Graduate / SOP Social and Cultural Processes in Architecture and Urban Design [3]

Hello everyone, so this is my second essays for my application. This is the prompt from the admission.

Architecture Ph.D. and Master of Science applicants should structure their Statement of Purpose as follows:
• Part 1: Goals (500 words). A statement describing your general academic and career goals, the field(s) in which you would like to study, and why you wish to attend UC Berkeley in particular (you may want to refer to specific classes, faculty, or research projects that interest you). Your ideas should be clear, specific and persuasive.

Please help me to review my writings. Structure, grammar, content anything you find can help to develop my essay. Thank you very much.

GOAL
At the first time I studied about architecture, there was only one perceptible definition that architecture is a physical matter. I learn the technical aspects; how the building can be built, how we manage our project in time, how much the cost of the building. I never know that there is also social aspect of the building or the real situation or how participatory approaches can happen. I believe that architecture not only a subject that is being discussed nor an object that can be seen and touched. Since then, I always tried to contribute into an architectural activism both practically and theoretically outside of classroom to find an alternative views and approaches in architecture.

I was introduced to the term "Beyond Architecture" when I was volunteering for Arkom Jogja, a non-governmental organization whose work focuses on design collaboration with local communities. In this project we have to facilitate communities to return secure their land and to reconstruct their houses. At the first part of the project we try to redefine that architecture is aimed for humanities. Thus, this project emphasize that architecture belong to communities. How we raise the sense of belonging among them is to involve them to create and design their own place. In this point, architect's conventional thinking to see a project from the stakeholder has to be reversed 180 degrees.

My curiosity to understand beyond architecture didn't stop there. I wander what else I can explore from architecture. I conduct several discussion outside and inside of my academics, with and without practitioner and academician, cross and multi disciplinary with architecture as the major and minor themes. I join several exhibitions which are enriching the way I see things over a space.

Looking back through my past experience, it's such a contrary to compare with my current working environment. Working on projects for upper-middle class clients with emphasis on profitable land development and marketable real life three dimensional image renderings didn't excite me as much as the work I did for the community. This is not the type of architecture I want to do. But contradiction brings out sincere part of me, growing the ability to see the world just as it is. Since my point of view changed I started to develop a genuine admiration towards architectural criticism. Those are several major things that I've learn among many other things that I've experienced. Architecture is a life which always evolves as long as civilization and human still exist. The comprehensive understanding of architecture will remain critical to create, to develop and to make a better future.

These experiences have led me to the decision of pursuing a higher formal education. When I decided to pursue higher educational level I wanted to choose a school that could teach me not just how to be a pack of human labor with a complete skill to make a work, but a school that could teach me to become part of the society that will develop over time to make a better life and to remind to humanizing a human.

UC Berkeley's History, Theory and Society program's approach to Social and Cultural Processes in Architecture and Urban Design suits my learning objectives and provide opportunities to grow. As I found that Professor Nezar Alsayyad had a prospective background to support my research interest, I believe with his interdisciplinary area of research and his direct supervision, I will gain insightful perspectives.

Graduate / Social and Cultural Processes in Architecture and Urban Design application essay [3]

I'm preparing my application for Master Degree in Architecture at UC Berkeley and this is the short brief for Personal History Statement:
This essay is a narrative description of your life background in terms of how it has prepared you for this next stage of your studies. It should describe relevant aspects of your life story and achievements, as well as educational and cultural opportunities or circumstances that supported or deprived you of such achievements; family background; economic circumstances; special interests and abilities; and community or social service involvement. Throughout, be selective in describing things that specifically relate to your academic goals and intellectual pursuits. In particular, please be sure to focus on details of your research experience, and how your background has prepared you for the next stage of your studies.

I have always believed that architecture has a hidden dimension beyond the sight of bricks and mortar. The intangible qualities encountered while experiencing a space, carries a dialogue between the architect's intention, context, and the people. Firmly believing in my curious thought, I decided to start my quest in exploring the deeper meaning of architecture.

It was 2014 when I had a conversation with Romo Mangun's. It is peculiar to remember that he died several years ago yet he can tell a story about Sendangsono without his presence. With its purity, Sendangsono which functioned as a pilgrimage able to evoke the grasp to its visitor. It is an example that architecture is not only born within the confines of the boudoir, but also with people's contribution. This spirituality also appear on Kali Code. People lived and worked with each other in a place that gave them sense of belonging and made them feel at home. They shared a remarkably unified existence.The complexity of space in both objects is more than just a manifestation of spatial understanding. There's a compromise, a tolerance as well as resilience. We can feel how lively the atmosphere. Those intangible assets which support architecture to become more than just a building, makes me believe that communities can give a meaningful sense to the built environment.

During my study years in the university I've managed to combine and improve my creative and logic sides and find a perfect balance between them in order to become a good architect. Studying architecture allowed me to reveal and develop my traits and talents and improve my skills not only as an architect but also as a person. My architectural background also allows me to approach designing from a different angle. I know how important every detail can be, but I also know how to look at everything from a further distance and evaluate the context and I understand the importance of it. I see a design project not as an opportunity to reveal my practical skill but more as a possibility to solve the problems and attend the needs of human and the environment. And I think a great design is the one which helps people or the environment, improves it or fixes a problem and does it in a very tasteful and original way. That is always the goal of my designs and that's what I think is Design for the Real World.

Beside my study in the university, I join several communities to apply my practical experience into the real world. In Semarang, the city where I live in, I was involved in an art exhibition Playing Residency #1. The exhibition focuses on the city as a center of complexity. My project is a reflection of today's children's behavior. I questioned correlation between "friendship & nature", which almost gone among children. Our environment doesn't support to interact with nature. And in the end, we begin to create a small library for children to play. The first project with Orat-Oret drives me into another opportunity to join a community research about Jengki. Jengki architecture is a transitional style which is develops during the end of colonialism and the beginning of Indonesia's independence. The exact beginning and ending of Jengki architecture is hard to trace. We try to analyze remain style of the building around Semarang and review synthesis elements of 2 culture in 1 building. With the cross disciplinary background, this research give a new insight from different point of view. And in another opportunity, I join a community architect in Yogyakarta. In there, I can learn how to rebuild in another way, how to create an architecture that doesn't contribute only to the practical and economic aspect of people's lives but also to their social, spiritual and psychological needs.

There's fascinating paradox in architecture which brings me into this journey. It drives me to spent numerous times studying literatures and papers, gaining new ideas and contributing to discussion. These activities had given me a sight to understand more than just a physical matter and equip to embark into wider journey. As I always evolving, I want to continue this exploration with the people who has a philosophical and critical thinking towards architecture and society as I found in UC Berkeley.

Please anyone help to proofread my essay, thank you!