MSA STATEMENT

Studying in the city of Manchester and especially Architecture at MSA is something that I look forward to with great anticipation for many reasons. Both my parents and grandfather studied architecture in Manchester and after visiting the city myself, I discovered how compelling and inspiring it is. The city apart from being rich in history, is also a complex of buildings of several architectural movements – an environment I perceive to be ideal for an architecture student, since it prompts the visual stimuli required for the creation of something interesting and innovative. I believe that the course at MSA is the perfect fit for me as it includes both design projects, where I will be able to express my creativity, as well as technology and theory subjects that address not only the history of Architecture but also several social and cultural issues.

Moreover, I find the focus of this course on the ecological and environmental aspects of the profession particularly appealing, as I aspire to become an architect that contributes to a sustainable world. Having the opportunity to participate in local and international fieldtrips excites me, as I enjoy travelling, exploring new places and discovering unique buildings.

In May 2018, I had the opportunity to visit La Biennale di Venezia for the first time and it was a lifetime experience, to say the least. I found it very fascinating that architects from all over the world had the same theme, “FREESPACE”, but each team and country managed to come up with their own distinctive and intriguing design for a pavilion or outdoor space. Some countries addressed global issues such as child health and primary education, while others focused on the architectural development of their country. The exhibition and the overall experience were catalytic in deciding that Architecture is the subject I wish to study.

Recently, while surfing online, I came across the Guangzhou Opera House in China, by Zaha Hadid architects. This building sparked my interest, as its design evolves around the concepts of natural landscapes interplaying with architecture, while engaging with the principles of erosion, geology and topography. The influence of the design were river valleys and their transformation by erosion – an exciting fact, since I studied rivers and erosion of landforms in my geography AS level. The building’s fluidity creates a harmonic environment which is vital for an Opera House and I believe that it’s one of the main reasons this is one of my favourite buildings so far.

The building I would love to experience in person is the Sharifi-ha house, which has three rotating rooms that increase its functionality and efficiency depending on the weather and the users’ preferences.