Gather Sheffield
My project 'Gather Sheffield' is guided by a user-centred architectural approach rooted in material reuse and the practice of gleaning. It challenges the conventional notion of architecture as static or solely defined by form and function, proposing instead that architecture is an act of gathering—of people, materials, and memories. By rejecting permanence in favour of renewal, the project embraces architecture and economy as regenerative, cyclical processes that thrive through use, transformation, and adaptation.
At its core, the design process placed users at the heart of decision-making. Their challenges became design opportunities, and they emerged not just as occupants but as co-creators, actively shaping their spaces and, in turn, their own livelihoods. Throughout the project, I reveal the depth and resonance that this participatory architecture holds for its users.
Through reviving overlooked materials and forgotten spaces, the project uncovers hidden potential in the discarded. It shows that socially responsive and environmentally responsible design can coexist with imagination and creativity. For me, architecture is not just about solving spatial problems, it's about imagining what is possible, and inspiring change through spaces that are alive, inclusive, and continuously evolving.
