Designing for Wellbeing: A Chapman Taylor Design Charrette
On Tuesday, October 14th, Chapman Taylor's Manchester studio hosted a design charrette, bringing together designers, students, and property professionals for an evening of creativity and collaboration. The event was co-hosted by Chapman Taylor Architects, Catalina Ionita, and Rekha Barry-Houston, with generous sponsorship from Villeroy & Boch, represented by Anna Romanova.
Anna Romanova, Catalina Ionita, and Rekha Barry-Houston
The challenge invited participants to design a temporary pavilion dedicated to wellbeing and the importance of water in St Ann’s Square, one of Manchester’s most historic public spaces.
Following an introductory presentation, accompanied by refreshments and lively conversation, attendees divided into five teams: Rainchester, Brolly Folly, Refresh, MA A+U, and Teardrop to take on the design brief in a fast-paced, hands-on format.
Each group began by exploring the semantic field of water, wellbeing, and sustainability, developing a conceptual narrative to underpin their design. They then examined the context and heritage of St Ann’s Square to inform the placement and purpose of their pavilion. The room quickly filled with energy as participants modelled, sketched, and crafted ideas in a burst of creative expression.
The goal of the charrette was not to produce polished presentations but to encourage collaboration, experimentation, and collective creativity. Every team delivered inventive ideas, thought-provoking diagrams, and imaginative models, demonstrating a shared passion for design that enhances wellbeing.
After much deliberation, the winning team, Brolly Folly, was announced. Their concept proposed a playful cluster of inverted umbrella pavilions, a nod to Manchester’s iconic rain. Using recycled umbrella fabric as a canopy and planters as structural ballast, their design offered both shelter and a sensory experience as the sound of raindrops falling on the canopy adds further texture.
"Brolly Folly" was named as the winner
The winning team received La Boule, a striking modular dining set by Villeroy & Boch, as their prize.
The Brolly Folly Team
Commenting on the evening, Catalina and Rekha reflected: “We had such a wonderful time working with and listening to everyone. It was a truly collaborative exercise, and the creativity on display was exceptional.”
The event brought together participants from across Manchester’s design community, including representatives from Manchester School of Architecture, AHR, AtkinsRéalis, Gillespies, Planit, and Re-Form, among others. We look forward to hosting future design charrettes; please watch for further announcements.
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