Statement

Having lived in Manchester for the past year, I have come to appreciate the diverse architecture and culture of different areas within the city. This has not only influenced me to pursue my interests in creative mediums such as photography, but has led to an ever increasing passion for architecture and design. Manchester School of Architecture is consistently ranked as one of the best in the UK; the reasoning for this is apparent in the numerous resources on offer, as well as reports of an excellent standard of teaching. MSA would not only give me the best chance of success in a design- based career, but would also give me the opportunity to study in the city I have grown to love. 

On my recent trip to Barcelona, I visited Gaudi's Sagrada Familia. Undeniably, a fascinating building, the aspect which intrigued me most was Gaudi's incorporation and appreciation of the natural world. The way in which light filtered through the windows created a space that was never dark, neither was ever too light. Rather, it created soft pools of light that captured the serenity and spiritual nature of the church. Moreover, the buttresses of the church reflect the gnarled shape of trees and the ceiling of the church reflect that of a canopy of leaves. This translation of natural forms into the design of a building greatly appeals to me as I feel a successful building should not create stark separation from the indoor and outdoor worlds, but should rather create a transition between the two.

I do not have a singular favourite building or architect as such, however, my favourite architecture would be that which incorporates the characteristics of Scandinavian design. This type of design, which emerged in the 1950’s, puts modernism, functionalism and affordability as its central theme. In doing so, Scandinavian architecture creates spaces which respond to the needs of the people who inhabit them, whilst the pursuing of modernism enables a degree of luxury and comfort to be achieved. Furthermore, the ‘managing’ of different views from the interior create an environment which best utilises the appeals of the exterior world.

A work of architecture I’d like to experience in person would be Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater. Its apparent suspension over a waterfall and its location, in an area of great natural beauty, creates a seemingly mystical quality which I feel could only be truly recognised in person. The architecture of Fallingwater embraces the natural world. In thoughtful design, the building is unified with its natural setting; and consequently, a building that is not only sheltering, but pulls nature into the home is formed. This is a concept  I hope to further explore if I am a successful applicant to MSA as I feel it an imperative quality for any building.