Under the brief of designing a community-centered building that would incorporate the concept, manufacture process and display of a chosen product, MAKER/SPACE is uniquely designed as a combination of a handcrafted pottery shop, a welcoming tearoom, inviting people to gather over cups of tea – a nod to British customs that aligns well with the Manchester location -, as well as an educational and hands-on crafting area, enabling visitors to connect with the art of Romanian traditional pottery, which holds personal significance as it originates from my home country.
The materials that are chosen for the MAKER/SPACE tie up with the product (clay), product finish (colours), and manufacturing process (earth, wood). All the materials are environmentally conscious, both in the construction process as well as the building lifespan. They also allow a raw connection between nature (earth) and human (city), further emphasizing the concept and programme of the building.