So I am applying to a college and one of their entrance essay topics is: Describe an instance or place where you have been inspired by architecture or design.
I did my essay on the Library of Congress in Washington DC and my main point is that I am inspired by the artists' abilities to work together and create something wonderful. However, I think that my essay is kind of impersonal and that it sounds like I am trying too hard (like catering to what I think the college wants the essay to sound like).
Oh, by the way, this is specifically for the school of architecture
That day, I visited the city; not as a Washingtonian, but rather as a tourist. I arrived on 1st Street and looked up at the imposing Beaux exterior of the Thomas Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress. Its size and scope left me in wonder of America's Gilded Age; it was reminiscent of how I have always imagined the typical building of downtown Paris to appear. It was not the outside of the building that inspired me though, with its columns, arches, and ornate designs, but the interior of the Library was what I was in awe of; it was much more grandiose.
As I toured the library, I learned that the intricacies of the walls, ceilings, and staircases were all done for free. The tour guide explained that the completion of the multimillion dollar building had left the government without the funds to address the interior; so, architect Thomas Casey traveled to Chicago where the World's Colombian Exposition was coming to an end, and asked the sculptors, painters, and artist to come and design the building: without pay. This was truly amazing, but the most spectacular part was the fact that both starved and world-renowned artists came together to create something remarkable. On the inside of the building, it is evident that many different styles beautifully mesh to create a larger picture of wealth and prosperity. One hallway may be decorated with putties and cherubs while the next has a ceiling painted in remnant of Michelangelo. Although the works of art are inspirational in themselves what truly inspired me was Casey's ability to tap into available resources and bring an unusually diverse selection of artists together to create something beautiful.
I did my essay on the Library of Congress in Washington DC and my main point is that I am inspired by the artists' abilities to work together and create something wonderful. However, I think that my essay is kind of impersonal and that it sounds like I am trying too hard (like catering to what I think the college wants the essay to sound like).
Oh, by the way, this is specifically for the school of architecture
That day, I visited the city; not as a Washingtonian, but rather as a tourist. I arrived on 1st Street and looked up at the imposing Beaux exterior of the Thomas Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress. Its size and scope left me in wonder of America's Gilded Age; it was reminiscent of how I have always imagined the typical building of downtown Paris to appear. It was not the outside of the building that inspired me though, with its columns, arches, and ornate designs, but the interior of the Library was what I was in awe of; it was much more grandiose.
As I toured the library, I learned that the intricacies of the walls, ceilings, and staircases were all done for free. The tour guide explained that the completion of the multimillion dollar building had left the government without the funds to address the interior; so, architect Thomas Casey traveled to Chicago where the World's Colombian Exposition was coming to an end, and asked the sculptors, painters, and artist to come and design the building: without pay. This was truly amazing, but the most spectacular part was the fact that both starved and world-renowned artists came together to create something remarkable. On the inside of the building, it is evident that many different styles beautifully mesh to create a larger picture of wealth and prosperity. One hallway may be decorated with putties and cherubs while the next has a ceiling painted in remnant of Michelangelo. Although the works of art are inspirational in themselves what truly inspired me was Casey's ability to tap into available resources and bring an unusually diverse selection of artists together to create something beautiful.
