Group 31
HOLT TOWN HIVE

This Holt Town Hive looks at how a bus stop can be more than just a bus stop. The idea is to design a flexible Travel Hub for Greater Manchester that can handle frequent bus services while still feeling safe and comfortable to use, combining buses with cycle docks, e-scooters, proper shelter, and small additions like kiosks and parcel lockers. Shaped around Holt Town’s current conditions and future developments, our aim is to turn everyday travel into something more considered - a place where people feel connected and can look forward to spending time.

Ananya R / Edward K / Emre T / Jitisha S / Matiss E / Ria Rajendra P / Siti Salwa BH / Viviane VD / Xiaoran M / Xintong L / Yasmin S

Emre T
We kicked off our first session by getting to know the team, sharing our architectural backgrounds and sharing our individual strengths, interests and perspectives. After getting to know eachother, we turned our attention to the brief. We spent time analysing the online resources and diagramming the project scope, identifying not just the bare minimum outcomes expected from us, but where we could expand the project by adding extra creativity and value.

Then, we worked on the collaborative design of our project poster. After sketching individual iterations and going over them as a group, we synthesised our ideas into a final draft that represented our collective vision. With several project names in mind, we headed into our first stakeholder meeting with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM).

The presentation by the TfGM team was incredibly insightful, outlining the project trajectory and specific expectations. A productive Q&A followed, clearing up any potential ambiguities. As a group, we are really proud of the synergy we’ve built in such a short time, and it was rewarding to see that our excitement is shared by our client.
Posted 16 Feb 2026 20:49
Ria Rajendra P
Site Visit 1 - We had a walking tour from the Etihad Stadium through Holt Town, ending at New Islington, alongside our collaborator Transport for Greater Manchester and a representative from Manchester City Council.

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

This was a successful site visit, as it provided strong contextual grounding and clarified Holt Town’s relationship to Manchester city centre. The discussions from this meeting informed our first steps towards identifying a new location for the proposal of the Holt Town Travel Hub.
Posted 4 Mar 2026 12:17