The Statue of Liberty was created by sculptor, Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, in Paris, France. The statue was finished in 1884 and then shipped to the United States in 1885 where it still stands today. The pedestal has elements of Greek architecture as well as Aztec motifs. The first thing that stands out to me about the Statue of Liberty is the color of the lady. After research I learned that the statue is green because it is layered in copper that changed colors over time. I think it is remarkable that they could build a statue of that size during a time period without advanced technology. Altogether, this statue represents the United States in many ways and was remarkably built in a time that lacked modern technology.

Citation:

Statue of Liberty (1870-86). (n.d.). Retrieved March 2, 2020, from http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/architecture/statue-of-liberty.htm#architecture

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.

The Chesapeake Energy Arena, formerly known as the Ford Center, is the home to the NBA team the Oklahoma City Thunder. The arena was built by The Benham Companies architecture firm. The building broke ground in 1999 and was completed in 2002. This building has played a huge role in my life in multiple ways. My father and I have shared a passion for the Oklahoma City Thunder and so every time I encounter the building it brings me back to my childhood. The interior of the building has changed over the years and has recently been renovated in certain parts. Altogether, this building is something that I have created a connection with through the NBA team and it will always bring me back to my childhood.

Citation:

Chesapeake Energy Arena. (2020, January 30). Retrieved March 2, 2020, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chesapeake_Energy_Arena

This, is an image of the notorious, Bizzell Memorial Library, located in Norman, Oklahoma. This building consists of 5 floors, 88,000 sq feet, and was inspired by Gothic or Cherokee Gothic designs. Bizzell library, has made its mark in many levels, as it remains the largest research library in the state. In addition, the Bizzell library, has received three national awards from, Library Journal, for transforming the role of Librarianship. Although, there are many positive things to say about this building, that isn’t quite how I truly feel. While waking on the south oval, I am reminded of all the stress, late nights, and overall internal frustrations I had while studying in this library. On the same token, it also resembles all the hard work and assignments I had accomplished. So with that being said, I guess my feelings aren’t completely biased, but the negative vibes are definitely present.

“University of Oklahoma Libraries.” OU Libraries Facts | University of Oklahoma Libraries, libraries.ou.edu/content/ou-libraries-facts.

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

One of the coolest places I’ve ever been to was Shuri Castle in Okinawa, Japan. Shuri Castle was originally the palace to the Ryukyu Kingdom from the 1400’s to the late 1800’s. The castle also has history of being destroyed, one of the occasions being during the Battle of Okinawa in World War 2. It was by far one of the most culturally beautiful places I’ve seen. Standing in front of the main part of the castle in the open field was an experience that can’t be explained. The colors and images on the castle itself were a sight to see. The history behind the castle was crazy to think about while being there. People lost their lives there during the War, which made it almost seem to be a memorial due to all the people visiting and showing their respect. Sad to say, the castle burned down late 2019 leaving many people devastated. I’m glad to have gotten the chance to visit it.

This image, portrays a visual depiction of what the exterior of the, Chesapeake Energy Arena, looks like. This construction project, started in early 1999, and was completed on June 8th, 2002. The architects that were trusted with this project, were from, The Benham Company. The arena consists of a total of 586,000 sq feet, and is home to the Oklahoma City Thunder (NBA team). Every time I encounter a picture of this massive building, it immediately brings me back to my childhood. I loved coming to the games with my father, and I never remember having a dull moment while in that building. Hence, this building is very symbolic of my childhood, and represents quality time I had with my father.

Chesapeake Energy Arena. “Fast Facts.” Chesapeake Energy Arena, www.chesapeakearena.com/about-the-arena/fast-facts.

The Seattle Space Needle is not only a tourist attraction, it’s also a symbol to the people of Seattle. When I was younger, I lived in the great state of Washington and was able to visit the Space Needle several times during the 3 years that I lived there. In January 2020, after over 10 years, I was able to fly back up to Seattle and of course revisit the Space Needle. Needless to say, it’s got an amazing view at the top as well as several popular attractions around it. To me, it holds a special place in my heart due to the nostalgia of practically growing up around it. When I finally was able to revisit it this past Christmas break, I was overall happy to be back after so long. One fact about the Space Needle in Seattle is that it was originally meant to be temporary when first built but ultimately was chosen to remain where it still stands today.

The Notre Dame Basilica of Montreal is one of the most beautiful pieces of architecture I have ever been lucky enough to witness. From the outside, its soaring towers seem majestic and intimidating. However, once inside a warm plethora of colors bombard the viewer. I was in Montreal for a cousin’s wedding and we happened to stop by this amazing church. It was my first time inside such a grand cathedral and I was in awe at the craftsmanship of the building. Each column is ornately detailed with different figures and colors, and the height of them draws the eye up to the breathtaking roof. The church is massive inside with multiple side chapels joined to the main nave. It was built in 1829 and the engineering feats that were accomplished to build this grand cathedral still amaze me. While I wasn’t lucky enough to see a service performed, the sheer beauty of the architecture will stay with me forever.

I have lived at this house since in Edmond, OK since I was in the third grade. I have made a lot of memories at this house that are mostly good. Just growing up with here and all the times I spent hanging out with my friends here is something I will always remember.