Name: Zehra Çelik
Course: M.Arch 1
Atelier: Flux
I am Zehra Çelik, a Master's student at the Manchester School of
Architecture. I graduated from Yaşar University's Department of Architecture in 2024 and studied in Prague during my third year of undergraduate studies as part of the Erasmus+ program. This international experience enhanced my design approach and cultural perspective, while strengthening my ability to think and produce at different scales. Throughout my studies and after graduation, I participated in numerous architectural competitions, winning various awards; these processes significantly contributed to my critical thinking, the development of conceptual depth, and the ability to express design decisions powerfully.

For me, architecture is a powerful tool with the potential to improve human life. I believe that design can influence an individual's emotions, transform their behavior, and provide new perspectives. Therefore, I see space not merely as a physical structure, but as an environment that produces experience and meaning. Architecture, while a multi-layered field that develops through interaction with different disciplines, is also a powerful intellectual and creative production practice in its own right; this structure allows me to produce more inclusive and effective design solutions.

Presentation Day

Presentation Day was the day when we shared the work we had developed throughout the semester and the outcomes we gained during Action Week. No new material was produced on this day; instead, we presented our process, research, engagement activities, and final proposal through the publication, presentation, and project materials that had already been prepared.

The presentation took place in the Geoffrey Manton Building, and our collaborator was also present during the session. The project was presented through a shared narration by three members of the group. This allowed us to explain the research process, observations around the school, conversations with students, parents, teachers, and Manchester City Council representatives, the activities carried out with the children, and the design proposal in a more organised way.

During the presentation, we particularly explained how the project related to the School Streets programme and how the closed street could be reimagined not only as a space for movement, but also as a social, safe, and play-focused public space for children, families, and the school community. The drawings, games, and feedback collected from the site during the engagement activities were also presented as an important part of the project narrative.

After the presentation, we had the opportunity to speak with our collaborator. They said that they liked the proposal and mentioned that the documents we had prepared could be used for their own work and future discussions. This feedback was important because it showed that the project was not only an academic output, but also a useful and meaningful document for a real stakeholder.