Get Over It! Gets Closer

There is now less than one week to go before the Get Over It! Symposium hosted by students from the MA Architecture and Urbanism course at the Manchester School of Architecture. The event is being held at Sandbar, Manchester, a well known watering hole for academics and architects in particular. Sand Bar is characterised by a series of small, intimate spaces where it is hoped informal discussions and debates will take place, supporting the main space that well be set up in a more traditional 'lecture' format. In keeping with the main theme of "Recession. Creative Opportunity?" the event will tackle a range of issues including architecture, technology and economics, with two main debates focusing on the present situation and the future. Lunch will be provided for all those who pre-register for the event with a theme of 'soup-kitchen' (to register please email kathryn.timmins@stu.mmu.ac.uk).

Students will be dressed in home made Get Over It! attire.

The event is being chaired by Owen Hatherley, journalist and author of 'A New Guide to the Ruins of Great Britain' (reviewed here). Other speakers attending the event are: Elizabeth Varley of TechHub London; Mark Lemanski of MUF Architects; Geoff Denton of White Arkitekter; Rose Marley of the Sharp Project; and Dr Mark Jayne of the University of Manchester. Professor Tom Jefferies, Head of the Manchester School of Architecture will also be talking about the new RIBA Hub that will be opening that evening to coincide with the MSA Design Awards 2011.

Student Jack O'Reilly shows off the T-Shirt stencil.

The event will start at 10am and will run until approximately 6pm. Keep an eye on the blog and twitter feed for more information and live updates on the day.

Outstanding Research at MARC

Dr Albena Yaneva of the Manchester Architecture Research Centre (MARC) and the Manchester School of Architecture (MSA) has been awarded the RIBA President’s Award for Outstanding University-located Research for her work An Ethnography of Architecture.

The judges said: "This type of sociological and anthropological research into design practice is significant for architecture, adding a new perspective to the way we understand architectural processes. The two books are enjoyable to read, linking through hypertextual narratives an impressive quantity of historical information and technical data, stories and anecdotes, theoretical research and empirical observations."

Dr Yaneva describes her work as being “intrinsically transdisciplinary” crossing “the boundaries of science studies, cognitive anthropology, architectural theory and political philosophy.” Her current research projects are Moving Networks: Architectural Tools for Tracing the Social and The Architectural Presentation: Techniques and Politics. Her work also includes the Mapping Architectural Controversies project. The two books that formed part of the research output by Dr Yaneva, “Made by the Office for Metropolitan Architecture” and “The Making of a Building: A Pragmatist Approach to Architecture” were both published in 2009 and are available for purchase.

Dr Ralf Brand, also of MARC and MSA, was also short listed for the same award for the project “The Urban Environment – Mirror and mediator of Radicalisation?”

For full details of the RIBA awards read the full press release here.

Fancy Being The Head Of The Manchester School of Architecture?

Manchester Metropolitan University is currently advertising for a new Head of School position. The Manchester School of Architecture is a joint vision by both of Manchester's leading Universities (MMU and UofM). Colin Pugh has temporarily occupied David Dernie’s, the old head of school, position for the past year, but a permanent individual is now required. MMU are looking for a candidate who has vast experience in sustainable urbanism, and a diverse range of management skills, whilst also offering great communication skills to help follow on the tremendously friendly environment currently in the school of architecture.

The job offers a fantastic opportunity over the next few years. As Feilden Clegg Bradley's new School of Art (see previous article) building begins construction, the architecture department will inherit new space, giving it the chance to expand and create a remarkable studio atmosphere. The new Head of School will have a huge chance to bring new ideas for the studio spaces and help make the MSA an even more phenomenal school of architecture.

Interested applicants can contact Mrs Julie Butler, Secretary/PA to the Human Resources Director, The Manchester Metropolitan University, All Saints, Manchester M15 6BH. Tel: 0161 247 1562; j.butler@mmu.ac.uk quoting reference number JB19. Or apply online via http://www.mmu.ac.uk/jobs/ .

Image Copyright to Jack Penford Baker

Rossant Award 2009 Winner Announced

Congratulations to Abhi Chauhan who was awarded top honours in the 2009 Rossant Award sponsored by BDP. Awarded to students for work completed during their second year of study at Manchester School of Architecture, the Rossant Award was originally established to commend draftsmanship but has since evolved to praise all forms of visual communication.

From an original longlist of 12 students a shortlist of 12 were invited to give a short presentation of their work at BDP’s offices on Friday 11th December. Abhi was the first of the shortlisted students to present and gave an insightful presentation into how he had crafted a series of images for both of his second year studio projects from a variety of media, emphasising the use of model-making and photomontage in particular. In addition to the prestigious Rossant Award trophy Abhi is to receive a £500 cash prize.

MSA Students Scoop International Award

A team of students from the [Re_Map] BArch Studio Unit at the Manchester School of Architecture have been named jointed winners in a major international architectural - WPA 2.0 'Whoever Rules the Sewers Rules the City' run by cityLAB at UCLA. There were over 300 proposals - half from professional teams, half from student teams - was tasked with 'envisioning a new legacy of publicly-supported infrastructure hybrids.' Titled 'R_Ignite: socio-economic catalyst for ailing post-industrial port towns' the joint-winners team comprises Peter Millar, Jamie Potter, Stuart Wheeler and Andy Wilde. They proposed the recycling and reuse of industrial infrastructure intertwined with social programmes to act as a catalyst for public involvement; incorporating ecology, energy production, skills, education and leisure.

The team was initially selected for a shortlist of seven finalists and travelled to Washington D.C. to attend a high-profile symposium featuring the competition jury panel which included Stan Allen, Cecil Balmond, Elizabeth Diller and Thom Mayne, as well as having their proposals exhibited at the National Building Museum. The symposium was held in the Great Hall of the National Building Museum with a keynote address from Adolfo Carrion, White House Director of Urban Affairs.

Image Credit: Peter Millar, Jamie Potter, Stuart Wheeler and Andy Wilde (6th Year, MSA) and WPA 2.0 (Facebook Feed)

Rossant Award 2009

The winner of the BDP Rossant Award will be presented on Friday 11th December at 6pm. This prestigious Award was initiated in 1977 to commemorate the late Lorrie Rossant who was an architect partner at BDP in Manchester; it is open to second year students from the School of Architecture in Manchester. The award celebrates the best visual communication techniques, including draughtsmanship and electronic representation. The judging panel comprises the President of the Manchester Society of Architects and the MSA Award Secretaries as well as selected individuals from BDP. Six shortlisted candidates will give a presentation at BDP's Manchester office before a winner is announced. Last year's prize was won by Simon Bellamy.

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.

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.

Success at the Corus Student Design Awards

Manchester School of Architecture student Romulus Sim has picked up the Architecture Award at the Crous Student Design Awards. The brief for this year's competiton, the 21st competiton in the series open to both architecture and engineering students, called for a design for a vertical community called 'Community One.' The proposed scheme would have to a range of programmes from places to live, work and use lesiure facilities - reducing transportation and associated pollution. The RIBA Student Architecture News digest quotes David Bonnett of David Bonnett Associates as saying Romulus's proposal was "terrific and very elegant, and was an idea that had not been seen before."

Image above from left to right: Kirby Adams CEO Corus, Siobhan Barry (MSA Tutor), Romulus Sim, Harriet Harris (MSA Tutor)