DWELLINGS FOR DAY-DREAMERS

The ‘Dwelling for Day-dreamers is a semi-permanent housing community for theatre actors.

Located in Ancoats, Manchester, UK , the site is surrounded by Victorian mill typologies providing a strong material and historic feel to the site. The enclosure of the site creates an intimate community-dwelling, further emphasised by the neighbouring Hope Mill Theatre.

The interaction with the canal connects the scheme to the public and forms a vista into and out of the small community.

The design considered what it meant to ‘dwell’ as a performer and composed spaces for performers and their families to ‘daydream’. Drama was created in spaces by using nature, light, and spatial composition to invoke sensual qualities of space for the occupants.

Through landscaping and materiality strategies, biodiversity, climatic resilience, and low carbon measures have been considered, as well as enhancing social appreciation towards nature. The design is also inspired by post-pandemic resilience , in creating an environment that cultivates social and ecological interactions, while providing a balance of private and public spaces.

Concept Spatial Modelling: In response to precedent study of Ricardo Bofill to experiment and create dynamic flows between spaces.

1:100 Unit models: Used to generate ‘scenes’ of space. Forming different types of units to accommodate dwellers with varying needs.

1:100 Unit models: The models also considered lighting, form, and function in relation to the program.

Ground Floor Plan Courtyards and pathways sense of exploration in The cafe leads into an intimate the audience and actors

Piecing it together. Developing the plan at 1:100, considering circulation, vistas and private/public spaces

Key:

1. Reception

2. Stepped theatre seating

3. Stage floor

4. Backstage

5. Bicycle store with seating

6. Cafe

7. Cafe extension

8. Outdoor performance

9. Waste facilities pathways have been used to create exterior dwelling points and to separate units. It creates a this small community. intimate garden performance space sheltered by bushes and shrubs, these become both actors community performances looking out to the restored canal. seating with storage seating performance space

Through materiality, unique layouts and the integration of nature, the closed-off site becomes an warm, intimate and expressive community

Entering the community dwelling

Courtyard: Entering extended family unit community for theatre actors and their families.