Group 01
ALTAR-NATIVE

Rossendale Digital CIC is a group of tech entrepreneurs who want to turn Bacup Christ Church, a historic building from 1854, into an active digital hub for the local community. Our aim as a team is to tackle the digital skills gap in Rossendale and the space will offer hands-on training in areas like coding, web development and 3D printing alongside office and event spaces. We want to support startups, freelancers and local residents and this project will allow us to train up to 1,700 people a year and provide workspaces for up to 60 people.

Bryanna Q / Cayden Kai Shen K / Chisom Blessing I / Haoxiong L / Joseph K / Junqi L / Kobe DJ / Luke A / Minzheng H / Roshni P / Tre-Kwan M

Luke A
My name is Luke Austin, and I am part of the MArch01 cohort at the Manchester School of Architecture, working toward my long-term ambition of becoming a professional architect.
My passion for architecture has been shaped by travel and by living in Sydney, Australia, a city home to some of the world’s most iconic landmarks.
I completed my undergraduate studies at the University of Liverpool and undertook my Part 1 placement at Falconer Chester Hall, one of Liverpool’s leading architectural practices, where I gained invaluable professional experience. I am excited to begin working on a live project within a team environment, tailoring our proposal carefully to meet a client’s needs.
Posted 20 Feb 2026 11:01
Chisom Blessing I
My name is Chisom Ikebudu: a BA1 Architecture Student at the Manchester School of Architecture. After previous study of A-Level Maths, Physics and 3D Design, I became fascinated by the intersection of Arts, Culture + Tech. The Rossendale Digital CIC recognises this intersection, giving me the opportunity to research into how spaces which hold cultural significance, can be revitalised in consideration of surrounding communities. I’m certainly looking forward to seeing this project through!
Posted 20 Feb 2026 14:02
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 20 Feb 2026 14:08
Bryanna Q

Hi, my name is Bryanna Quaynor, and I am in BA1 Architecture. I previously studied Art, Maths, and Economics at A Level, which helped me develop creative and analytical skills. In this project, we are transforming a church into a digital tech hub, and I’m looking forward to developing my design skills and exploring how architecture can adapt spaces for modern use.
Posted 20 Feb 2026 14:32
Bryanna Q
Hello! I'm Roshni Patel a BA1 student at the Manchester School of Architecture. I am of Indian heritage and growing up experiencing different cultures has given me a unique outlook on architecture. I studied maths, physics and 3D design at A-level which have all set me up for my journey at the MSA. I like this project because it is adaptive reuse and has a wide range of users to consider. I can't wait to work with my team, learn from others and make a real impact on the Rossendale community. I am very excited to see this project grow!
Posted 20 Feb 2026 16:01
Tre-Kwan M
Hi, my name is Tre-kwan and I am a first year architecture student. Prior to moving to Manchester to study architecture, I lived in North West London my whole life. My interests are how buildings or structures intertwine with the needs of humanity but also their visual beauties and how these buildings make people feel. I enjoy all the creative freedom architecture gives and I would love to be a part of future of the industry.

For this project, I am really excited to work on something that has real impact and could help people, but also to gain major experience and learn from the post graduate students. We will transform a church into a digital tech community hub, I am thrilled to be in this group as I think it is interesting to try and connect two almost incongruous ideas of “old and new” and this in my opinion would be very fun to explore.
Posted 8 Mar 2026 21:08
Haoxiong L
My name is Li Haoxiong, and I am currently enrolled on the MArch 1 programme at MSA. I completed my undergraduate studies as part of a joint programme between Tianjin Chengjian University in China and the Cracow University of Technology in Poland. During that time, I gained an understanding of the history and current state of Western churches, whilst the diverse cultural contexts enriched my architectural theory. This project requires the preparation of construction drawings for a church (particularly regarding thermal insulation), which aligns with my previous internship experience in Shanghai. I look forward to collaborating with new colleagues on this practical project to develop a feasible solution that meets the client’s requirements.
Posted 17 Mar 2026 12:33
Junqi L
My name is Iris, and I am currently studying Architecture Adaptive Reuse, with a strong interest in revitalising existing buildings through thoughtful and sustainable design. My current project focuses on the transformation of Christ Church, Bacup, exploring how a historic religious structure can be sensitively adapted to serve contemporary community needs. I am particularly interested in balancing heritage preservation with innovative spatial interventions. With a strong background in drawing, I communicate ideas visually and develop a deeper understanding of space, light, and materiality, aiming to create meaningful and socially responsive architectural solutions. I am truly excited about the opportunity to collaborate with everyone, share ideas, and grow together through this project.
Posted 17 Mar 2026 14:13
Kobe DJ
Hi There! I'm Kobe, an MArch 1 student at the Manchester School of Architecture, currently representing the CPU Ai Atelier. I undertook my BArch at Portsmouth School of Architecture, before working with a renowned London-based architecture practice called ACA Studios.

Looking forward, my ultimate hope is to contribute in the spaces between architecture and art; where skills are transfered to the more experimentative disciplines such as the entertainment arts, film and video games. I am keen to engage with the collaborative contexts of this live project, and anticipate our team's success in the contributions of each of our individual passions and interests.
Posted 17 Mar 2026 21:09