Statement

As an international student from Hong Kong, I see MSA as an excellent opportunity to develop my knowledge of Architecture, and personally as an individual.

I choose MSA because the school has a great reputation and course is very balanced. Having the skills in design as well as technical aspects will  benefit me in the future. Studying in the UK will give me a chance to experience life in a different culture, and expose myself to different viewpoints and opinions, which will broaden my view of the world. The UK is close to Europe and will allow me to learn more about  European cultures. My large extended family living in the UK also contributes to the UK being my country of choice.

This year’s Serpentine Pavilion by Peter Zumthor is especially beautiful. Essentially cuboid in its shape, and jet black in its colour, it is both striking and subtle in its impact on the landscape.

There are connotations of mystery and the circulation pattern encourages a journey of discovery within the pavilion.

The winding path that leads from the road to the Pavilion entrenches a sense of mystery. The ominous rectangular doorways and dark corridors that form the entrance contribute, with the darkness, to a sense of a mystic journey.

Once inside, the cloister-like covered walkway is snug, lined with café style tables, chairs and benches.  It is like a retreat, a hiding hole in the centre of one of the world’s biggest cities, where there is peace and serenity.

The centre of attention once inside is the greenery. It is unconventional, wild and raw, relying on subtle elegance in muted colours.  It has connotations of the secret garden, which essentially sums up the whole pavilion. It is a hidden courtyard of serenity, where elegance and escape can be found – although ironically, within a park.

The architectural group Archigram can be considered my favourite architect. I like their optimism and outlook to the future – their designs are always fun and exiting, even approaching the point of almost being alien.

One piece of architecture that I would like to visit is Tatlin’s tower. Planned to be hundreds of metres tall, if it had been built, it would have been an extraordinary structure – an amazing display of the raw strength of steel. It would probably be the boldest example of Constructivism and a great example of what influence culture and political ideology could have. If it had been built it would illustrate the immense power of architecture for an ideology - irrespective of how flawed the ideology is ultimately found to be. It is a great pity that it remains a dream, as I would definitely like to visit it.

448 Words.