COMMERCIAL FIT-OUT + ARCHITECTURAL
PHOTOGRAPHY FOR U-BUILD'S MODULAR
BUILDING SYSTEM

DOCUMENTING CIRCULAR CONSTRUCTION + HUMAN-CENTRIC DESIGN ACROSS TWO MANCHESTER COMMERCIAL FIT-OUT PROJECTS REQUIRED ARCHITECTURAL PHOTOGRAPHY AND A LIFESTYLE APPROACH TO SHOWCASE THE U-BUILD DEMOUNTABLE MODULAR SYSTEM AND HOW IT HELPS BRING SPACES TO LIFE

THE BRIEF

U-Build commissioned me to photograph two of their completed commercial interior projects: Dekiln, a low-carbon tile studio and display workshop, and Sustainable Ventures, a climate-tech innovation hub spanning four floors in the historic Renold Building. Both in Manchester.

U-Build’s modular timber construction system, developed with Studio Bark, is inherently circular. Built from precision-cut plywood boxes, their demountable partitions, acoustic pods, and custom joinery can be endlessly reconfigured or moved without waste. The brief didn't just want photography of the products in-situ, but also to document how these flexible, tactile interventions encourage social interaction, community and create dynamic working environments.

At Dekiln, the focus was on how U-Build’s shelving, surface tops and room dividers support the artisan process of crafting recycled tiles. At Sustainable Ventures, we would be working across four floors, photographing acoustic meeting pods, phone booths, modular furniture, and dividing walls.

U-Build needed a comprehensive set of visual assets that had exterior context, architectural wide shots, material close-ups, and commercial lifestyle photography demonstrating people interacting with the modular spaces. As well as stills, the client needed some moving image to use in their digital marketing, so I shot both simultaneously to maintain a consistent visual tone through all assets.

THE PROCESS

It was agreed that we would photograph both projects on the same day, so we planned Dekiln for the morning and Sustainable Ventures after lunch, working around the best available natural light for both sites. At Dekiln, we wanted to capture a real sense of arriving at and entering the space. As well as some context of the surroundings. Once inside we worked through staged scenarios to capture a light touch of people movement, both for human-scale and to  introduce a narrative layer to the photography.

I was also keen to look at how the textures and materials interacted with the space, using close-ups of timber panels alongside Dekiln’s low-carbon recycled tiles.

Sustainable Ventures are based in the lovely Renold Building in Manchester and that meant navigating a live workspace. Operating in a busy office environment just requires a little extra consideration and spatial awareness. I worked around the busy office staff trying not to even be  noticed if possible. We booked out specific meeting pods though  and using long exposures, created motion-blurred figures in some of the interiors to preserve the sense of an active community.

Throughout the day, it was important to work with the natural light whenever possible. These businesses are all guided by a shared concern for the  impact we make on our planet, and the feature product is made of timber. It made sense to lean into soft organic tones and clean, uncluttered compositions as well as letting the sunlight flood the spaces.

U-Build were brilliant to collaborate with; really clear with their brief and requirements while still leaving room for creativity. They also make excellent stand-in models when called on.

As a Manchester commercial photographer who often works with architecture and interiors, I was excited to bring my experience to U-Build, and deliver an impactful asset library that celebrates how circular architecture and sustainable interior design can transform modern commercial spaces. The inclusion of people and movement elevates the shoot from an architectural document to a story about community and ethical construction. 

PROJECT DIRECTORY

Client: U-Build (Modular Timber Construction System)
Location: Sustainable Ventures + Dekiln | Manchester, UK
Commission Type: Architectural, Commercial Interior, Product + Lifestyle Photography
Deliverables: Commercial brand asset library for web and socials, case studies, and marketing collateral
Lead Photographer: Steven Longbottom (Manchester Commercial Photographer)