MSA Live 2022 - Manchester Dragoneers
Project Brief - Dragonscapes
MSA Live is an event as part of year 1, Masters of Architecture students act as a group to organise 2 weeks to provide positive social impact to local communities. In MArch groups of 5, we organised all communication with the clients, funding, materials and more to ensure that our projects will be both beneficial to the clients, as well as practical and achievable projects. During the Action weeks, the MArch group organisers are paired up with a group of undergraduate students and Masters of Landscape architecture students to design and build their project. This project works with the Manchester Dragoneer group in Gorton, where the clients brief was 'vague' and 'looking for ideas' on the design and development of a seating area and pollinator friendly garden. After multiple meetings with the clients, we agreed on feasibility, resources and organised the project dates.
Client Communication
As part of our communication of ideas with the client, we discussed the feasibility of what could be delivered both with in person meetings and constant contact through email. We prepared a pdf outlining our ideas, draft plans and draft schedule to ensure that we were both on the same page throughout the process.
Seating Options Concepts
Site Axonometric Sketch
Mural Collage Concept
Project Poster
Action Week 1
Week 1 saw the project's initial design stages. We had two weeks to work with our new additions to the group to catch them up to speed with the project, and start designing to submit a proposal for the end of Wednesday to ensure we had time to for the client to consider our proposal and for us to make alterations to the plan before we were scheduled to be on site for the following Monday.
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Week 1 required a large amount of learning as we went, working with largely varied skill sets and interests, as well as very constrained timelines to produce a plan and proposal for. Our group consisted of enthusiastic and creative members, who all contributed to the design process and discussions.
Action Week 2
Action Week 2 saw the project through from site preparation to construction. Due to the sites accessibility and size we had a group of 10 on our best attendance days to construct our proposal, in less than ideal weather. With positive attitude and creative thinking on site, we persevered many difficulties, adapting to issues as they came whilst ensuring the client was up to date on every development through a daily blog as well as the occasional visit from the client.
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The project was completed on time, and a portfolio of the project was created documenting the key developments and final output for the project. Following conversations after completion came with very positive feedback and satisfaction from the clients.
Project Portfolio
For a more detailed overview of the brief, programme, process and final design, Click the link to view this project's portfolio