1. Manchester School of Art
BA (Hons) Landscape Architecture
academic session: 2009-2010 year: one session: one unit: 14011501
Y1_S1_B2_Taking Measure
Brief
Introduction
Castlefield is an area of Manchester with a very distinct character and look which contrasts strongly
with much of the rest of the city centre. The area has been the scene of key moments and periods in
Manchester’s development into the city we see today. Its rich history goes back to the Roman
settlement of Mancunium and, later on, it was the focus of some of the earliest signs of industrial
development. More recently, it was also one of the first parts of the city to undergo major
‘regeneration’ after the industrial decline of the 1960’s and 70’s. All of these periods have left traces
in the form, materials and qualities of the place we see today. It is a place with a complex and rich
past, composed of many layers which are still evident to varying degrees.
In this project, we focus on different ways of approaching a place. On the one hand, we will be
looking at ways of ‘measuring’ and ‘surveying’ a place and understanding some basic principles of
how we record the physical characteristics of a site. This will lead into an introduction to the process
of analysing a site and distilling its complex mix of qualities into a clear and ordered set of
information, which forms the foundation for all later intervention or designs. On the other hand, we
will be carrying out some historical research and starting to identify the way in which the
development of a place is reflected in its current day make up.
Knowledge
• An understanding of the how our individual perceptions of the physical world are constructed
• An understanding of the inter-relationships between the ‘natural’ and the ‘human’ in the
construction of landscape and place
Skill
• A basic understanding of the way we can take measure of a site in relation to human scale and
function and record this information
• Carrying out historical research and interpreting data gained from this research
Imaginative Interpretation
• Exploration of creative ways of communicating the historical development of a place
Programme
Monday 12th
Oct, 1-4am: Launch of Brief and Orthographic Projection Workshop
Tuesday 13th
Oct, 2-5pm: Castlefield Site Visit and Measurements
Monday 18th
Oct, 9-12am: Independent Group work - representation of historical research
Monday 18th
Oct, 1-4pm: Workshop - Survey and Analysis
Tuesday19th
Oct, 2-4pm: Workshop - Spatial Typologies
Monday 6th
Oct, 9-12am: Presentation and Review

2. Manchester School of Art
BA (Hons) Landscape Architecture
academic session: 2009-2010 year: one session: one unit: 14011501
Brief
Through an initial workshop, you will be introduced to some basic drawing techniques for
representing objects and spaces in plan, section and elevation. We will then apply these to a selected
space within the Castlefield area. We will visit the site together and get to know the area as a whole.
In groups you will then carry out a simple survey of the space based on the primary measures of
human form: the pace, head height, etc, or other simple techniques for assessing dimensions. The
aim is to record all the critical dimensions as a group and then individually to draw these up to
produce a scaled record of the site in plan, section and elevation. This plan will then form the base
for your analysis drawings, which will aim to communicate a number of key aspects of the place.
A final piece of individual work will involve ‘deconstructing’ the area as a whole and identifying
particular spatial typologies within it. This part of the brief will be based on a workshop to be held
the following week, and will involve a wider assessment of the whole area, not simply the site chosen
for the survey exercise.
The second element of the brief involves carrying out historical research into the place. As a group
you are to decide how to divide up the responsibilities for carrying out the research and then meet
up on the Monday morning of the following week to compare and bring together your research. You
are then to work together to produce a three dimensional object which communicates and reflects
this information in a creative and interesting way.
Outputs_Individual:
• An A1 sheet containing a carefully drawn and annotated plan of the site, based on
measurements taken with your group, drawn to scale (1:500, 1:250, 1:200) supported by two
long sections through the site illustrating the relationships between key elements on the vertical
plane and one elevation. These should be represented as simple black and white line drawings.
• Another A1 sheet containing 4 separate A3-sized analysis drawings, overlaid on your base plan,
to highlight your analysis of the space in terms of:
1. Lines of movement and accessibility
2. Views and focal points/landmarks
3. Enclosure and openness
4. Activity and usage
• Another A1 sheet, to highlight a range of Spatial Typologies within the area, based on the
workshop. These should be laid out on the sheet on a regular grid as a series of 20 simple line
drawings, each of 100x100mm, in plan or perspective, to highlight an example of each typology.
Use colour or tone sparingly to highlight the typology as clearly and simply as possible.
Outputs_Datasets
• An illustrated 3 dimensional ‘time capsule’ or object, which reflects the ‘palimpsest’ of Castlefield
and relates the history of the place to specific elements and sites within the area. The form of
your object should be carefully considered so as to communicate the layering or sequencing of
history and should contain a mixture of written and visual information which tells the story of the
development of the place in an interesting and informative way.

3. Manchester School of Art
BA (Hons) Landscape Architecture
academic session: 2009-2010 year: one session: one unit: 14011501
Additional reading
(See also reading list for unit overview brief)
Bell. S. ‘Elements of visual design in the landscape.’ Spon Press. 2004. 712/BEL
Ching. F. D. K. ‘Architecture: Form, Space & Order’, 2nd Ed. New York. Chichester: John Wiley. 1996.
720.1/CHI
Crowe. S. ‘Garden Design’, 3rd rev. Chaps: History. Principles of Design. Woodbridge: Garden Art
Press, 1994. 712/CRO
Location Plan