Studying architecture to end with a joint degree from both Manchester University and Manchester Metropolitan would, I think, really play to my strengths and passion in both art and sciences. In Maths I have always enjoyed problem solving and being creative with media and resources in art, transferring these skills to create something which is innovative, solves problems and is aesthetically pleasing I would find incredibly rewarding and enjoyable. Being able to take advantage of the broad range of both digital and analogue technology at the universities especially appeals to me, and I believe would have a positive impact on improving and developing my art skills throughout the course.

In everyday life I see around me the positive impacts architecture has; aesthetically in creating a sculptural piece of artwork and talking point in an area, but also it’s impacts on the communities and people who inhabit or use a space. My school’s recent extension, has really become an asset, it has uplifted the old building’s dilapidated feel through it’s seamless connection to this box of mirrors. It inspires students as they walk through - making the infinite horizon of the bay and lake district fells seem closer than through a classroom window, the space is so large it has become functional for music concerts, parents’ evenings and town events. Light in architecture and spaces has always appealed and managed to enthral me above other factors.

The walls of projected windows of the recent extension, in my mind, echoed the architecture of the black diamond library in Copenhagen. This building also managed to seamlessly join the old library to a far more modern extension in an eye-catching yet subtle manner. Staying on the harbour at Copenhagen last summer, it was beautiful to see the water reflections exaggerated and echoed by the black granite exterior of the building, bringing attention to not only the library but the water from which Copenhagen takes use of it’s trade, tourism, transport and is the heart of the city. 

A piece of architecture I would love to experience in person is ‘the cinder cone’, designed by Foster Huntington, and made up from two separate houses joined by an arched bridge, overlooking the Columbia river gorge. Aside from the peace and tranquility of the context of the building, I would like to experience this build as it was was built by a range of people, most of whom began as novice carpenters and learnt on the job. Watching the story of the build, on vimeo, I became interested in the carpentry and spirit of the build as much as the final building. I could see comparisons between the local craftsmanship of those involved with the cinder cone to the arts and crafts movement which in prominent in the area I live fro example Blackwell and Brantwood.

Portfolio pictures

Landscape, for this project I threw a dart at a map of the area where I lived and went on an observational walk to that point.

I then did a landscape drawing of the walk including details such as altitude, number of steps, time and distance.

Things I saw and songs I listened to, as well as their length.

Church, inspired and motivated by the style of John Piper.

Current A2 project.

Experimental printing piece, starting my investigation of the bottle motif in relation to the context of the window sil/ shed.

Current unfinished final piece for project.

Brantwood, home of John Ruskin, sketch.

Sketch of a building I would like to see: this is a sketch of Blackwell, an arts and crafts building designed by Bailey Scott.