When I first encountered this building It felt like home. Growing up in the UK it reminded me a lot of the churches I would see as a child . When I moved to the US in elementary school I saw less of this sort of architecture, so was excited to see the change. I encountered the building as a young kid when my parents were showing me around our new home, San Francisco. Technically I first encountered it as a baby when I was baptized there early in my life but have no memory of it. This also holds a special place in my mind because it is also the church where my parents were married.

What I like about the building is the ornate decoration throughout the exterior. The usage of columns and arches, gives off a sort of ancient, angelic vibe. I especially like the entrance which is arches layered on top of each other, feels like I am walking into another dimension. I believe the building is in the Romanesque and Gothic style that was very popular in older religious times. This building however was built in 1924 post World War 1, in one of my favorite parts of SF, Italian town.

In 2015, I went to Aqaba, Jordan as part of military training exercise. During our last week in country we were given the opportunity to visit the city of Petra. What I remember most about this trip was that I didn’t really care where we were going it was break from our regular operational tempo. When we got there it was really interesting to learn that people travel from all over the country to visit The Great Temple and Monastery which both are very sacred places to the region. We rode donkeys and tried a lot of great food but it was a lot of walking from site to site. The visit to this historical place turned out to be an awesome trip and helped me to get a some what of better understanding of the people and just how important religion truly is there.

I know this will be an unpopular post, but I grew up with a family full of Oklahoma State University graduates and fans. In my many time visiting this stadium, it was one of the last visits that is the most memorable. Boone Pickens stadium is the location where my high school football team won state. Being a part of this as a player was unforgettable. The inside of the stadium is extremely modern with gold colored tiles that mark the school’s logo throughout all of the floors. Running out on to the field, the stadium seemed to grow in size. I felt tiny compared to everything around me. The exposed brick and the engraved gates leading into the stadium will always stick out in my mind. While the stadium is not a full circle, I have always admired the fact that the football stadium directly connects to the basketball facility. While I would’ve liked to play at the larger stadium in Norman, Oklahoma with all of it’s history, It was amazing to be at such a modern and detailed facility. The abundance of the windows on the exterior facility are also an interesting concept. It provides great views as soon as you exit your seat from any point of the stadium. The craftsmanship and thoughtfulness do not go unnoticed. I will forever hold the memories that were made in Boone Pickens stadium.

While this piece of architectural history is famous for a horrific event occurred, it still has a sense of awe inside. When I first entered in Ford’s theater, I could only think of its past and what had happened there, but after seeing the stage area, I was taken to other thoughts of beauty. The width of the seating is not all that wide, but as you can see in the image, it is three stories tall. Gold trim and ornamentation pop out from the white backdrops. The ceiling of the theater is probably my favorite portion of this building as its design promotes symmetry and focus in the details. It is strange how I felt the gloom of history but was awakened when seeing the inside. It is easy to see how a president would choose to use this theater as it evokes royalty inside. The crew that maintains Ford’s Theater have done an incredible job as they have tried to keep the theater as original as possible while making it look as it did in it’s prime. This building really gives a feel of what it would be like to watch a performance in this pivotal time of our nation. It is sad that such a beautiful piece of architecture has to have a disastrous past that puts the physical building in a bad light with the world.

While at first glance, this may look like your average ski town bar, it is deeper than that. Gold Pan boasts the longest running liquor license west of the Mississippi river and has been in Breckenridge for over 140 years. When I first entered the bar, I was taken back by how antique they had kept the inside. Besides the neon signs, you would think that you were transported back to the old west. The floor inside is slanted entirely in one direction. The doors feel like they are about to come apart and the wood pillars inside seem like they are on their last leg, literally. It is dark and there is still probably scuffs in the wood from cowboy boots. The whole building is encapsulated in history. While it is now filled with skiers telling stories of their day, it was once filled with pioneers and outlaws. I have went to Breckenridge several times over the course of my life, and this place always makes it on the list for a stop. This building shows me the importance of preserving old structures. Gold pan was enjoyed by travelers long before I was ever born, yet I am still able to receive gratification every time I enter. Gold Pan is special and holds that certain cool factor everyone is looking for in any type of building.

The picture above is one that many sports fans will recognize. I did not attend many football games here before I came to the University of Oklahoma, but have went to them as much as possible since being here. When i first entered the stadium, I was in awe of the sheer size as I walked to my seat. The seating seems to curve up into the clouds. While underneath the stands is somewhat bland, the outside gives the appearance of a fortress. Walking through the iron gates made me feel like I was a part of something special. This stadium creates a deep impact in cohesiveness within the university. When students and fans enter into this arena, they all want the same thing which is a win for our school and state. Just being in this stadium makes me feel like I belong to a community. I believe that connecting the stadium into one giant bowl has made this even more clear. There are now no separations and allow for maximum fan inclusion. The times that I have spent at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium are those of which I will cherish forever. Every time I will visit after my time at the University of Oklahoma, it will always feel like a second home to me.

My mother was estranged from her father until sometime in the early 1980s. He had remarried and raised 3 step children unbeknownst to my mother. After my grandmother died he wrote a letter to my mother and asked permission to contact her. After that they became acquainted on a summer trip with my family. I remember visitng a number of vacation destinations in the Pacific Northwest where he lived, but the Astoria Column was one of the most memorable. I believe it was a trip down the Columbia river and then over to Oregon coast that summer. This was one of the first things we encountered.

The story I am reading about the Astoria column is interesting. I wasn’t aware that some restoration has occured in the last few years. I don’t remember the murals being as vibrant but I do remember the views of the Columbia River and the landscape around it. It is quite a bit older than I thought also. It was built in 1926 on a 12 acre city park. It is 164 steps to the top and 125 feet tall. Definitely something to see in Oregon.

Another all white architect by Richard Meier. The building locates in England. Its location make it stand out. Out of the screen space sourrounding it.

It a modern minimal architect from the exterior to the interior. This is something I think the milenial like me going to love to stay in. Very wide open to the beautiful landscape outside.

This is the One Pillar Pagoda, locates in Ba Dinh, Hanoi, Vietnam. This is very unique and iconic architect in Vietnam. It also appears on the Vietnam Dong currency bill. It was build around 1028 to 1045. By the Emperor Ly Thai Tong’s order. The inspiration behind this design was a dream from the Emperor. This architect was damaged during the French war, but they able to rebuild it.