean S

12/05/2026

Today kicked off with Nick showing us the work he had completed after our scheduled time tomorrow ‘prettying up’ our publication. With some more group input we completed pages together with each group member providing useful input into the design. This was followed by an Adobe Illustrator workshop lead by Jake, polishing up a Site Plan and Elevations for use in the presentation and publication. This provided challenge with Sean’s microphone being as useful as a chocolate teapot having to communicate through the group WhatsApp instead of the convenient Microsoft Teams call. This was hurdle was overcome, as PhaseTwo confidently moved into the rest of the week.

Posted 12 May 2026 16:01

Group 22 / (RE)WEAVING ACCESS

Back in the Room, Back to Work
/Intensive Week Day 1/

First day back after the break (submissions), and it was basically a big group reset. We finally caught up in the same room, compared where everyone’s at, and switched from “planning mode” to actually getting on with the work. Proper action week oomph.

Massive shoutout to Rahat - he got the structure in place before we even properly sat down, so we didn’t waste half the day deciding how to decide. We shared precedent studies and references (projects, materials, structural systems, layouts, circulation, etc.), and having everyone’s preferences on the table really helped. It meant we aligned quickly and kept the design language consistent.

At the same time, we started setting up the publication properly: layout, structure, colours, and how we want the graphics to look and read. Once we saw everyone’s working styles in action, we started assigning tasks in a way that actually makes sense, matching people to sections, visuals, and production roles so the workload stays clear.

Then we got into the practical design ideas. We pulled out site drawings, started talking materials in a more “real” way, with actual dimensions, how it would be built, and what’s feasible. From there it quickly turned into spatial decisions: what the experience should feel like when you approach and enter, how the cafe/bar and event space might sit together, and how the layout can flex between everyday use and pop-up activities. We started sketching rough plans for function and circulation, thinking through thresholds, queuing/serving, storage and back-of-house, and how people move through the space. We also began testing form and massing ideas, including flat vs pitched roof options, and how the structure could stay lightweight and movable while still feeling inviting and proper in the town centre. Still early, but Day 1 felt like we went from references, to decisions, to a shared direction for the proposal.

Posted 12 May 2026 15:52

Alicia B

Last weekend, the group did our engagement activity in Macclesfield. A group of 4 set up some tables in one of the exhibition rooms for visitors to come and give us feedback. We tried to set up thought-out activities that were interactive and would also give us specific answers to the questions we had about access in the museum. We set up a pinboard with the floor plan laid out, with a pin in each room and doorway, and asked visitors to use a string to show us the access route they took. This clearly shows the most obvious current pathways people are taking and highlights the more blocked and problematic areas. The map is quite confusing, showing a maze of movements, and suggests the building doesn't have a strong program, which was identified as the main issue in our initial consultation. We also labeled hot spots around the site that would be ideal locations for sign posting, and we also mapped out what routes people took to get to the museum, and found out that people don't have a straight, obvious route to the main entrance, and come from all around the building, which is also useful when trying to choose a new entrance point. General written feedback on the targeted question was also collected from the public; most responses aligned with our original consultation feedback. The last activity we set up, where people could choose which of the three issues, between access, signage, and spatial reorganization, was the most important. Overall, we had a very successful engagement day, received useful feedback, and targeted the exact questions we had about the building.

Posted 12 May 2026 15:01

Group 14 / BUILT TO BELONG

Jiage G

Session 10 : The Publication Preparation Session
This session marked our first meeting after the intense assignment submission period, giving us a chance to regroup and reflect on the progress we had already made. We began by discussing our previous work, particularly our experiences during the site visit and the key observations and insights we gained from it. It was useful to revisit these discussions together, as they helped reconnect us with the project and clarify our overall direction moving forward.
The main focus of today’s meeting was preparing the content for our publication. We outlined the key sections that needed to be included, such as the historical background of Brookfield Church, site analysis, demographic research, design concepts, and our proposed scheme. Once the structure was agreed upon, we split into smaller groups to begin producing the different sections.
Throughout the process, there was a very collaborative atmosphere. We regularly shared ideas, reviewed each other’s work, and made adjustments together to improve the clarity and quality of the content. By the end of the session, we successfully completed the initial research and analysis section of the publication, giving us a strong foundation to build on in the next stage of the project.

Posted 12 May 2026 14:49

Group 23 / HOUSING WITH HERITAGE

Loading… Intensive Week

This is our final session before Intensive Week, so today is basically about alignment. We’ve also welcomed a new member, Kiki, which is perfect timing for some fresh ideas just before the sprint starts.

We kick off by getting super clear on what we need to deliver in the coming week(s): the publication, the presentation, and the exhibition upload, plus what Action Week is going to look like day-to-day. We break down what needs producing, what needs simplifying for the presentation, and what evidence we should be collecting as we go (photos, process, visuals) so we’re not digging through folders at the very end.

From there, we move into task allocation, but not in a random “everyone pick a page” way. We match roles to strengths and interests, and keep some parts collaborative so the project still reads as one voice rather than a stitched-together group assignment. By the end of the session, the goal is simple: go into Intensive Week with a clear structure, fewer unknowns, and a team that’s ready to actually produce.

Posted 12 May 2026 14:46

Olatokunbo F

Preparation for Intensive Week
21/04/2026
After our site visit, we met to begin discussing our final outputs towards the brief. In preparation for Intensive week, we set out multiple tasks that needed to be completed, dividing the workload between the group. In doing so, we began considering site zoning and precedence for different housing typologies.

Overall Mood(s): Analytical

Posted 12 May 2026 13:50

Chu Yang S

Today, the BA1s are continuing their delegated work. Rodrigo is finishing up his visual work and material research. Natasha starts with checking and editing the vlog as usual and will soon work on brushing up our timeline. Silvia is looking for good inspirations for the timeline's visuals on the presentation; she will work with Natasha on making it later on. Kai is continuing the publication work and soon will be helping Jason with the presentation.

Posted 12 May 2026 12:32

Aleksandra N

Today we moved over to MTC, where we continued our combined efforts to meet this week's deliverables. Yesterday, we planned the locations of our schemes to fit within the site context. We left the site context to our landscape professional: Karina, as she continues to add landscape features. The MArch students are continuing their work as Jia En has been editing material for our presentation. I have completed the renders of the scheme yesterday, and today's agenda includes finishing the architectural drawings. Yesterday, Jason has been delegating the group work and working with the BA students to include them in the design and presentation process, as he starts on the presentation, and he will continue to do so today.

Posted 12 May 2026 11:34

Ruiyu P

Today specifically, we are dividing our tasks according to our individual strengths. The MArchs are leading the team, guiding each person's tasks. Jason is leading the presentation, Alexandra is leading the publication, and Jia En is supporting both while filling completing any other tasks. Karina is working on the site's geographical information while the MAs are modelling the site contexts. The rest of the BA1s are supporting the MArchs and completing the presentations and gathering information. With our tasks allocated, we all set sail to complete as much as we can. Let's go Mobeelity Hubs!

Posted 12 May 2026 11:05

Yirong X

Welcome back everyone! Good work on your intensive deadline week! Today we are bringing the gang back together to complete our designs and presentation. This whole week, we all are putting in 100% and more to ensure this project comes out polished and perfect.

Posted 12 May 2026 11:04

Group 24 / THE SECOND ACT

Jemima F

Week 5, 21/04/2026

This week was our final session as a group together before our action week. Some of us had met with our collaborator earlier in the week, which gave us a good insight into our possibilities in the action week.

Being our last week, we focused on planning our action week to ensure we were prepared to use our time effectively. We looked at ways to involve and collaborate with a school, and got some positive news that we would be able to join a school street event at Co-op Academy Medlock. This was a great step for our development, and we hope to be able to utilise this to gain parents' and children's opinions to involve them in our design and creative process.

With a clearer picture and timeline of our action week, we left feeling hopeful and excited for the week!

Posted 12 May 2026 10:20

Juwan EG

ACTION WEEK: day 1.
We came in today knowing there was still loads to do, but we quickly began organising the week ahead by distributing tasks and assigning content for each publication page. Once everything was planned out, the workload felt far more manageable thanks to our teamwork.
Although we each had individual responsibilities, working together around the same table created a really helpful and collaborative atmosphere. Where we were constantly involved in each other’s work, exchanging feedback and ideas throughout the process, which helped make the overall output process feel much more cohesive.

Posted 11 May 2026 21:14

Group 20 / DENS OF DISCOVERY

Olivia T

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT!

To continue developing our concept designs, we took our ideas for the “Dens of Discovery” project out into the public in Chelford, where our site is located.
We set up at the local café, Tatton Perk, and spoke with members of the public about our proposal. This gave us valuable insight into how the project is perceived by the community and allowed us to gather genuine feedback on both the design and intended purpose of the dens. We also went to discuss to the community about companies that produce waste that could possibly recycled to help build these Dens.

Overall, the response was very positive. Many people expressed strong support for the idea of creating dens that promote recycling and sustainability. They all liked the unique concept designs and thought that it worked well for the area of Chelford. They also highlighted how the activities planned within the spaces could benefit a wide range of users, including children and people with disabilities.
A key takeaway from these conversations was the idea of inclusivity and accessibility is a really important theme for this close community.

Posted 11 May 2026 20:09

Group 10 / HYDE COMMUNITY COURTS

Mahek Romil V

Action Week day 01- 11/05/2026

Today we began Action Week by working out the design and planning for the site, preparing to start the physical model for our presentation. We also researched precedents and explored the materiality of the design.
After lunch, we organized a list of tasks for the day and divided them among the team to maximize efficiency. We completed the context buildings on the model and started modeling the floor plans.
This session helped us realize how teamwork contributes to time management and organization when working towards tight deadlines.

Posted 11 May 2026 18:25

Group 19 / PHASE TWO

Sean S

11/05/2026
Today was a day based upon delegating tasks to each group member and work towards completing our published booklet and presentation. Once tasks had been completed, we were able to drop our separate information from the OneDrive into the InDesign document and start working on the booklet. A confidence boost in the middle of the day came through Emily Crompton as she liked the direction the final stages the project was taking and complemented Sean and Jake’s confidence in themselves (and a little bit of their confidence in the project). This boost saw us through one of the most productive 10-5s the MSA has seen in many years.

Posted 11 May 2026 17:41

Group 31 / HOLT TOWN HIVE

Wai W

With everybody present and working, we worked up to reaching our goal of 50 routes very quickly and retained very useful information. We then carefully moved our map to the MTC for safe keeping, avoiding damage to the delicate board. Good work everyone, and welcome to the team Karina!

Posted 11 May 2026 15:27

Edward K

11/05/2026
Today we began action week by meeting with the collaborator at TfGM HQ, bringing with us more developed prototypes for our design, including a preliminary exploded diagram for the modules, as well as site analysis & strategy. We discussed where to place the travel hub in the site, as well as materiality and lighting of the design. We received constructive feedback from the collaborators, outlining the pros and cons of each site placement, considering a 400m buffer around the tram stop, as well as accessibility between travel stops. The feedback has informed us on how to move forward during action week to a complete design and site strategy.
In the afternoon we planned out tasks and timelines for the week and split into three groups based on our individual strengths. One group will focus on the presentation and booklet, one on technical drawings and modelling, and one on research and mapping for site analysis and strategy. Each group will come together to synchronise ideas at the end of each day.

Posted 11 May 2026 15:19

Silvia G

Using two pins, the students were able to help us find the most travelled routes and decide the location of our Mobeelity hubs. The first pin is gold, placed on where they first set off in their journey. The second pin is a coloured pin, placed on their destination. We then used a red string to highlight the route, using density of the strings to locate the most travelled route, and therefore, the most suitable roads to place our Mobeelity Hubs. Managing the pins, strings, and map carefully was necessary to keep the data accurate and readable, avoiding possible errors and confusion in mapping the data.

Posted 11 May 2026 14:43

Kai M

Our engagement activity starts with inviting students and staff over to explain our project and show them our huge map, then we ask them to sign our consent forms as we explain to them the short task. The busy and fast-paced environment within the library at times limited opportunities for sustained engagement with participants, but we collected a wide range of data through direct approach and clear communication with participants.
21/April/2026

Posted 11 May 2026 14:30

Final Seminar

21.04.2026

With a busy academic submission period we were few on the ground but those that attended worked through the feedback we obtained from the engagement activity and worked to summarise the findings and begin working on design proposals for the hall, focusing on Ground floor level.

Posted 11 May 2026 14:25

The Engagement Activity! Pt.3

10.04.26 Closing for the day

After an exhausting couple of hours, the students decided to pack up for the day and head home. We had complied lots of feedback and responses from the community and were eager to translate this into the design work going forward.

Posted 11 May 2026 14:20

Group 27 / BLOOM WELL

Hala Tarek Safwat Z

During our first meeting during Enhancement Week, we focused on completing our individually assigned publication tasks before reviewing them collectively to ensure consistency across the final output. This collaborative review process allowed us to exchange feedback and refine the work together. We also analysed previous MSA Live publication examples to gain insight into effective layout, structure, and presentation approaches.

Posted 11 May 2026 14:14

The Engagement Activity! Pt. 2

10.04.26

During the activity:

Various participants engaged with us and helped us to get a good understanding of the needs of the community.

One thing we did notice was that there was a confusion about what building we were referring to. The students worked had to emphasise that we were looking at the Victoria Hall and not the Market Hall that some participants had provided feedback on.

Posted 11 May 2026 14:10

The Engagement Activity! Pt.1

10.04.26

Setting Up:

8 Student attended Glossop's Market Hall to conduct an Engagement Activity with the local people. There were 3 activities planned for the day; Q&A sheets, Sketches/diagram sheets, and a model with preassembled partitions for participants to play with.

On arrival the students gathered in the main hall to discuss the arrangements and expected outcomes for the day, along with deciding what roles everyone wanted to take during the activities.

Once the collaborator arrived, we set up tables, put up posters and laid out the activities and began inviting participants to engage.

Our collaborator kindly got us all a hot drink from the food hall.

Posted 11 May 2026 13:57

Group 01 / ALTAR-NATIVE

Joseph K

Hi, I’m Joe. I am a well accomplished designer with a BA in architecture; currently studying at MSA in Non Standard Habitats.

Much of my professional experience was spent at WATG in London, where I had the opportunity to contribute to large-scale projects like NEOM and other Saudi Public Investment schemes. Beyond architecture I am looking to enrich my skillset in design through avenues of fashion, set design and art direction.

Posted 11 May 2026 13:46

Group 24 / THE SECOND ACT

The engagement preparation

09.04.26

A group of us worked on preparing for or engagement activities. Ensuring we have adequate resources on the day to carry out each planned activity with the community of Glossop. As arranged with FOVH, the engagement activities will be held at the market hall with stalls provided. Our activities require a 1:50 model of the site to be interactive during the day. These included ‘mock-ups’ of different partition options we’ve observed from precedents to propose a series of options for spatial planning with the community.

Resources prepared:
5 posters
5 opinion (plan+writing sheets)
10 partitipation forms
20 photo consents
1:50 Model

Posted 11 May 2026 12:45

Dominic F

Hi, I'm Dom - a master's student from Leeds.

I have a keen interest in the restoration and retrofit of heritage structures which is why I was drawn to the Victoria Theatre project in Salford. I worked mostly on historic galleries and market halls in practice last year and I found this very rewarding. I'm also doing an adaptive reuse project for my studio module, so I think my learnings from these can inform each other, and help with future work I complete.

Posted 11 May 2026 12:27

20/04/2026

Prior to the 20th of April, we communicated with our collaborator to help us invite a group of writers to our engagement activity. We put together a questionnaire and some MCQs that we intended to give to writers all centered around what they like about the spaces they use already and what they want to see in future spaces.

We then hosted our engagement activity in the MTC and got an insight into the writers' minds who would be the primary users of our space. We provided refreshments while they answered questions with short paragraphs before engaging in conversation with them to hear their ideas.

Posted 11 May 2026 11:57

30/03/2026

After submitting the ethics application and risk assessment, we organised and carried out a site visit, we invited our collaborator to help us gain a better idea of what he envisioned for the site. We collected photos, measurements, and an overall feel for the site so we could then start visualising possible ideas for the site in context.

Posted 11 May 2026 11:51

17/03/2026

For this session, we developed our publication and started our site analysis by delegating aspects of it to a subsection of the group. Simultaneously, other member of the group also developed our design concept with renewed consideration to the site.

Posted 11 May 2026 11:47

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.

Posted 11 May 2026 11:44

03/02/2026

After the first session it was time to meet our collaborator, during the meeting we were able to: get a better sense of what kind of space they wanted us to create, ask and discus any questions we had and orginise a date and time for a site visit.

Posted 11 May 2026 11:41

Rodrigo CL

After our long break, the Mobeelity Hubs have returned to start our engagement activity. We all gathered at the MMU library to set up our small stand, which includes a large map, pins, consents forms and activity information flyers. As we quickly set up, we meet with our master's in landscape architecture student, Karina Boza for the first time. We quickly gave her a warm welcome, introduced ourselves and gave her a quick catch up of the task and the project. Karina was very quick to settle in and went straight to work with the rest of us. 21/April/2026

Posted 11 May 2026 11:28

Karl David Raphael G

Hi, my name is Karl Gellamucho, a first year Master student in Architecture. I also did my undergraduate degree here in Manchester at MSA. I love the outdoors and mainly play basketball. MSA Live is one of the great aspects of the course as it allows students from all levels to work together on a project which will hopefully please the client. Through this module we will gain some industry perspective

Posted 11 May 2026 10:51

Rebecca T

11/05/2026. We met up as a group this morning to finalise our route for distributing the flyers. We plan to conduct this engagement event to chat to the public about the GM Ringway and encourage as many survey responses as possible!

Posted 11 May 2026 10:48

Group 25 / DREAM BUILDERS

Freddie G

Hi I'm Freddie,a first year undergraduate student and an infrequent hiker. Despite this I love the outdoors as my grandparents live on a farm and I grew up visiting the countryside consistently throughout my childhood, despite living in the heart of Birmingham. This gave me a unique experience of loving the countryside and the city and so, I’m excited to be working with GM ringway to be able to promote the outdoors to all the city lovers. I hope to use my skills in BA1 to get more people using these trails to share my love for the countryside with as many people as possible.

Posted 11 May 2026 10:34

Nadin ER

21/04/2026

Workshop day! We went to the school and split up between 3 classrooms to lead the day long workshops. Our first workshop was to design your own playground, where the students had to place stickers and draw anything they feel they would want and need in a playground. This was to strengthen their abilities to organise a space. Our second workshop was for them to create their own 3d model playground item, like a swing, slide, or anything else they had in mind. We gave them straws and clay and let their creativity run wild. For the last and final workshop, they designed buildings of a city out of recycled items and the whole class came together and placed all their creations onto a map, creating a combined city. It was a successful day and they all enjoyed and were more cooperative than we expected.

Posted 11 May 2026 10:32

Group 03 / PETRI OF PLAY

Anna R

Hi, I’m Kari. I am a part time student currently in my second of four years working towards a master's degree in landscape architecture. I work as a Landscape Consultant and have three years' experience. My bachelor's degree is in Fashion design, and I have a strong interest in growing and foraging for food. I am excited to bring all my experiences together in my studies and in the MSA Live project.

Posted 10 May 2026 16:26

Hi, I'm Yinghui Zhao!

I am from China and I am currently a Master’s student in Landscape Architecture at MSA.

I have always been deeply passionate about my field. I believe landscape architecture not only addresses climate challenges but also brings therapeutic benefits to people, which is why I chose this discipline.
Since my studies have focused primarily on landscape contexts, I have not yet had the chance to explore architectural design in depth. I am very excited about this project, and I’m looking forward to learning a great deal from working on this architectural scheme with the team.

Posted 1 May 2026 16:56