In this project by Grimshaw Architects, they were tasked with creating individual housing in a very tight space. With the canal on one side and a busy street on the other, the architects had to design these homes to exclude vehicle noise while highlighting the water views. In order to do this they designed the buildings to be bounded by a wall facing the street to reduce traffic noise, while having the buildings face the canal. Due to one side being a solid wall, they incorporated skylights to allow in natural light on sides with no windows. What I enjoy most about these buildings is the spaceship like design they all have. I also like the walkway they created to enter the homes that runs along the canal, allowing owners to make the most of their water-front views.

Here’s another example of Grimshaw Architects incorporating an old building into a new one. I personally love buildings that do this because you get the best of both old and new architecture. The contrast is also really cool to see. In this specific design for the University College London Cancer Institute, they were tasked with designing a new research center for post-graduate students. What they came up with was an elegant, transparent building that “opens up what is often an opaque, private area of study,” – Grimshaw.global. I think this is a very clever design technique. My favorite piece of the structure is the glass-encased stairwell that separates the old building from the new.

Here is another project completed by Grimshaw Architects. This is basically a link between the terminal and the airplane. In addition to connecting passengers from the main terminal to the airplane itself, it also adds extra room to the terminal by creating nine additional gates with waiting areas. Grimshaw Architects also had to ensure that the airport’s radar systems would not be affected by this new building. This constraint inspired the architects to use a design feature that I really like. To reduce radar interference, they designed the whole structure to look like the inside of an airplane. I think that is really clever and it kinda prepares everyone for their upcoming journey. It’s elliptical shape also does not interfere with any part of the airport’s systems. This is a great example of how architects can make special things happen.

The architect I was assigned to was Grimshaw Architects. This is one of their past projects. It is an apartment complex in Sydney, Australia. What first caught my attention was that it looks like a new modern building sprouted out of the older brick building. It turns out that the architects designed the new building around an old flour mill. They managed to keep much of the classic style of the flour mill and incorporate it into some of the new apartments. Besides the contrast between old and new style, I really like how they included a large walkway through the center of the building. I love any architecture that breaks from the traditional mold like that. I also like the checkerboard pattern of balconies on the front side of the building. It allows for the building to not look like a common apartment building.

When I used to live in the Boston area as a kid this stadium was always a source of fun and excitement. Walking up to the park from the outside there is a feeling of witnessing history. Walking in for the first time I could only think about all historic moments that took place in the stadium. When I walked up the ramp to get to my seats and I saw the field for the first time it was incredible. Looking over the sea of bright green grass put me at peace and seeing the green monster in person was like visiting a religious sight. Every time I went to the park after that I always made sure to stop at the top of the ramp into the seating area to admire every part of the stadium again. Looking back on going to games there fills me with a deep nostalgia that only an incredible building containing incredible memories could bring.

When I moved to Dallas and went downtown for the first time the first building that stuck out to me was Chase Tower. You can see it for miles due to its height and it has an imposing presence on the Dallas skyline. What caught my interest was the hole in the upper part of the building. I had never seen a building with that feature before and it made me wonder what it was like being in the building by that feature. Ever since then I wanted to go inside the building. I got that chance my junior year when I went into the building for an interview. When I stepped into the building I was blown away by how elegant it was. Marble covered the entrance and made me feel like I was in a palace. At the end of the interview they took my up to the sky lobby which was right above the hole. From there I could see for miles and they even had floor windows to look down from. I will never forget how incredible the view was from there. Now whenever I drive past the building it makes me think of the great view from the sky lobby and how nice of a building it is on the inside.

The second most influential building to me is the Price College of Business building. This building has influenced me in both positive and negative ways. The first time I saw the building as an incoming freshman I was pretty intimidated by the way the building towers over you from the outside. I was nervous about my first college classes and this building reminded me of tougher classes to come. When I was a sophomore and started taking classes in the building it came to represent a place where I could see my classmates. We could meet up and talk, or cram for exams in the same meeting areas. The negative aspect of this building was all of the stress that came from the classes I took here. Whenever I think of the building now I think of all the positive and negative experiences I’ve had in there.

When I started thinking of a building that has influenced me in a positive way, the first thing that came to mind was this stadium. This building has meant the world to me while I have been here. You can see it pretty much anywhere on campus and it always reminds me of having a great time watching football with my close friends. When I went to my first game in the stadium I was blown away by the energy this stadium contains. There is nothing like having over 80,000 people screaming simultaneously for you favorite football team. Ever since that first time entering the building I always look forward to football season to start again so that I can experience that energy again.