The Library of Wenzheng College at the Suzhou University was Wenyu’s first work, and it is breathtaking. Not only is it on the water, but floor to ceiling windows look out over a bamboo forest. However, nearly half the library is underground, which I dislike since I need natural light to focus. The materials used on the outside of the building are a lot simpler than her later works and makes me think she was still finding herself as an artist. Now, she seems to be more daring, using millions of different tiles as décor.

The  were completed in 2007 in Hangzhou, China. These apartments remind me of a neatly organized game of Jenga- the way they “sweep” outwards looks like every apartment is stacked on top of another. Each second floor there is a courtyard that extends to two floors up, so each resident can have their very own and feel as if they are lower to the ground than they really are. There is also greenery on the rooftop. I love this concept because it can make residents of a packed city feel a little less crowded and condensed.

Next I chose the , built from 2003-2008 and located in Ningbo, China. The design incorporates the mountains and East China Sea, which is part of Ningbo’s history and culture. Part of the building is in the shape of a boat as an ode to the water and the importance of overseas commerce. The outside walls are either decorated in many tiles sourced locally or decorated with bamboo covered in cement. I’ve never seen anything like it- it looks old but new.

The first work of Lu Wenyu that stood out to me was Five Scattered Houses in Ningbo, China. I was attracted to the clean lines, especially the steep upward slowing roof in one house and that the natural materials were left to look just that. I also read that the structures were built with recycled and local materials, which I think is pretty cool. She designed them in which the natural elements and nature could coexist, which is fitting because they seem like the perfect places to meditate.

Burton is probably the worst building I’ve ever had a class in at OU. From the outside it’s not terrible looking but it is obvious it’s one of the older buildings on campus. But when you enter it feels ancient and like its rotting from the inside out. The air inside feels heavy and damp and the amount of artificial lighting gave me a headache by the time class was over. From the first day I walked in I knew I wasn’t going to enjoy my time spent there and made me think poorly of the class I took there purely because of the poor environment. It also increased my absenteeism because I just couldn’t stand the thought of having to sit in there for two hours and I’m so glad I will never have to go there again! It’s sad because most of its issues could be fixed if it was only taken better care of in the past.

This is the chapel on the grounds of my high school where I spent a part of everyday weekday morning for eight years. I was always proud that this chapel belonged to my school and was constantly aware of how beautiful it was. This is partly because I would zone out many mornings and stare at the ceiling wondering how it was supported or wonder why they chose that specific design for the stained-glass window next to my pew. It was a really special building to me because it symbolized an escape from the typical school day and provided me with time to clear my mind. It’s modern design made it stand out among many churches today and I think it accurately reflects a modern method of worship where people from all different backgrounds can find refuge.

The Botanist in Newcastle is the coolest restaurant and bar I’ve ever had the pleasure to eat at. I was there for my sister’s college graduation with my family, and the environment made it that much more special to celebrate. I was unaware how special of a building it was and expected to be eating at a typical restaurant. I was pleasantly surprised when I walked into a room with a bar at the center that resembled a forest and a towering glass dome for a ceiling lit with strings of lights. It didn’t feel like a typical dinner because the environment created more of a magical experience than a typical dining one. You could look up in the middle of your meal and be mesmerized at the ceiling above you. After dining at the Botanist I felt like most other restaurants take for granted the creativity that could be put into their space and focus soley on the food, not the whole experience.

I first encountered the Liberty Hotel when visiting colleges in Boston. My aunt had taken me and gushed about how cool the hotel was in the weeks leading up to the trip. The Liberty Hotel had once been the Charles Street Jail, built in 1925 by architect Gridley James Fox Bryant, but was converted into a luxury hotel in the early 2000s. Incorporating its origin into the new design, Cambridge Seven Associates worked with preservation architect Ann Beha Architects and developers Carpenter & Company to create a stunning building with accolades to its original use. Some of these include three stories of catwalks that wrap around the massive, towering lobby, lit by silhouettes of tress on the walls behind them. These catwalks now are used as dining spaces. The old shape of the windows were honored and redone, with beautiful circular detailing. There are also huge stained-glass windows towards the ceiling of the lobby that make the space feel even larger, and filter in colorful light. Actually staying in the hotel was a tad eerie knowing of all the prisoners the building had housed for a century before, but I loved the creativity that went into making a hotel out of something so different and it is my favorite hotel thus far I’ve ever gotten to stay in.

https://www.architectmagazine.com/project-gallery/the-liberty-hotel