1866551103

1866551103 - January 20, 2025

Statement

My reason for wanting to study at the Manchester School of Architecture:

I decided to apply to the MSA because of its unique collaboration between two prestigious universities, allowing me to access many resources and expertise through lectures and professors. Since I grew up from an underprivileged household, the emphasis of sustainability on the school is very important to me as my goal as an architect is to design cost-effective and sustainable housing for families like my own. At Manchester, the architectural history has been rich and modern developments vibrant, from the Beetham Tower constructed in 2006, emphasising the peak of modern architecture with its sleek glass façade, to the Manchester Town Hall from the 19th-century, with its Gothic style and intricate stonework. Together they highlight Manchester’s architectural evolution by bridging modernity with tradition.

Manchester offers a wide variety of societies, from arts and crafts to sports and physical activities. The society that interests me is the Taekwondo society as I’ve always wanted to pick martial arts back up after I dropped it as a kid.

My review of the 2024 New Designers exhibition:

To visit the New Designers 2024 exhibition was truly inspiring as I witnessed students from different universities reveal their capabilities in creativity and innovation. I was able to view all sorts of projects that solved so many different problems, as well as talking to the university students about their projects and their thought processes to understand how they arrived at their final piece. My favourite piece of the exhibition was a digitally interactive game of the tabletop game, Warhammer 40k. The application developed allowed the players to store information about each piece and other items utilising QR codes and then being able to bring them up on a massive monitor.

My statement about Kazuhiko Namba, my favourite architect:

Kazuhiko Namba’s work has become a recent inspiration for me as I’ve researched a variety of architects and their works. His Box House series showcase clean, geometric shapes that optimise space while keeping a minimalist look, tackling the difficulties of small spaces without compromising on comfort or personal style. The Box House series highlights his creative use of natural light, open layouts, and modular designs, resulting in homes that are both practical and inspiring. His philosophy resonates with my passion for creating efficient, sustainable environments that improve daily life.

A work of architecture I would like to experience in person:

One work of architecture I’ve always wanted to visit is the Enoshima Shrine in Japan. It captures the beauty of architecture and cultural significance. The shrine utilises traditional wood joining techniques that don’t require screws or nails and only strengthen as they expand due to the changing seasons. Such levels of craftsmanship and spatial design can make me understand so much more on how architecture can reflect cultural heritage without alienating itself from the environment.

Blackberry Wine Label - Initial Sketch and Final Design