BA1

/Samira Junet
//I’m an international student from Kenya, and I chose to study Architecture because I’ve always been curious about the spaces around me and how they influence people and everyday life. Manchester felt like the perfect place to study, as it’s such a vibrant city with a strong sense of history and character that makes it inspiring to explore and learn from. Outside of architecture, my favourite thing to get at a café is a pain au chocolat.

/Kiera Manton
//I grew up in Manningtree, a small town in Essex, and I think that experiencing architecture in different places and seeing the impact these spaces have on people’s lives is what inspired me to study architecture. My favourite cafe is rise in Liverpool and my favourite drink to get would be a matcha or iced tea.

/Finlay Johnson
//I grew up in Ipswich, Suffolk, and I chose to study and pursue Architecture as a result of seeing the impact and change it can bring to communities. Outside of studies, my favourite cafe would be The arbour in Ipswich, my favourite drink being a cappuccino.

/Lily-Beth Witt
//I grew up in Peterborough, England and I think that visiting historical cities and Manor Houses and interacting with the architecture around the UK when I was younger is what inspired me to study architecture. My favourite thing to get at a cafe is a latte or a flat white.

/Alika Urmiyeva
//I grew up in both Kazakhstan and Russia, and throughout my life traveled and observed the architecture around the world. I was always inspired and fascinated by it, this why architecture was one of my first choices for a future career. My favorite cafe is in Moscow, it has the best cookies.

MArch 1

/Euan Ellis
//I grew up in Ripon, North Yorkshire (almost in the middle of nowhere), and I think constant exposure to beautiful heritage buildings, fountains abbey in particular, is what led to my interest in architecture.
//My favourite cafe is Tiny Tiny in Newcastle, where a flat white and the huevos rancheros will sort you out on a Saturday morning!

/Nafeesa Ayorinde
//I grew up in Leicester, East Midlands, and my first inclination to building design was actually through the video game Sims 3! Instead of playing the actual game, I was obsessed with designing the houses which sparked my interest in architecture as a career.
//My favourite cafe is Junction in Manchester, their truffle fries are banging!

/Mohammed Rahat
//I’m an architectural professional who cares about how buildings affect people and everyday life. I’m interested in how cities grow and how good design, at any scale, can make a real difference. Alongside my work in architecture, I’ve been involved in my local community since the age of 11 through kickboxing, starting as a student and later teaching my own classes. That experience taught me discipline, confidence, and the importance of giving back. I enjoy working with others, learning on the job, and turning ideas into well-built, thoughtful spaces that have a positive impact.

/Oliwia Żytowiecka
//I’m from Poland and grew up in a very touristy coastal town. I think my interest in architecture began when I saw many beautiful old buildings being demolished to make way for new developments, which gradually caused the town to lose its character. At the same time, I was surrounded by a sense of nostalgia from older residents, who often spoke about how special and beautiful the town used to be - a version of it that I unfortunately never experienced myself. That contrast between memory and reality of what has been lost made me more aware of how the built environment shapes identity and belonging. On a lighter note, another huge influence was playing The Sims!
//My favourite café is my close friend’s family’s restaurant, where I’m always greeted with a new coffee or tea to try!

MAAR

/Angelove Lee
//I’m from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, but I’ve moved around quite a bit - studying in Shenzhen and London. Being immersed in different cities, buildings, and people shaped how I think about architecture, pushing me toward a more functional and rational approach focused on improving urban issues and everyday spatial experience.
//My favourite thing to get in a cafe is a fruity, acidic, medium-roast filter coffee, or a matcha or fresh juice, depending on the day.

/Wang YuXiang
//I grew up in Weihai, Shandong, China. My path to architecture was shaped by a dual passion: I have loved painting since childhood, but I am equally fascinated by the logic of mathematics and physics. During my studies at the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, I realized that architecture is the perfect discipline to bridge these interests - it is where artistic sensibility meets scientific rationality.
//My favourite thing to get in a cafe is a classic Iced Latte. I don't have a specific go-to spot, but an Iced Latte is my consistent choice no matter where I am.

In-Situ: This is Nelson

Our collaborator, In-Situ, is a “quietly radical, embedded arts organisation” based north of Manchester in the borough of Pendle in East Lancashire. Working at the overlap of art, community and ecology to produce locally relevant work that makes a tangible difference to everyday life. One of their programmes, This Is Nelson, is working specifically with the community of Nelson to enhance locals' experiences of the town centre.

With Pendle Rise shopping centre in Nelson due to be demolished and rebuilt over the next couple of years, Hard Hat Cafe is imagined as a pop-up structure that can support a small food/drink business while also operating as a container for cultural activity, a flexible hub for creative events and community-led programming in the town centre during a period of transition. In that sense, it’s not just a cafe, it’s a way of reimagining how temporary structures and everyday rituals can support creative learning, encourage intercultural dialogue, and contribute to social and economic change, potentially even evolving into a longer-term fixture after redevelopment.

Ethics Said “No” (So We Try Again)

Setting up the project! With the 6 March submission deadline looming, last week was a bit of a ‘get our act together’ moment as we worked through submissions for the project timeline, ethics application, risk assessment, and budget proposal - tedious, but necessary planning bits.

We mapped out a timeline structured through project stages and weekly tasks, from early definition and briefing through concept design, coordination, technical development, and final handover. It became painfully clear what depends on what, especially that engagement has to wait for ethical approval. We received feedback soon after submission and found our ethics application needed more work, so we’re now reworking it properly around being respectful and explicit on consent, inclusion, and representation.

Alongside that, we completed a risk assessment covering things like model-making, site visits, and public engagement, with controls in place to reduce risk. Finally, we submitted a budget proposal capped at £100, balancing practical needs (materials, printing, travel, stakeholder refreshments) with the most important line item: a “submission treat (pizza!)” to keep morale intact.

With the planning in place, we can move forward with a clearer structure, shared expectations, and (hopefully) less chaos.

Kiki, Do you love me?

/Ziying He
//I live in Kunming, Yunnan—a city especially favored by sunlight, and one of China’s most soulful coffee-producing regions. Even the air here seems to carry a hint of bitterness followed by a lingering sweetness.
//In moments when work wears me down, I turn to a restrained and rational Americano to bring myself back to a state of clarity and efficiency. But on an afternoon when the sunlight is just right, I prefer to slow down and cradle a soft, velvety latte—letting sweetness and bitterness intertwine on my palate, and allowing time itself to feel a little less urgent.
//Perhaps, in the end, we all need a touch of romance to push back against the rough edges of life.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

From Design to Delivery
/Intensive Week Day 3/

Today’s session was mostly about tightening everything up and making the project behave like a final proposal. We focused on finalising the design direction, running through development iterations, and checking feasibility as we refined the layout, structure, and how the cafe/event setup actually works in use.

A key step was pushing the design from sketches into a 3D model so we could look at it properly together. Seeing it in volume made some decisions feel obvious, and also flagged a few things we needed to adjust. We went back and forth between model and drawings, testing proportions, movement, and how the parts come together, then iterating until it started to feel more resolved.

In between all that, we also took a group photo, and Alika’s going to sketch it for the publication. Alongside the design work, we spent time coordinating outputs by aligning the publication and presentation so they share the same graphics and tell the same story. We also started shaping the presentation sequence, deciding what needs to be simplified and made more visual, and what can sit in the publication for the detailed explanation.

Sam Fender Mix = Curation Mode
/Intensive Week Day 4/

After a long day of drawings and production, Day 4 was mainly about curation and documentation. Most of the core work was already there, so the focus was on bringing it together in a way that feels clear and intentional. Plans, sections, structure logic and key visuals were in place, and the task was to shape them into a coherent set.

We spent the session putting the publication and presentation together side by side, deciding what matters most and what can be simplified. A lot of it was about consistency and clarity, making sure the drawings speak the same language and the story is easy to follow. It was less “new design” and more making sure the design reads properly.

We also ran through the presentation sequence as a group and talked through the narrative. What comes first, what needs a moment to land, and what can be shown quickly. By the end of the day we had a stronger structure for the file and a clearer plan for uploading, so we could go into the next day focused on delivery.