This hotel and exhibition center really stood out to me. The lines and architecture on this building remind me of something you would see on the Jetsons. Here again we can see the various sculpture elements this designer likes to use on his projects. He put this building off the ground in order to maximize usable space and allow the public to interact more with its grounds. All of the buildings traditional materials like concrete, steel, and glass help to contribute to the success of this futuristic design.

I am seeing a common theme in Calatrava’s work.  He really likes to create different structural forms to represent his projects. The Milwaukee Art Museum has a whimsical aesthetic that he modeled to look like the wings of a bird. His abundant use of steel and glass created a space that highlights its art inhabitants while at the same time tipping its hat to great architecture. The shape of the concrete reminds me of similar modern architecture used in designing airports in the late 50s and early 60s.

What I like about this building is the abundant  use of natural light that the architect highlighted. The building has somewhat of a humanistic look to me.  He used a limited amount of columns to support the project in order to create a openness within the space. The way that people flow so naturally throughout this sculptural form makes the building almost seem like it is a functioning organism.

Santiago Calatrava is a Spanish architect who is mainly known for designing bridges. His bridges are recognizable because they are supported by single leaning pylons. I really enjoyed looking at his “Ponte Della Costituzione” bridge in Italy. His designs have a very futuristic aesthetic, and this bridge does a good job of being modern but blending well with the historic landscape surrounding it.

My family has a cellular tower manufacturing plant in Tulsa, OK. My grandpa bought the plant in the early 1980s when it was abandoned and very run down. He had a vision for it that no one else could see at the time. He turned it into the business that it is today and was constantly trying to improve it while he was alive.  This building is important to me because it shows me how a building can be transformed into something amazing even when it is in rough shape. This building holds positive memories for me. I had my first job doing construction work there when I was 14.

The Biltmore mansion in North Carolina was one of the most amazing buildings I have ever seen. Just the shear size and attention to detail of the project was impressive. The massive house and grounds look like something you would see in Europe. My favorite thing about the Biltmore is how it is like a giant time capsule of how grand architecture use to be. I loved just being on the grounds of the Biltmore it almost felt like you were transported back to a different time and place.

My family has had our lake house on Grand Lake since before I was born. This house reminds me of all of the amazing memories that I have created with my family up there. I have spent every summer there, and look forward to it all year. Just seeing the house always brings up a peaceful and sentimental  feeling for me. Whenever I see it, I feel like I can automatically relax. The house has acted as a place of peace to escape from the chaos of everyday life.

After a long terrible year of living in the dorms I was ready to move into my first apartment in August of 2017. The building has just been completed and me and my roommates would be the first ones to live in our apartment. I remember walking in the front door on move in day and feeling so excited and grown up. For me the building meant a new chapter of my life and a place that would be filled with friends and memories. I have lived here for three years now and it has been nothing but fun. I am actually kind of sad about when I have to move out this August, but the building will always hold a special place in my heart.