Having
visited Manchester many times, I have witnessed the wide varieties of
architectural styles that the city embraces and being able to live and study
there will allow me to understand the culture of the diverse city. I am eager
to learn of the environmental impacts and elements to architecture and explore
the history and how our approach towards architecture has evolved to present
day. I feel that MSA covers these aspects and that I will be able to engage
with the course and obtain valuable knowledge and a better understanding of the
built environment. I am pleased that MSA offers a skills programme in the first
year, where I can develop a range of skills that are fundamental to the
production of buildings. I also like how the students direct their own learning
within the third year, as this is beneficial for developing confidence and
innovation during the course. I feel that MSA holds a well-structured course
that will provide me with the skills and initiative that I will need in the process
of becoming an architect.
In July 2015 I visited the Taipei 101 in Taiwan. Although knowing the immense scale of the building beforehand, being able to observe the Taipei 101 from directly below was an extraordinary experience that exceeded my expectations. I had the opportunity to view the 660-tonne damper up close at the top of the Taipei 101, knowing how important the damper is for stabilising the building during an earthquake made the experience much more exciting.
Renzo Piano is my favourite architect as I am inspired by his outlook on architecture. Piano mentions that he has no particular style and doesn’t like the idea of putting his own stamp on a building. I admire this approach towards architecture because he focuses on creating designs that best suit the purpose and surroundings rather than designing a building that people can recognise as his work straight away. I particularly like his vernacular structures of the Jean-Marie Tjibaou Cultural Centre in Nouméa, New Caledonia, as it uses traditional materials of the location and resembles the type of hut used by the native people, in honour of their culture and lifestyle.
I would love to experience in person, the MAXXI Museum designed by Zaha Hadid.
The modern design looks almost futuristic and is perfect for a museum
displaying 21st-century contemporary art. I am intrigued by the dynamic feel of
the interior and how the staircases and bridges connect all the different
sections together to produce a fluid ambience. Another remarkable aspect is the
use of natural light to illuminate the museum through the specially designed
roof, this is a feature that can only be fully experienced in person.
