Why Did I Choose to Study Architecture?

After encountering the beauty of architecture, you will start to change how you perceive and read the world. The process of design is similar to finding and presenting oneself with one's imagination and creativity.

I believe architecture encompasses diversity. It exists and presents itself in our life through multiple forms and modes, not only grounded to the skyscrapers or buildings we see daily in the city.

Milan Cathedral, Italy

Before getting into the field of architecture, I did not yet possess the skill set to appreciate architecture worldwide. In 2018 summer, I travelled with my family to Europe. In Rome, we visited and saw many magnificent and sacred cathedrals, yet at that time, I lacked the knowledge to distinguish what was different between these grandiose architectures, apart from simply knowing that both are categorized as cahedrals in terms of building typology. Friends around me also have similar experiences in the past, seeing architecture and being in awe by its presence, though not knowing where to start appreciating it. We lack the skillset and knowledge to comment on whether an architecture is good or not, apart from the very boiled down and simple commenting of "it's a fascinating and beautiful cathedral."

Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Italy

At that time, visiting these places perhaps meant nothing more than visiting a well-known photogenic spot that everyone should visit.

Plan Timeline of St. Peter's Basilica

It was only after studying architecture that I slowly realized that the spatial organization, structures, and forms of a cathedral are tightly knitted and significantly influence each other. At the same time, the perception of these elements fluctuates through time and under the influence of different generations of architects' beliefs.

It was the same year that I applied to Hong Kong University's architecture summer camp with the intention of testing architecture out. Although the course was only three weeks long, it was effective enough for me to realize and understand the charms of architecture and the essence of design. I still vividly remember one of the design topics we covered at that time.

The project asked us to design an installation on a hillside so that two different parties could interact with each other. (For example, the interactions between seniors and children and the relationship between animals and humans. At that time, some classmates even came up with more innovative and crazy ideas: the interaction between a scientist and his test subject.)

Every summer, the University of Hong Kong would host 3-weeks Architecture summer camp to promote high school students' interest to the subject

The assignment seemed quite straightforward and simple when I first heard of it, but what caught me off guard was that the actual design process took much longer than I expected. The design took a lengthy trajectory to test out the possibilities of different designs. When I was challenging the topic, I couldn't figure out how to approach the design, leading me to hesitate and pause for a long time, lost in how I could represent what I had pictured inside my head.

When my instructor saw me slightly frustrated and lost in what to design, he came and sat beside me, took a marker, and doodled a few lines on the paper. He asked me if I still remembered an installation piece in the Tai Kwun contemporary art gallery in Central. As he drew, he explained that even though the artwork may look simple, it actually encompasses a lot of architectural characteristics and details, which I did not capture on my first visit.

It wasn't until much later that I realized he was referring to an art installation named Nucleus, designed and fabricated by a Hong Kong architecture firm, Beau Architects, in collaboration with an artist, Gabriel Lester.

It was a tiny installation that almost resembled what one would see in the children's playground facility. From the light rays projected from the lights installed at the surrounding structure, the red ribbons emit orange neon lights that encapsulate the tiny space in which it was installed. When the visitor is submerged in the installation, it's almost like one's being situated inside the core of some fruits, highlighting the design theme of the Nucleus.

I discovered two different types of space in this art installation.

(1) The bottom space is more free and open. The hanging ribbon creates a soft boundary, allowing children to play hide-and-seek between the red ribbons. The exterior transparent ribbons use a frosted material, highlighting the diagonal structural components of the stairs on the elevation.

(2) The upper space is very ordered and structural, it's like a mini wraparound corridor. This place allows people to glance at the entire exhibition room and the bottom space from a heightened perspective. Even though there aren't many detailed explanations on the design intention from the official website, I believe that the artists and architect may have taken inspiration from the lightwell structure in Hong Kong residential architectures.

It was almost like an answer to the design topic I was facing, cleverly using the architectural structure to provide an interactive space for both adult and children's activities.

At that moment, I realized that architecture doesn't mean grandiose skyscrapers or unreachable castles.

Even as a small art installation, it can still possess architectural traits. It started from that moment when I began to have unprecedented curiosity and passion for architecture and decided to pursue the field.

Architecture can bring surprises in space. If you are willing to observe and pay attention to details that people sometimes don't notice, you will start to find a much more fun relationship between architecture and people that's beyond your imagination. Design can appear at the slightest and tiniest details, but regardless of how intricate, it can provide a much better experience and fun in life.

Photo Caption and Credits

P1,2,3: Internet

P4,5: Author P6,7,8,9: Nucleus, 2018 Development And Technical Assistance On Gabriel Lester's Sculptural Installation. team: Gabriel Lester/polylester (Artist), Beau (Architect), Buro Happold (Structural Engineer）

Translator: J