The Third Act
Time is often treated as something architecture must resist. My work explores the opposite: how buildings can embrace change, weathering and ageing as valuable parts of their identity.
This interest formed the basis of The Third Act, a community wellbeing centre for older adults in Moston, Manchester. Developed in response to increasing social isolation and a growing need for accessible community infrastructure, the project investigates how architecture can foster connection, independence and belonging through everyday experience. Rather than positioning ageing as a condition to be accommodated, the project explores later life as a period of continued participation, creativity and engagement.
The building is organised around a central courtyard that acts as its social and spatial heart. Communal spaces, creative workshops, gardens and areas for quiet reflection are arranged around this shared landscape, creating opportunities for both planned activities and informal encounter. Particular attention was given to movement, visibility and access to nature, using natural light, framed views and carefully considered thresholds to create a welcoming and intuitive environment.
Materiality became central to this investigation. Rammed earth, recycled copper and timber were selected for their tactile qualities, environmental performance and ability to visibly evolve over time. The gradual patination of the copper façade allows the building to record the passing of time, creating a material narrative that develops alongside the lives of its users. Through this relationship, the building itself becomes an expression of ageing, adaptation and continuity.
My wider interests lie in socially responsive architecture, material expression and user centred design, particularly in projects that strengthen relationships between people, place and community while creating meaningful and lasting spatial experiences.
