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I believe that architecture and how buildings are planned, designed and constructed can be life changing. My own early experience of how architecture could improve the world we live in was when my school was remodeled several years ago. I experienced what positive effects the regeneration of a building had and this inspired me to choose architecture as my area of future study. Architecture is about surprises, you never know the opportunities you are going to get and whether you’ll take them or not. I decided that I would like to pursue my studies in England since I am a Belgian student looking to improve my English.

Manchester, being highly ranked for architecture, seems like a great place to go as Manchester School of Architecture was voted the top school in the UK offering courses for the full range of qualifications necessary to become a professional architect. I believe that studying at the University of Manchester will offer me great opportunities for my studies not only because of its ranking but also because of the environment. Manchester has a spectacular range of architectural styles and is known to be an important city in the history of urban development and industrialization.

La Sagrada Familia (Review): The way Gaudi relates with the natural form in his buildings is a complete contrast with other functional buildings. His combination of Gothic art with oriental structures and organic forms such as branching columns in the shape of a tree have raised my attention.
His addition of design and Art Nouveau captured my imagination. This Church is a fascinating building that truly comes alive.

One of my favorite architects is Oscar Niemeyer. I admire his way of working, his idea on architecture; making the world a better place. Niemeyer transformed the discoveries of pioneers to deal with the realities of rapid modernization in his own country, Brazil. He was regarded as a creative thinker for adding reinforced-concrete curves to the right angles of modernism. Curves give the building a special, personal touch and this is what differentiates Niemeyer’s buildings from other architectures. Niemeyer was clearly prolific and hard-working, and is certainly an architect I am looking up to.

I would love to experience the Roman Colosseum. The roman people, their gladiators and their history itself has always fascinated me as a child and the desire to experience the great Roman amphitheater, one of the seven wonders, has stayed with me. The ancient Romans were known for their outstanding architecture. What amazes me the most is that the Romans were able to build such extraordinary buildings. At that time they did not have the technology nor knowledge we have today.