Isolative Urbanism: an Ecology of Control

A new book has been published by two lecturers at the Manchester School of Architecture, Richard Brook and Nick Dunn. Entitled Isolative Urbanism: an Ecology of Control, the book is a collection of essays primarily dealing with issues surrounding the control of space, both public and private, with a myriad of other issues and topics explored within them. The essays have all been written by members of the Re_Map BArch Studio unit at MSA.

Forestry Commission Exhibits Student Work

Seven designs from the Second Year of Manchester School of Architecture (2008-09) have been selected for an exhibition by the Forestry Commission in the North West. Held at The Yan in Cumbria the exhibition highlights work undertaken by students in designing schemes for Grizedale Forest. As part of their research for the project students undertook site visits to Grizedale where they attended workshops in traditional methods of construction, including dry-stone walling and timber work, as well as exploring the Commission's public art programme and forest management processes. The exhibition will run until 30th of October 2009, it is free of charge but viewing is by appointment only.

3DReid’s New Co-Operative Headquarters

The Co-Operative Group seems to have ridden the recession without falls, last year it successfully acquired Somerfield and has now published and successfully received planning permission for a new head office in the heart of Manchester, right in the shadows of the prominent CIS Tower.

Co-Operative Group started in Manchester 150 years ago, and now stand as a leading company in the UK the design’s purpose is to house the additional administrative side acquired from the Somerfield deal, however 3DReid’s unusual form conveys a more subtle motive. The unusual plan shape, the inefficient curved edges, the vast loss of office space in return for a huge atrium. They are all there to promote the CO-Operative Groups ethos, so has the architectural equation changed in a modern environment, is it now function follows form follows advertisement, perhaps that is all we get from a capitalist society.

However 3DReid has created a somewhat refreshing office block that diverts from the typical glass cladded box. It looks at sustainability on a larger level and worker friendly environments, parking is limited as the local transport services are the advised use of travel, a vast atrium inside creates an open environment for it’s workers and leads the path for a new style of offices that are less enclosed, and more open.

As planning permission has been awarded, construction is due to take place at the start of 2010, with completion and opening set for sometime in 2012.

Images and video property of 3DReid

Manchester Modern: Planning Policy and the shape of the city.

Last night (Tuesday 8th October 2009) Richard Brook, senior lecturer at the Manchester School of Architecture, kicked off the Manchester Student Society of Architecture Lecture Series for the 2009/10 season. In association with the 20th Century Society (highlighting architecture of the 20th century and seeking to preserve it) students, lecturers, architects and members of the public were entertained with a history of how planning policy has shaped the modern day city.

Designs Revealed for the Whitworth Art Gallery

The five shortlisted designs for the RIBA competition of the extension to the Whitworth Art Gallery, a Grade -II listed building have been revealed.

The five shortlisted practices are:

Amanda Levete Architects
Edward Cullinan Architects
Haworth Tompkins
MUMA
Stanton Williams

Amanda Levete Architects' proposal

Edward Cullinan Architects' proposal

Haworth Tompkins' proposal

MUMA's proposal




Stanton and Williams' proposal

The President's Medals Student Awards 2009

The nominations for this year’s President’s Medals Student Award have been announced, included are 5 students from Manchester School of Architecture, Luke Butcher + Jack O’Rielly from Part 1,and Rebecca Stephens + Matthew Ault + Nick Walkley from Part 2.

The President’s Medals Student Awards is an internationally acclaimed award of which RIBA accredited institutes can enter. It’s main purpose is to serve as a platform to promote the vibrant work currently erupting from the student community, but it also is there to help elevate the individuals whose work is at the forefront of architecture.

The winners, announced on the 2nd of December, will be invited to the award ceremony, of which previous guest speakers have been Lord Norman Foster and Richard Rogers, and their work will be published in a supplement included with the critically acclaimed Architect’s Journal. There are various prizes ranging from £250 worth of books to a £1250 Travelling Fellowship from SOM Foundation, however the most significant reward is the acknowledgment by the industry of whom they will soon become apart of. l. Therefore a mere nomination could extrude into substantial exposure.

Manchester School of Architecture have received commendations before, but an award has always deceived them.Perhaps this year may favour them but the outcome of the awards are a distant enigma, however the quality and innovation of MSA’s nominations are unquestionably evident and show true promise in a competitive arena.

Jack O'Rielly's URBAN F.@.M.I.N

Jack O’Rielly’s URBAN F.@.M.I.N (Urban Farming and Media Interactive Networks) is a detailed solution to promoting sustainability in an urban built environment. The proposal consists of a process starting with the production of crops in the heart of manchester, which is then sold to local restaurants, of whom promote the urban farm and the process repeats itself. An addition of a TV studio, integrated with in the build, creates programmes that aim to promote sustainability. Jack’s diverse concept fused with his exceptional drawing skills creates a vibrant project.

Luke Butcher's Home Truths

Luke Butcher’s Home Truths is a two part look into a new residential development in East Manchester. Luke focuses on a solution for problems that are currently residing in social state of the urban built environment. The result is a development that is built not for the present but the future; “... A sophisticated and socially inclusive range of mixed dwellings that challenges the perception of affordable housing.” It successfully creates concepts that are harbored in reality, and it’s maturity shows true ambition.

Rebecca Stephens

As part of the Displace Non-Place BARCh Unit Rebecca Stephens has created a beautiful design for an addition to the town of Chiavari on the Italian Riviera. Her work is deeply rooted in the heart of town’s history. The concept looks at promoting healthy living to the local teenagers. The design illusively perches in it’s context, with the upmost respect for the surrounding buildings. The design chooses to impose as little as possible visually, but it’s details show much appreciation to the history of the area.

Matthew Ault

Matthew Ault’s project comes from a brief that “required the intergration of architecture and performance as well as context, with careful treatment of a relationship to a body of water.” His design beautifully fuses a precise technical design with the freedom of performance and deserves commendation.

Nick Walkley’s dissertation explores the idea of ornament and how it has seen a revival in the early years of the 21st century, noticeably due to the addition of the computer in the world of design. He explores the effect it is having on design cultures. However what is most exceptional about his work is how he has managed to transcend his dissertation into reality with the design and production of a gothic concert hall for his thesis project.

MMU Business School

Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios is the architectural firm leading the development of a new Business School for the Manchester Metropolitan University. The school is projected to cost £ 54,000,000 and is due to be completed September 2011.

The 20,000 sq metre building will host a new faculty as well as facilities for 5,000 students and 250 staff including student services, catering, learning zones and IT drop-in spaces.

This vibrant and environmentally friendly scheme contains two cool and calm atria for social activities; both spaces contain bridges and balconies connecting buzzing human traffic across the building.

As part of an ongoing University project to develop low energy buildings, the school will be incorporating energy saving tactics such as thermal massing, natural day lighting, controlled ventilation, some energy generation features and ground coupled cooling.

Images courtesy of Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios

One St Peter's Square

The first images for a new building on St Peter's Square were revealed this week (Architect's Journal Online 23.09.09). The redevelopment of Elisabeth House, opposite Manchester Central Library, was won by Glenn Howells Architects in a competition last year (FLACQ, Stanton Williams and Austin:Smith-Lord being the other front runners). Due to be submitted before Christmas the 25,000 sq m scheme will be predominately commercial with a mix of other uses including a gallery at street level.

Glenn Howells said of the scheme "We want to create an elegant building, with a long life and that will not look like it was built in 2012. We want to make it look effortless. We also thought it was inappropriate for it to be louder than the other buildings around it."

Architectural Flamboyance #3

Samuel Alexander Building External Stairs, University of Manchester Campus

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