What’s in the mind of students on the other side of the world? (Architecture Major)

I honestly can’t tell how exactly, but, random ideas pop up in my head even when I’m not thinking about the project. Once, I was just talking to my friends, and then I came up with an idea.

But when I must find something for reference, I basically use the internet, or the books from the college library.

The projects in my university often provides the site. I develop my ideas based on the local identity and materials, but place my focus on nature and the people.

I get inspiration from architecture photographs that I’ve seen before. That includes websites like ArchDaily, Issuu, Instagram and Pinterest.

I mostly get inspiration from the surroundings of the project. I try to think of the design according to the surrounding, location and orientation.

I get inspired a lot from the works that I have seen previously on Instagram or Pinterest.

Many of my projects have similar programs to the ones applied for existing architectures in modern society. So, I look up for references on websites like Archdaily and Pinterest or look through books at the school library. But I find that the best inspiration is the one that comes from good understanding and knowledge of the site, the community it houses and the given design topic.

My inspiration comes from Pinterest, Instagram, Archdaily, Architectural magazines like “Detail”.

I get inspiration from anything really, there was this one time I was rubbings together different textures and that was quite inspiring. Just walking around big cities or a forest would work the same way too. I don’t think there’s a specific thing or place where you get inspiration from. But if that doesn’t happen, then I would go to Pinterest or Instagram. I’ve got a few architecture magazine subscriptions too, my favorite one is “Enki” and it’s all about residential architecture- all gorgeous. I would also look for books in the library. You know how people usually use the database in the library to search for a book and just borrow that one book? I actually prefer to go to the library and walk up and down the architecture section, it takes time, but I get to see different kinds of book related to the book I was originally looking for.

I mostly get inspired by historical and cultural elements of a city, place or a building. I believe built environments should represent and respect the past and the present, and contribute to the future.

I get inspiration from everything, basically. To work on an architecture project is already fun and exciting for me, I can just get a cup of coffee in the morning and work through it the whole day. The key is to love your work, no matter what. If you love your work, you don’t need any inspiration- you will be an inspiration for your inspiration. It doesn’t matter what kind of apartment you live in or who’s around you; you will be able to do your work if you have patience and passion about it.

Yes. Some of the few architects I really look up to include Alvaro Siza, David Adjei, Diebedo Francis Kere, I.M Pei, Kengo Kuma etc.

I love biophilic architecture, nature will always be a part of me and I think IS necessary whatever form it will take (I’m using it for my thesis shown above). I look up to Eric Reinholdt, an Architect/Author/Youtuber. His works are very clean and he shares them.

My most favourite architect who I very much look up to is Tadao Ando. Currently, my graduation project is adapted from his style. I like the minimalist style and the use of materials in his design.

Yes. I love Tadao Ando.

I really liked the work of Luis Kahn and Le Corbusier. In the form of structure, I like Capitol Complex by Le Corbusier in Chandigarh, India.

I like the work of Zaha Hadid, Renzo Piano, Le Corbusier, Frank Lloyd Wright.

Many! I love Mies van der Rohes’s work. I find it very inspiring. There is also a new Lebanese architect: Carl Gerges, he just launched his firm and I quite like what he is doing.

Absolutely! I like architecture that are simple and elegant. But I also have nothing against imposing and provocative arts. All depends on the context and architectural environment.

It doesn’t matter to me what style of building or material it is made of. What’s more important for me is the wholeness and harmony: from the base idea to the specific details.

Here are a few examples:

http://www.ceramicarchitectures.com/obras/aquarium-lisbon/

https://www.archdaily.com/932401/museum-and-cultural-forum-arnsberg-bez-plus-kock-architekten?ad_source=search&ad_medium=search_result_all

http://www.ceramicarchitectures.com/obras/saint-pater-rupert/

https://www.archdaily.com/30145/holy-rosary-church-complex-trahan-architects

Definitely! Like I said, my path is hopefully going to be in residential housing so my favorite architecture firms at the moment are:

“Hyde + Hyde architects” They’ve got offices in Swansea and Cardiff. Their designs are very modern, very beautiful, one of their projects won a competition for their ‘Faroe Island Housing’ project and they have won multiple national and regional awards. I’m going to apply to work for them next year, I highly doubt I’ll get it but no harm in applying is there?

Another one is called “Strom Architects” and they are in Lymington which is in the very very south of England.

I’m also going to apply at a firm quite close to my place called “Acres Architects” and that one is in Nottingham.

I’ve got a spreadsheet of all the architecture practice I want to work for and they’re all labeled with scores like “9/10” or “10/10” with a bit of notation and everything – I’m prepared.

I really like the works of Louis Kahn, Frank Lloyd Wright and Carlo Scarpa.

I’m inspired by a lot of different architects and their works, but right now, I enjoy Ricardo Bofill’s work. He’s a Spanish architect, and his architecture is unique. I love the one in Barcelona, the repurposed cement factory La Fábrica is home to the Taller de Arquitectura and the Bofill family. This structure speaks to me, like how art does. His use of shape and color, and the design – it’s just amazing.

I think art is the start of all architecture. A great example, Zaha Hadid, she’s done a lot of art, and you can see how she transformed her vision through art and then to the architecture. She was breaking the rules, but that made her work different from other architects’ practices. She found her way, and I think it was art that gave her confidence in the work she did.