Space
City space
A battle of buildings
A trend for the abandoned

But what if we look up?
We are always striving for a new and exciting place to make use of
But what about all the wasted space in the sky?

Make buildings like mountains
Light the beacons

British Gas 2010

Island to island

Roof top to roof top

The Biospheric Project

The Biosepheric Project
Manchester International Festival

MIF plan to transform an old mill on the bank on the River Irwell in Salford, called Irwell House into a sustainable site of urban agriculture. Transforming the derelict building as the festival takes place, inviting people to come and watch the transformation.

"this disused industrial site will be filled with innovative sustainable food systems, from agroforestry to aquaponics"
 http://www.mif.co.uk/event/the-biospheric-project

This seems like a very interesting project and something we could propose to engage with. Regeneration of an old site for something new and sustainable. The whole idea of urban agriculture fascinates me. And the use of an indoor both intrigues and baffles. It could be something visually beautiful and perfectly sustainable.

space
a Manchester design festival
looking at space and spaces

discussed themes
MADE  WASTE TIME  MOBILE

what do you find interesting about these themes?

Time and space, a space to slow down,
To pick, To take away
What is regeneration?
A ghost map of the industrial,
Something to leave behind



I like the idea of layers, an empty space of a time gone by, regenerated by something new, not replacing and removing the past, but giving it a new identity, temporarily.
Only for the cycle to repeat,
Leaving behind the stains of past progress
Peeling away wall paper
Billboards

I like the idea of the journey to a space, how you get there, how you find it. This experience will influence your overall impression of the day. The walk is just as important as the destination. I want to play with this idea.

Points of Notice

spaces in the sky
lift it up, raise it up,

trails and breadcrumbs
Eindhoven Design Week shop windows route

I am intrigued by the idea of how you encourage people around the city. One way that was illustrated to us in the lecture upon design festivals was something that takes place in the Eindhoven Design Festival. Where around 90 shops in the main shopping area allow designers and artists to use their windows to showcase their work. Along with this a sign is put up in the window with the design festivals logo and a number, with the idea that there is a trail to follow to see them all, leading you on an adventure around the city. For each window exhibit there is also a chair placed across the road, facing the shop, encouraging the viewer to sit and observe each display, to take time to enjoy it rather than hurry on to the next. Creating an intriguing balance between art, commercialism and design.
Here is a link to the accompanying booklet (in Dutch)

From this I have begun to think about alternative ways to entice people around our city.
A trail of breadcrumbs, either leading you to a certain event or leading you on a wild goose chase of events around Manchester.

Design Festivals

What most struck me about the already existing design festivals is the diversity of the application. The range of exhibitions, themes and events. The different ways of communication, through workshops, interaction and presentation. And as well as this the array of spaces used for such events. I believe it is this diversity and balance that allows the city to feel so exciting. This is something I hope to explore further in this project.

A Manchester Design Festival
Disused warehouse spaces
An industrial city
What is it about Manchester?
How to celebrate the rain?
Where is the greenery?
Gorilla Gardening?         Bees?

Points of Notice

Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens

Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens was one of the leading public entertainment attractions between the mid 17th to the mid 19th century.
To escape the noise and pollution of the city.
Lion tamers, fire eaters, fortune tellers

Urban Gardening

Vertical Gardens

Mama Mia Jam jars
Nature vs. The City
Technology vs. Craft
Balance

Anna Garforth

Head Gardener

nuts and bolts