Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Sample For Statement of Purpose
Sample For Statement of Purpose
Allen Brooks Travelling Fellowship
Statement of Purpose
Academic Background
M.Arch in Theory and Design gave a lot of exposure and career options to pursue, such as an academician,
architecture journalist or work as a practitioner. I chose to work as a professional to incorporate the studied
theoretical expressions into the design process and then realize it. Also, I felt a need of improving myself in the
practical field, so that I can instill a sensible approach towards a project.
While maintaining a balance between theory and practice, I came across this fellowship on SAH website which
I felt is appropriate to revive and realize some part of the course structure I studied at CEPT University,
Ahmadabad. The institution being in Ahmadabad has a great influence of the ideologies of the Modern
Masters, i.e. Le Corbusier and Louis I. Kahn. So, the first semester of the course structure was based on
understanding the philosophy of these modern architects and re‐designing their buildings in 21st century. This
studio also included a profound study about the issue of fragments in architecture which included scholarly
articles by architectural historians Prof. Neil Levine and Prof. Mary McLeod.
Along with the intense design studio, there was also a copious revelation of the theoretical texts in
architecture which gave a chance to read the writings of the people like Adolf Loos (Ornament and Crime),
Juhani Pallasma (The Thinking Hand), N John Habraken (The Structure of the Ordinary), Norberg Schulz (Genius
Loci), Louis I Kahn (Between Silence and Light) and Le Corbusier (Towards a new architecture).
The second semester followed up with the idea to study various layers of history. Sites like Pompeii, Louvre,
Florence Cathedral, and St. Peter’s Basilica were chosen to perceive various attitudes to new interventions.
Also, brief lectures from Gothic to Neo Classical architectural styles were quite instigating to aspire to visit
these buildings. Moreover, in third semester many historic buildings were studied with an issue related to new
urbanity which gave a new meaning to these places in present scenario. Physical and non – physical
parameters were discussed in detail to understand the nuances and dynamism of an urban space which
changes with time and the activities. Also, subjects like approaches to sustainability and structural
conservation highlighted various initiatives to sustain the built environment in this rapid changing urban
world. These varied insights developed an interest to peek into various aspects of architecture. And, I always
tried to inculcate these theoretical values in my studio projects as well.
My research thesis aimed at studying a self taught architect’s initiatives and design methodologies including
the collaborative processes initiated with the craftsman, to cater to the pertaining issues that are leading to
the decline in vernacular architectural practices. Fortunately, I also got an opportunity to present the same at
the International Seminar for Vernacular Settlements which was held at Istanbul last year. The whole
experience of city of Istanbul was overwhelming and moreover sharing thoughts with co‐presenters and
eminent professors like Prof. Nezar Al Sayyad and Prof. Attilio Petruccioli.
Career Goals
I worked on numerous documentation and adaptive reuse of the historic structures in places like Vrindavan,
Jaipur and Pondicherry, India. Also, I worked on projects built in adobe in Himachal Pradesh, which had main
concern to acknowledge the traditional vernacular while meeting the contemporary needs. Currently, I have
been working on urban level institutional projects which are giving me an experience of the new development
initiatives. These projects with varied design approaches and material experimentation continue to inspire me
to develop a deep sensitivity to merge the old and the new. In future with an aim of my own professional
studio, I also plan to work towards sharing my analytical thoughts through medium of writing papers and
articles.
I am quite intrigued with the knowledge and practical experience I have gained and would like to further
augment it through my voyages. Through this fellowship, I plan to travel to France which is quite rich in its
history of art, culture and architecture. The places which I plan to visit have been researched thoroughly over
many years, but for me it will be a novel experience to reappraise the history from Gothic to Modern
architectural style. My basic objective is to develop a skill of analyzing them through travel novels and
sketches. It will not only help me decipher the layers of history but also re‐contextualize the whole setting
through my observations and sketches. This would also help me understand how various architects translate a
contextual inspiration into their designs.
Also, longing interest developed from an Asterix comic of seeing a Gaul village will be fulfilled by travelling to
the villages of France. I would like to study the building traditions that are passed on to succeeding
generations and the changes that occur with collective wisdom as per the changing society needs. Through
this fellowship, I want to re‐live the learning’s in architecture and enrich my experiences to translate them into
my design processes.