Manchester school of architecture - statement essay

Why do I want to study architecture at MSA? 

Having carefully searched through the options of the world education, I can state that my firm preference for the British Universities is based on the eminent excellence of their faculties, the rich academic sources they offer and the engaging academic ambiance they create. Firstly, MSA has impressed me by the great number of architects it educated such as Norman Foster, and due to the fact that it is ranked among the best architecture course in UK.  

 MSA is indeed ranked amongst the best in the UK due to the capability of the students to produce high quality works. In terms of beauty, my heart has already been stolen by MSA’s environment. Located in the middle of the historical Manchester City, the architectural beauty lies in every corner of the streets. If given a place at the Manchester School of Architecture, I will endeavor not merely to become another example of the excellent architecture students which graduate from this top university, but also to contribute to the colourful society of which I hope to become part. 

 I find that the comprehensive approach of the program to develop the students' imagination and the unique experience which I will gain in expressing my ideas through different means and in a variety of ways are a sound basis to enter the world of architecture. Determined and skilled people who aspire to make their dreams happen in reality possess the potential to bring about divine and exceptional changes in our world when they're provided with an opportunity comprising superior facilities. For this reason, I believe that MSA is the right destination for me.

Who is my favorite architect? 

As an architect you design for the present with an awareness of the past for a future which is essentially unknown. One of such architects is Zaha Hadid. She has designed progressive, attractive and functional buildings, products and interiors. I have never been pessimistic about the success of women in the field of Architecture - it was the hardship which Hadid had to overcome to win this recognition, which impressed me. What makes her stand out, however is that she has also contributed to the world with one of the most impressive intangible architectural works, namely the trail she paved by becoming the first female Pritzker laureate. 

However, despite the long struggle, she managed to overcome the prejudice against her. Moreover, according to her words, this experience made her tougher and more precise, which reflects in the architecture. Hadid’s first major built project was the Vitra fire station in Weil am Rhein, Germany. Composed of a series of sharply angled planes, the structure resembles a bird in flight. Hadid further explored her interest in creating interconnecting spaces and a dynamic sculptural form of architecture. Being a girl who aspires to become an architect will surely be inspired by Zaha Hadid. 

My own review of a building that I visited recently 

Coming from India, the most spectacular creation of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, 'Taj Mahal', one of the seven wonders of the world, is the building that I visited recently. Taj Mahal is an ambassador of Shah Jahan's strong interest in building and artistic innovations. The new architectural style includes aspects that were to impinge much of subsequent Indian architecture. Symmetry along two sides of a central axis, new columnar styles, curvilinear forms, and symbolic decorations based on naturalistic plant motifs are all characteristics of the Shahjahan style that can be found in the Taj Mahal Complex. 

 The entire Taj complex consisted of two components, each following the riverfront garden design; the Chahar Bagh and terrace; a true riverfront garden and a landlocked variant in the configuration of the two subsidiary units, where the rectangle Jilaukhana corresponded to the riverfront terrace, and the cross-axial bazaar and caravanserai element to the Chahar Bagh. The main fact that was extremely thoughtful is that the four pillars around the Taj Mahal are not straight and lean away from the dome. This was done because, in case of an Earthquake, if at all the pillars had to fall, they will not create any damage to the main structure and will fall away from the dome. 

Which is the building which I'd like to experience in person? 

A building that I would love to visit it Hagia Sophia which is a Mosque and a major cultural and historical site in Istanbul, Turkey. The cathedral was a Greek orthodox church until the conquest of Constantinople by the Ottoman Empire. It served as a mosque until 1935, when it became a museum. In 2020, the site once again became a mosque. Hagia Sophia's architecture is incredible, the history is rich, and the mosaics and paintings are breathtaking.

 Due to its historical background, and passing through the hands of various cultures, both the exterior and interior of Hagia Sophia behold an incredible mixture of Islamic, Catholic, Paganist, and Orthodox architecture and art. From all that I've heard from people and saw from google the moment we enter Hagia Sophia we can encounter enormous columns, what makes them significant is that, during the time Hagia Sophia was built, these columns were brought from various processed ancient buildings, one of which was from the Artemis Temple of Ephesus. 

The giant gate, leading you to the main hall of the Mosque, is called the Emperor’s Gate. Being the biggest gate of Hagia Sophia and made from oak wood, it is claimed that the oakwood was gathered from the ark of Noah. Most of the 30 million gold tesserae (tiny mosaic tiles) which cover the church's interior—especially the dome—have recently been restored to the brilliance they boasted 1500 years ago. Just to witness the beauty and to implement those inspirations in my future, I would love to visit Hagia Sophia.