MArch Thesis - Retrofitted South Manchester

Here is Pragnya’s final design thesis, developed at the Manchester School of Architecture (MSA). The project proposes a fabric-first design strategy - prioritising the building envelope to optimise indoor comfort and reduce reliance on traditional heating systems, while also including non-humans in the built fabric. The model focuses on scalable prototypes using EnerPHit and Passive House principles, including:

✅ High-performance insulation ✅ Triple-glazed windows ✅ Airtightness and thermal bridging solutions ✅ Smart ventilation systems ✅ Biodiversity enhancement

The central idea is to create a replicable retrofit model applicable across entire communities - contributing to a self-sufficient, low-carbon Southern Manchester.