Group 11
GROUNDS OF HEALING

The Counselling and Family Centre in Altrincham is an organisation aimed at the local community offering support and a welcoming environment for all. The redesign of the café and community space will balance social interaction with quiet refuge. With flexible seating, warm materials, and clear circulation supporting neurodiversity, dignity, and choice; the café becomes more than a meeting space, it becomes an inclusive environment for belonging. By translating principles of care into architectural form, the redesigned space becomes a supportive environment for belonging, resilience, and everyday wellbeing towards the families involved.

Beining Z / Diona I / Libby D / Nicolas B / Omolade P / Saleem SK / Sofia R / Taecho S / Weixian C / Zach R / Zareen Rahman K

Diona I
3/2/26

SESSION 1: INTRODUCTION

Today we had our first meeting as a group getting to know each other and where our journeys have taken us so far. Each of us have varied backgrounds and are at different points in life which was useful in seeing what our skills are best adapted to. We made sure to get everyone involved in design ideas for our initial task of producing a poster for our project, which was very successful combining multiple ideas into one.

Before meeting with our collaborator Mark Busby who works in The Counselling and Family Centre, we wanted to have an aim on what we would ask him to get a better understanding of the purpose in redesigning the café is. Having this information going forward will help us move forward with concepts for a poster and later ideas for the design of the café itself.

We hope to plan a site visit within the next week, meeting with Mark again and getting a sense for the building and what could come from this. For later tasks in the project, we hope to join together again to create some amazing work as a team.
Posted 19 Feb 2026 15:25
Diona I
Hi, I’m Diona, currently in my first year of the MArch, having graduated from Manchester School of Architecture in 2025. I grew up as an Albanian in North Macedonia before moving to Manchester for my undergraduate studies, which shaped my interest in how architecture carries history, identity, and cultural memory across different places. During my third year, I completed work experience in a conservation practice, which strengthened my focus on adaptive reuse, historic building repair, and conservation-led design.
Outside of architecture, I enjoy travelling, photography, and sketching the places I visit (and eating lots and lots of good food), as these experiences influence how I observe buildings, streets, and everyday urban life. I’m really looking forward to working with the team and developing ideas together through the project.
Posted 19 Feb 2026 16:22
Nicolas B
Hi, I’m Nick, a first year student from Lincoln.

I look forward to working on the Counselling and Family Centre. The opportunity to tangibly affect people’s lives in a positive way through design and the built environment is exciting.

Additionally, I hope to gain valuable skills and insights from my peers along the way, and to enjoy myself above all!
Posted 19 Feb 2026 17:06
Zach R
Hi, I’m Zach Riordan (BA1)

I’m from St Helens, England. I am currently studying in my first year of architecture and looking forward to the next few years ahead developing my knowledge and skills. I am hopeful that this experience working with others in different skillsets and backgrounds will be beneficial, and I am grateful for this opportunity presented to me. I hope to achieve an amazing project with this team and learn many new things along the way.
Posted 19 Feb 2026 19:05
Beining Z
Hi, I’m Beining Zhang (MA AR)

I'm from Hebei Province, China. I chose to major in Adaptive Reuse because of my passion for breathing new life into old buildings.
This is my first time collaborating with students from BA1 and MArch1, and I truly value this opportunity. I’m looking forward to learning from this group work and making this project a success together.
Posted 19 Feb 2026 20:18
Zareen Rahman K
Hey! I’m Zareen, currently figuring out my Master of Architecture, one studio critique at a time! I’m most drawn to projects that involve real communities along with real conversations. Particularly in how design can respond to social challenges in ways that feel thoughtful, grounded, and useful.

I enjoy unpacking messy, layered problems and translating them into spaces that feel inclusive and alive. If a project brings diverse voices to the table and leads to something meaningful in the real world, that’s exactly the kind of work I want to be doing!
Posted 19 Feb 2026 20:21
Libby D
Hi, I’m Libby Drake (BA1)

Im from greater Manchester and my passion for art and maths led me to study architecture. I am excited to be working on this project because creating a clam and supportive space for people going through challenging times is especially important to me and I believe that even the smallest gestures of comfort can make a meaningful difference to people’s lives.
Posted 20 Feb 2026 09:34
Saleem SK
I am a Master of Architecture student at the Manchester School of Architecture (MSA), with a background in architectural practice in India. My experience spans residential and community-based projects, where I developed a strong foundation in design thinking, technical coordination, and BIM-led workflows.

My interests lie in adaptive reuse, sustainable retrofitting, and community-centred design. I am particularly drawn to projects that strengthen social infrastructure and create spaces that support wellbeing across generations.

For MSA Live, I am working on the redevelopment of Community and Family Centre in Altrincham, with a focus on revitalising its community and café spaces. The aim is to transform these everyday environments into inclusive, welcoming spaces that encourage connection, comfort, and a stronger sense of belonging within the local community.
I look forward to collaborating closely with stakeholders and contributing thoughtfully to a design that supports the centre’s long-term vision.
Posted 20 Feb 2026 22:29
Sofia R
Hi I’m Sofia Roche (BA1)
I’m from Hertfordshire, England. I chose to study architecture because of my enthusiasm for shaping the spaces of the future. I am looking forward to collaborating with students from MArch1 and MA AR as I believe they will provide me the opportunity to expand my architectural mindset and inspiration. I hope to achieve a pleasing project with this team to develop my knowledge and skills for the future of my architecture journey.
Posted 3 Mar 2026 14:43
Taecho S
Hi, I'm Taecho, a first year Architecture student from South Korea.

I'm excited to be working on the Counselling and Family Centre project, as it offers a meaningful opportunity to design spaces that support people's wellbeing. I'm particularly interested in how atmosphere and spatial composition influence experience, and I hope to develop my design approach through cross-year collaboration and direct engagement with real clients.
Posted 3 Mar 2026 14:57
Omolade P
Hi I’m Omolade. I did my Bachelor’s in Architecture at Central Saint Martins in London and have decided to pursue my Master’s in Architecture here at MSA.

I’m excited to work on the MSA Live project as it will give me the opportunity to work with real clients more and strengthen my professional practice skills. Adaptive reuse also gives us the challenge of using what is already there, while minimising waste and prioritising use, which are important tools to develop in the current architectural climate.
Posted 3 Mar 2026 15:09
Weixian C
Hi, I’m Weixian Cai from China. a postgraduate student currently pursuing MAAR at MSA. With a solid foundation in architectural design and a keen interest in urban spatial dynamics, I am committed to exploring innovative and sustainable solutions within the built environment.

My academic journey at MSA has further refined my technical skills and critical thinking, allowing me to bridge the gap between theoretical research and practical application. I am passionate about creating spaces that are not only aesthetically compelling but also socially impactful.
Posted 3 Mar 2026 15:25