I would like to study at Manchester School of Architecture for a number of reasons. Firstly, when visiting on the open day I was very struck by the warm and friendly atmosphere of the school- created by both the tutors and the students. Environment is also very important to me, and I loved the Feilden Clegg Bradley Studio’s Manchester School of Art building, with its views out over the city. Finally, I really liked the course structure at Manchester, being split up into studio, humanity and technology work, and I think it will suit me well, as I am very interested in artistic expression, academic research and mathematical problem solving.
Recently I visited the exhibition Soul of a Nation, and wrote a short review about it, here is a small snippet:
‘Tate Modern’s new exhibition ‘Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power’ offers a fresh insight into African American Art from 1963-1983. This dynamic and vibrant exhibition explores what ‘black’ art could be, and what it should be.
The exhibition starts with a bang: beacons of light radiate from a pitch black canvas. The white strokes grow in scale and intensity, creating an unstoppable motion, an energy that will not be depleted. This is Norman Lewis’ abstract painting ‘Processional’, which subtly evokes images of protest marches that grow steadily in strength and power. It is this ambiguity and obscurity that make this piece one of, if not the most powerful, piece in the exhibition. ‘Processional’ sets in motion the momentum of this exhibition, and curators Mark Godfrey and Zoe Whitely ensure that there is absolutely no lapse in this energy from beginning to end.’
One architect that I particularly admire is Richard Rogers, and I was fortunate enough to spend a day at the office of Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, looking at the design process of past and current projects, and how large firms operate. The Pompidou and the Llyods building are two of my favourites, however I am particularly impressed by the social housing projects that he has worked on, such as the Y:cube, which aims to tackle homelessness.
One building that I would love to experience myself is Le Corbusier’s Villa Savoye, being a watershed moment in the modernist movement. It would be fascinating to see this famous building, as it would seem that a great deal of modern, domestic homes are influenced by Corbusier’s open plan and light filled design.
