I want to study in Manchester School of Architecture (MSA) because MSA’s academic and research excellence can help me build a sound foundation a future architect, moreover, in exploring my area of interests effectively. The shared resources and expertise available in both MSA and Manchester Metropolitan University, and its career-oriented degree programme will provide me with insightful career guidance in the architectural field. As importantly, I value MSA’s guaranteed accommodation for international students, it’s beautiful and comfortable campus as well as the convenience for learning that it can provide.
I visited the “Foster” last month, a classically furbished restaurant. The indoor lighting is of beige colour, forging a mysterious ambiance. The ceiling is low, but is lit up by light shining though a band of french window and a strip of high-rise windows, thus, the room is more spacious than it actually is. I am most impressed by the outdoor dining area, which is surrounded by flourishing strelitzia reginae and bushes. They separate the area from the noisy street, thus create a sense of privacy and tranquility. The wooden shelter of the outdoor space is covered by trumpet flowers and it’s vines, partially shielding the sunlight and heat under hot weathers. In addition, it instills a tint of liveliness. The general impression is cosy.
Wang Shu is my favourite architect because of his strong conviction to preserve and recall the past in his pursuit of modern architecture. He forwent the opportunity to earn money during China’s economic reform because he refused to design soul-less buildings, instead, he spent a decade in seclusion in Hangzhou to study traditional carpentry and folk materials like shingles and bricks to deepen his understanding of the Chinese tradition. He used rubbles and bamboos with cement to furbish the facade of Ning Bo Museum, wishing to recalls the locals’ memory of the past. Besides, I also admire his commitment in monitoring the whole building process, e.g frequently visit the construction site to communicate ideas with engineers and other workers.
I want to visit Mies Van Der Rohe’s Farnsworth House because despite all the readings, photographs and videos, I still couldnot wholly appreciate the sense of purity and serenity when viewing from the indoor. Reservation activists spent a vast US$7 million dollars to win the auction bid and kept the house where it was, which has made me even more curious to have a closer look and experience the building personally. I want to touch the steel pillars and feel the force flowing; I want to deepen my interpretation of how the “less” express “more”; I want to walk around to see how it blends into the nature and how it looks differently in different seasons.
