MSA interests me as a place to study
architecture for many reasons. Not only is it extremely highly regarded but it
also provides an opportunity to explore a wide range of architectural practices
within a multidisciplinary environment – in a city I have some experience of.
The most exciting
recent exhibition I have seen is the Sensing Spaces exhibition at the Royal Academy
of Art. This exhibition blew me away -the RA asked seven different architects
from six countries to approach the architecture of the RA in a new way and to
create installation pieces to ask some of the big questions about the nature
of architecture and our lives. I loved
the wide variation of the pieces of work. After listening to the different
architects talk about their work I really understood how, from the same brief,
different architectures approached these questions from very different
perpsectives. I think my favourite installation was the piece by Li Xiaodong.
This was an intricate maze finally leading to a courtyard. Li Xiaodong wanted
to create a magical walk in the forest on a snowy night This was clearly
reflected through the walls being filled with wooden twigs while the floor was
lit with white LED lights. I felt lost as well as guided. Light and texture were
used extremely effectively in this piece. The white light in the floor and the
light in the extreme space coming through the twigs creating interesting
shadows giving a warmth to the lost feeling I felt. When I finally got to the courtyard, this space was
completely different to the rest of the maze. Due to the gravel floor and
mirrored walls this space felt a lot colder and fresh than the rest of the
space – a real contrast. What I liked most was the way Li Xiaodong engaged so
many different senses so that I became completely absorbed in the space.
Tadao Ando is also one of my favourite
architectures. This is due to his clear individual style and strong base in the
minimalist architectural tradition. My favourite piece is Church of Light. This piece intrigues me
due to the powerful use of light and the way it challenges traditional and
European church style. The large cross on one of the walls is the only way to
get light into this massive concert block. This church has an extremely dark
interior except the lights seeping in through the cross on the main wall.
Church on Water by Tadao Ando, would be
the piece of architecture I would want to visit. This piece of architecture
strongly represents the minimalist view, particularly reflecting the ideas
linked with Japanese Zen gardens. Ando has created a church, once again
challenging traditional expectations of religious architecture, by creating a church
that seems to be floating, which in doing so prompts spiritual contemplation.
