{ Analogies }

We tried out different possibilities for constructing the shelter using the chosen design as a base.

We developed our ideas in groups of 3 and the client chose her favourite.

Day 1: we met our client while visiting the site and she told us her requirements for the shelter we were going to build. For day 2 we had to come up with a design which incorporates a shelter, a sitting place and maybe space to put a hammock and a BBQ in.

Before our first meeting, we are asked to write a short paragraph about urbanism in China. In our first meeting, Dr. David Haley gave us a talk about his visit to China and urban China. He also presented some work of his Chinese students. The talk is inspiring as it gives us a lot of informations about current development and urbanization in China.

The visit to Withington Baths (WB), listening to a talk about the history of WB and how we can find a solution to restore and develop the building for the community.

day 3. bringing drawings to life

day 4. unbeatable view. group work always teaches you something

day 3. can't get away from all those historical stufff

day 3. distraction continues as i unravel a journey through history.

day 3. distracted from work. heal youself

day 2. Group discussions. you learn a lot from them

day 1. visiting and analysing the site. don't deny the beauty of a flower

Session 1 introduced us to the idea of 'Big Data' and the use of such data in the development of design. We were given some time to choose a topic to gather data on within Oxford Road, and my group collectively decided to investigate nationality and languages spoken by people on Oxford Road.

After the session I gathered relevant data from the 2011 Census on 'Main Language Spoken' and 'Ethinicity' (as there was no data on Nationality available) in the wards within Oxford Road.

With this data I experimented with D3 (Data Driven Documents) - a javascript library that turns data into visualization. The above image shows the data, code and outcome.

3rd Session: Urban Intervention Talk by Sketchtecture Coordinators.

2nd Session: Live Sketching in collaboration with UrbanSketch Manchester. Participants are required to sketch around Central Library.

1st Session: Sketchtecture Introduction Talk given by Simone from Manchester UrbanSketch. Some of her works are shown to the participants and she also gave few tips for first timers in live sketching.

The essentials. Laptop, sketchbooks, coffee and snacks. Designs are finalised ready for testing next week.

Before we began to build the installation, a small group of us visited the UoM workshop to get advice on construction.

During 'Processing' Tutorial!

Combined slides from the presentation of the groups work with elevations, perspectives and sketches for the proposed structure.

Filing down the metal structure ready to be welded next week.

Workshop Day 1. Groups are preparing to make their structures. Materials include, metal, wood, perspex, polystyrene and foam.

A talk from the Environmental Agency on the UK's flood defense systems and the presentation and review of our prototype design for a flood relief shelter

After our visit to the Biospheric Foundation in Salford, we saw some interesting things of the creation of nature. It was useful and gave some good ideas for our project. Here are some diagrams and sketches of the concept of Biospheric Foundation for the project.

Consideration of precedents for the design of our flood relief shelter and some initial sketches of the various design ideas suggested during group discussion.

My first task was to analyse the site of Withington Baths. I started with some diagrams and sketches of the location, orientation, circulation and the sun path direction of the site.

Discussions based on the geo-located 3D data map. Possibilities were found via exchanging experience s.

Post 5: Work began on our 'frames'
this is a wooden structure descending in hight towards the back to create depth.

Post 4: Researched deeper into conservation. looked at architects and theorists Viollet-Le-Duc and John Ruskin.
i looked at their work in architectural conservation, similar interests and their contrasting theories.

Also began to think about what our group model will capture in its essence.

Post 3: visited the Manchester art gallery to look at sculptures and gain inspiration.

Post 2: Today we visited the Elizabeth gaskell house. The tour was lead by Frank Galvin, he provided some very usefull information as to what each room was used for and how they were restoring it.

Frank Galvin gave a talk about the history Elizabeth Gaskell, The house and what the restoration plans are.

Event 12 / Development / Discussion

Event 8 / Next Stage

Event 8 / Early Stage / Sketching Ideas

Event 15 / Environmental Agency Visit

Event 00 / Manual Camera Testing

Event 23 / Hat Production

Day 4 : Of coins and dead tree trunk, I find it very interesting as it depicts the sense of hidden gems, just like the hidden knowledge in the bookshelves.

Day 4 : Day trip to Yorkshire Sculpture Park to get some inspirations for the model as well as reinterpret the surrounding and how it could link back to the project

After the talk of Dr. David Haley, We had to go and observer the china town in Manchester.We went with our group to analyse the urbanism of the site and searching for any inspirations .Personally, i inspirited by the traditional chinese architectural style, which i found at the entrances of the the car park.I took some photos and create some quick sketches.

Maquette // Light Box

Reinterpretations // Photo Montage

Day 3 : Sketch ideas; using frames and hang 3D miniature of the installations

these sketeches demonstrate how our clients would use the furniture on a daily basis.

Day 6: Developing a map which shows the story. My map requires a red filter to see the story. To anyone else it just looks like a map of Manchester.

This is a photo of our test model.

Day 4: Coming up with more detailed narrative about the spaces we had chosen. What happened there?, What happens there?, What will happen there?, What is hidden?, Who lives there?, etc...

Day 3 : Brainstorming words associated to the essence of the house to help in generating and developing ideas for the final output.

The second part of the day was to go for a walk in China town in Manchester and observe as a first stage before meeting our groups and analyse what we found.I was particularly interested in materiality used in the landscape of China town as well as vegetation,because I think these are the elements that are creating the distinctive character of the area.

After group presentations on the 1st of April a backdrop installation was chosen. A mass production of paper hats bagan. More than 3500 of them!

Further development of group proposals over Easter and final presentation on the 1st of April.

First session: 29th March
Visiting St Mary's church in Stockport and the Hat Works museum. Brainstorming ideas in groups of 2-3 people. Brief presentation.

Day 2 : The room that we were assigned to detail on, William Gaskell study. Book-lined, self-contained, single purpose sanctuary.

Presenting our final idea to fifth years

In our first meeting Dr. David Haley gave us a talk on Chinese cities and presented us some of his Chinese students work.It was really interesting and inspiring as it gave us a different perspective on the subject and so our ideas for future China towns could be brodened.

Day 2 : Visit to Elizabeth Gaskell House : We were lucky enough to be able to see how the wood graining process took place. A detailed process it is.

Our first task,before our first meeting,was to write a brief essay on our interests about today's and future Chinese city based on the discussion of some thesis about Chinese urbanism which we were given.

construction for installation was in progress under the rain. Good job everyone!

Proposals for street art installation were presented to Helen. She was giving her suggestions and thoughts about the works.

A maquette I made for our group proposed installation to show how two of wooden piles are fitted together.

working different perspectives for the client's proposal!

Photoshopping the perspective to show the night view!

Day Five: Event 6 coming up with ideas for their proposals.

Gearing up to materialize the installation. Safety precaution_1005

Constructive criticism by the collaborator that leads to the finalization of the design_0605

During our third meeting we decided to choose appropriate site. Car Park is located in the centre of China Town, near Chinese Arch. During Chinese New Year that place was changed in to plaza for fireworks and Tai Chi scene. That place should be a good mark for Chinese district, and because of that we decided to change car park to Chinese garden.

The second step was to do urban research. We were crossing China Town and searching for ideas/ inspirations. We where focus on patterns, lighting and greenness.

Day 04 - 06/05.2014: Architectural narrative and comic making
After spending the whole morning in Northern Quarter interviewing people and getting ideas, we moved back to the studio. Here we analysed how people experienced space and represented a short story in comic book style drawings.

Day 4 - 07/05/14
I worked more closely on the landscape aspect of the design. I looked at what was existing, and what spaces I could occupy to create a more interesting space. I came up with a plan incorporating a children's outdoor play area, sided next to a network of ramped paths leading to the various front entrances.

Day 3 - 06/05/14
We split up into groups of 3 to work in detail each on different proposals for the space. my group looked at creating an educational space and a creche using the frontal part of the baths. We worked on our initial ideas and layout plans.

The first session took place in Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art. After Dr David Haley presentation, our group discuss about further development of cities. We where trying to answer a few questions: What are the opportunities for next generations? How China Town is connected with Manchester City?

Day 03 - 02/05/14 : Editing
Creating a short video by using the footage from the previous day.

Day 02 - 01/05/2014: Filming
After finding inspiration in a session of architectural films, we headed to the city centre to take some footage of our own.

Day 01 30/04/2014
Urban sketching.

Day for model making of our emergency escape floating structure

Having a lesson.

Talk by Andrew Cameron from the Environmental Agency/ An important data for floods in the UK + feedback on our group proposals

Clearing the site ready for construction! @ Hulme Community Garden Centre