Habari!

My name is Angela Ndori. I’m originally from Tanzania and grew up mainly in the UK, and I’m a Foundation year architecture student with a strong passion for vernacular architecture and sustainable design in the built environment. I previously worked in Kenya with a company focused on green housing and sustainable agriculture, where I gained practical insight into environmentally responsible design. I’m especially drawn to the interdisciplinary nature of architecture, exploring how it connects with sociopolitics and history to shape communities and spaces. I’m eager to keep learning, collaborating, and developing design approaches that respect culture, climate, and context while contributing to a more sustainable future through thoughtful, people-centred architecture as I grow professionally.

This project with our collaborator, United Didsbury Methodist Church, directly reflects these interests. It offers an opportunity to apply my passion for sustainable and community-focused design to a real setting, where architecture can meaningfully support inclusivity, accessibility, and environmental responsibility. I’m particularly excited to contribute ideas that help transform the church into a more flexible and welcoming space that serves both its congregation and the wider community.

Meeting 01 — 03/02/2026

On the first day of MSA Live, we met as a group to introduce ourselves and discuss the United Didsbury Methodist Church project. We ran a short icebreaker to help everyone settle in and quickly understand each person’s key skills and what they would like to achieve with this project.

Project direction
We then reviewed the brief and clarified the project scope. Our early focus is on making the church feel more inclusive and accessible, welcoming a wider range of users including disabled visitors, and encouraging broader community use of the building. To prepare for the client meeting later that afternoon, we also began outlining key questions to confirm the client’s priorities and the areas they want us to focus on.

Meeting 1.5 — 03/02/2026

Meeting the client
After our afternoon team catch-up with the new members, we met the client to understand their background and expectations for the project.

Client priorities
They highlighted three key areas: the entrance/reception, the main entrance, and Room 3 + office. The aim is to convert Room 3 and the office into flexible, multi-use spaces, while improving access so it feels safe, clear, and inclusive for everyone, including disabled users. They also want the entrance experience to look cleaner, be easier to navigate, and support better commercial value.

Key issues raised
Heat loss, overall accessibility, and building security were raised as current problems. The church also aims to reach net zero carbon by 2030.

Project direction
Next, we will focus design work around the three main areas, arrange a site visit with the client to understand issues firsthand, and develop a poster that reflects the church’s character and the client’s vision.

Meeting 02 — 17/02/2026

On our second group meeting, we focused on further improving the poster and its supporting description. We discussed the overall look and its definition of United Didsbury church, including texture, layout decisions, and agreeing on clear titles that communicate the project direction.

Project direction
We then divided into smaller groups to cover the key project strands. This included developing the risk assessment, outlining ethical considerations, setting up the project timeline, and starting a basic budget framework so we can track deliverables and responsibilities more clearly moving forward.