Work Outside Academic The Big Table Flexible community bike workshop
Mayfield, Manchester, UK
This project explores how architectural interventions can seamlessly integrate Mayfield with Manchester, creating a dynamic state of change in line with the Landsec U+I Mayfield development plan.
The Assembly is part of a wider masterplan aim to revive the derelict site of Mayfield Viaduct. It is proposed as a transformative space that offers a flexible community bike workshop. This hub aims to bring together people from Mayfield, Ardwick, and Manchester, bridging the gap between these areas. The Assembly’s primary function is to empower Mancunians to build their own bicycles, fostering a city-wide cycling culture and paving the way for a greener future. It also acts as a community hub for socialisation between people from all over Manchester. This initiative represents the first step towards a more environmental and social sustainable Manchester.
The site is the roof of the derelict Mayfield Viaduct, a structure that once formed a crucial part of the bustling Mayfield Station. This station, active until the 1960s, was a hub of activity, serving countless passengers and contributing significantly to the area’s vibrancy. However, after its closure, the viaduct fell into disuse and neglect. Over the decades, nature has slowly reclaimed the abandoned structure, with vegetation creeping over its surfaces, creating an urban wilderness amidst the cityscape.
In stark contrast, the surrounding areas such as Mayfield Park and Mayfield Depot have undergone significant development and revitalisation. Mayfield Park, once a neglected space, has been transformed into a thriving green oasis, providing a much-needed recreational area for the local community. Meanwhile, the Mayfield Depot has been repurposed and revitalized, becoming a dynamic venue for cultural events, exhibitions, and social gatherings. These developments have brought new life and energy to the area, highlighting a striking juxtaposition between the reclaimed natural beauty of the viaduct and the modern advancements of its neighboring locales.
The Assembly is part of a larger master plan divided into three phases:
Phase 1 (2 Years):
Construction of The Loop, a cycling track offering an observational experience, and The Beacon, a lift connecting Mayfield Park to the viaduct roof.
Phase 2 (1.5 Years into use):
The Assembly is constructed as the roof level becomes more populated.
Phase 3 (10 Years):
High-rise buildings from the Landsec U+I development plan are constructed, replacing the observatory bike track with office spaces. The Beacon remains a symbol of Mayfield and provides roof access. The Assembly continues as a bicycle workshop and evolves into a versatile space for various social events, becoming the social hub for the viaduct.
the building along the wall. Seperating the reception and office area from the workshop area.
Making use of the open space of the viaduct, a semi outdoor area splits the workshop into two and blends the building into the landscape.
Taking the Shape of the Arches. Breaking up spaces to allow building to be more open.
Shaping the building along the wall. Seperating the reception and office area from the workshop area.
300mm diameter Cardboard Tube
Investigating translucent facade for daylighting
Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester, UK
The Manchester Carpentry Centre is an innovative architecture project designed to connect the urban fabric of Manchester through the art of carpentry. This centre will serve as a dynamic hub for artisans, architects, and the local community, emphasising the importance of craft techniques in contemporary design and construction.
Located on a historically significant site, the centre will offer workshops, exhibitions, and interactive installations, inviting people of all ages to engage with carpentry. This hands-on approach will enhance technical skills and foster a deeper connection to Manchester’s architectural heritage.
The Manchester Carpentry Centre aims to be a landmark that blends traditional craftsmanship with modern innovation, fostering a vibrant, interconnected community and celebrating the enduring value of craft in the built environment.
1:200 Building model, Balsa wood & Greyboard
1:50 User experience model, Foamboard
2022 | BA2 Academic Project
Peel Park, Salford, UK
Peel Park in Salford, a historic park along the River Irwell, offers a unique blend of nature and heritage. This project proposes a temporary exhibition with open and enclosed spaces that engage dynamically with the park’s landscape and cityscape. A thoughtfully designed promenade, maintaining public access along the tow path, will guide visitors through an engaging architectural journey, connecting them with Peel Park’s past and present.
The site’s flood-prone location challenges the architecture to adapt creatively. The design features two distinct areas: a permanent structure on the tow path built with waterproof materials like boarded concrete, and temporary structures elevated on stilts to stay above flood level. This approach ensures resilience and accessibility, creating a seamless integration with the park’s unique setting.
Initial visualisation sketches
Visualisation Model- Exhibition Space
Initial visualisation sketches
Mayfield, Manchester, UK
“Autoprogettazione- an exercise to be carried out individually to improve one’s personal understanding of the sincerity behind the project. To make this possible you are guided through an archetypal and very simple technique”Enzo Mari, 1974
The table is designed and built to engage with the meanwhile use of a railway arch on the fringes of Mayfield Depot, Manchester. It lives in an alcove then demounts and reconfigures as needed to host conversations, exchanges, screenings, performances, big meals etc. Materials and assembling it was kept simple with plywood, coach bolts, scaffolding tubes and wheels. This is what inspired The Assembly’s workshop modules.
