As we reach the end of the first semester of the 2022-23 academic year, we would like to share some of our MUD-LAB highlights in teaching, research and social engagement.

Student Showcase

The beginning of the new semester saw the Manchester Urban Design LAB hosting a special anniversary showcase. The studio was transformed into an exhibition of high-quality student assessment pieces, including a combination of design boards and 3D physical models built in our MUD-Lab modelmaking workshop. Work from across the past 7 years of MUD-Lab was showcased and over 100 staff, students and local practitioners turned out to celebrate with us. A special congratulations to the cohort of 2021/22 who have now completed their studies and are graduating into the world of professional practice. We look forward to seeing the future places which they will be shaping.

The showcase included work from across the MSc Urban Design and International Planning course which is structured to guide students through the design process from site analysis to detailed design. This is done utilising our bespoke MUD-Lab Applied Urban Design Process. The first module featured was Urban Design Studio. This module introduces students to the design studio environment and, through working on a real-life site in Manchester, each student undertakes a program of analysis, site appraisal and design considerations. The final assessment presented communicates the culmination of this comprehensive analysis of the site and its context, with a program to inform the next stage of design undertaken in semester 2.

Three design modules taught in semester 2 were featured in the showcase. These included Urban Design Futures and Urban Design Project, both following on from semester 1’s Studio module, preparing design layers for the same sites again following the MUD-Lab’s unique approach and pedagogy. Work from an additional module, Masterplan Studio, was presented, which included a design framework document outlining the analysis of a larger site of 20-25ha, along with a masterplan design and supporting detail of blocks, streets and spaces.

The final exhibition space shared a selection of Design Dissertation design boards (accompanied by a technical report and design defence presentation in the assessed submission). Research topics included the climate resilient city, designing for mental health benefits, post-industrial regeneration and child-friendly design. The structure of these dissertations differs from the traditional essay report structure, focusing on research exploration through targeted site design, it is here that students work independently for the first time to illustrate the extent of their newly developed skills and competencies as urban designers.

Alongside the students’ exhibitions, the showcase also provided an opportunity for visitors to experience our wider MUD-Lab facilities beyond the main studio, including our modelbuilding workshop, which was used to prepare materials for the MoSI Science Festival event. [See our blog post on the Future Cities event with MoSI in Manchester Central Library during October half term.]

Anniversary Yearbook

This semester also saw us publish our anniversary yearbook, a visual compilation of the MUD-LAB’s work over the last five years, where you can see examples from the modules outlined above. The Yearbook provides a detailed overview of the scope of the Manchester Urban Design LAB, including our teaching, training, research, and resources [both physical and digital]. If you would like a hardcopy of the Yearbook please do get in touch with MUD-Lab Manager Dr Taki Sonbli [taki.sonlbi@manchester.ac.uk] providing your name, address, and company details. The Yearbook is also available to view digitally on the MUD-Lab website https://www.seed.manchester.ac.uk/mudlab/

Urban Design Studio

The semester has seen our current cohort of students tackling the challenges of contextual analysis, a critical starting point when undertaking the Applied Urban Design process within our Studio. Students from wide ranging academic backgrounds have been getting to grips with the urban design process, as well as the graphical skills required to allow them to communicate their analysis effectively. After two crits and much discussion they are almost ready to pivot from analysis to the design of their sites in semester 2. The Studio-based learning this semester has been supported by site visits including a series of walking tours around Manchester, looking at character and public realm, with discussions around designing at the human scale. As well as a residential trip to Newcastle, an excellent environment within which to study urban design principles, regeneration and connectivity and a city which is now used as a teaching reference within the Studio.

Graduation & Awards

The MUD-LAB team have been thrilled to finish off the semester by attending winter graduation and celebrating the successes of our past students, many of whom have secured graduate jobs in fantastic urban design teams including at LDA Design, Atkins, AECOM and PJA to name but a few. We would like to say a huge congratulations to the winners of the three urban design awards this year:

Chris Talbot, for the Dissertation Award, sponsored by Urban Imprint

Raghav Ajmera, for the Urban Design Project Award, sponsored by Pegasus Group

Xingyu Hou, for the MUD-LAB Engagement Award.

We are thoroughly looking forward to all of the design teaching, learning and research to come in semester 2!

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