WINNING ESSAYS:
(April 26, 2010) Winners of the Twelfth Annual BERKELEY PRIZE Essay Competition are announced today by Professor Raymond Lifchez, Chair of the Berkeley Undergraduate Prize for Architectural Design Excellence. This year there is a First, Second, and Third Prize Winner. In addition, two essays have been awarded Honorable Mentions in a special recognition of the authors' efforts.
The winners are:
(First Prize)
Ms. Ishanie Niyogi, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, India: “The Story of a Prison Cell” (US4500)
(Second Prize)
Ms.Tara Gaskin, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada: “The Confederacy Council House at Six Nations Reserve No. 40: A Monument to First Nations Culture and Community” (US3000)
(Third Prize)
Ms. Aimee Sunny, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA: “A High Price for Grandeur” (US2000)
(Honorable Mentions)
Mr. Yiğitcan Karanfil, Bahçeşehir University, Istanbul, Turkey: “Why Would Haydarpaşa Ever Need to be Somewhere Else?" (US500)
Ms. Mehrnoosh Khalooghi, Islamic Azad University of Qazvin and Mr. Ehsan Sakhinia, Islamic Azad University of Ahar, Iran: “The Silk Road Caravansaries: The Forgotten National Identity” (US500)
An introduction to the winners and links to the top essays are found below.
The First Place Prize for the 2010 BERKELEY PRIZE Essay Competition is awarded to:
Ms. Ishanie Niyogi, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, India: “The Story of a Prison Cell” (US4500)
Read Essay
Born in the historic city of Calcutta (now Kolkata), I traversed the length and breadth of my country due to my father’s official postings. As a child I did not much appreciate such frequent moves and separations from my friends at school. But now turning back I do appreciate the impressions they left, enriching me with India’s varied cultures.
Since early childhood I recognized the creative instincts hibernating within me. Thus art, debating, oratorical, singing, dance & dramatics became a way of life with me thus molding, guiding me at every stage to choose a creative career line.
During my final year in high school, after winning a National Debate Competition, my school principal, presented me with a book on Architecture and Cultural heritage. That book was a revelation. Now, looking back as a student of architecture I realize, this exposure to the rich cultural diversity and myriad architectural styles prevalent in India left deep imprints, motivating me to pursue architecture as a professional course.
I truly appreciate architecture that matures with time reflecting its history. But I also look at the current rate at which development adorns which leaves us no choice but to save energy and other resources. I consider saving our architectural heritage and responsible design equal priorities. It was only after I took a course on conservation and heritage management in college that I realized there was a way to integrate both these requirements – adaptive reuse!
Since then there has been no looking back. I have chosen to do my impending final year thesis project on restoration and adaptive reuse and I am planning to intern with firms specializing in these areas. I know I have finally found my niche in the field of architecture and hope to contribute something of significance to the community that has given me so much. I hope to carry the work that started with this essay, and in future give it a more substantial form as an Architect."
The Second Place Prize for the 2010 BERKELEY PRIZE Essay Competition is awarded to:
Ms.Tara Gaskin, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada: “The Confederacy Council House at Six Nations Reserve No. 40: A Monument to First Nations Culture and Community” (US3000)
Read Essay
"I have spent much of my life in Brantford, Ontario. The city was once
a centre of the manufacturing industry in Canada, but the recession of
the 1980s and the advent of the suburban shopping mall in the 1970s
have taken their toll. Many abandoned industrial and commercial
buildings dot the urban landscape. As a result, I have developed an
interest in the sensitive issues surrounding heritage conservation.
Recently, my desire to learn about the Canadian landscape and building
traditions have brought me to Canada's east coast where I study
architecture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. I plan to explore
historical structures and preservation as a thesis topic when I pursue
a Masters degree in architecture.
"
The Third Place Prize for the 2010 BERKELEY PRIZE Essay Competition is awarded to:
Ms. Aimee Sunny, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA: “A High Price for Grandeur” (US2000)
Read Essay
"I believe that my passion for architecture and the art of building was sparked at a very young age. My father is an operating engineer, and throughout my childhood, dinner conversations were almost always linked to stories of his latest project. In school, I particularly loved both math and art; math for its rigid guidelines and structured equations and art as a tool for creative thought and expression. I chose to attend the University of Notre Dame's School of Architecture, primarily for its focus on traditional and classical architecture and urbanism. At the time, I thought these things important merely because of my love of the beauty of old buildings. During the course of my undergraduate education, however, I have come to realize that my attraction to the art of classical building actually springs from something much deeper than exterior beauty. There is a natural order to good classical buildings. The clarity of plan, properly distinguishing a hierarchy of spaces, and a separation yet interplay between the public and private realms all lead to a harmonious experience of the building. The same holds for the facade, with its sturdy base, elegant middle portion, and a finishing feature on top clearly reflecting the order of the human body. Also, as talk about sustainable architecture continues to grow, it is important to realize that classically designed and constructed buildings are the "original green" in architecture, as they are constructed of local materials and utilize low-energy processes for fabrication and construction.
It is this attraction to the classically beautiful and naturally sensible that has also fueled my interest in Historic Preservation. I was privileged enough to spend an entire year studying abroad in Rome, Italy and also traveling throughout Europe. I was struck by the importance that most European cities place on not only preserving, but actually reusing their buildings for contemporary purposes. This realization has led me to abandon the common perception that new is always better and work that others might realize the same.
Next fall, I will enter into the Master of Science in Historic Preservation program at Ball State University in order to further pursue my interests of preservation and sustainability in architecture."
Honorable Mentions for the 2010 BERKELEY PRIZE Essay Competition are awarded to:
Mr. Yiğitcan Karanfil, Bahçeşehir University, Istanbul, Turkey: “Why Would Haydarpaşa Ever Need to be Somewhere Else?" (US500)
"The reason I started studying architecture was that I thought it to be a creative profession and I considered myself as a creative person. Idea of designing, creating something attracted me. Now, I’ve been studying architecture for almost four years and my motives and interests have changed a lot through this period.
I discovered that I usually get too caught up on unimportant points to be an effective designer. I also discovered is that I’m actually a lot more interested in and better at other aspects of architecture such as theory, philosophy, photography and so on.
I have one more year until I graduate. I hope to read a lot, improve myself, and pursue my interests in thinking, discussing, reviewing and taking photos of architecture"
And to:
Ms. Mehrnoosh Khalooghi and Mr. Ehsan Sakhinia, Islamic Azad University of Qazvin, Qazvin, Iran: “The Silk Road Caravansaries: The Forgotten National Identity” (US500)
Mehrnoosh Khalooghi:
"Since I was a child, painting, playing music and sculpturing were my favorites. This strong desire in me made me to choose architecture as my major at university. By the end of this year I will be graduated and I am planning to pursue my education in higher degrees.
At the very beginning I thought architecture was just Avant-garde buildings for special people. As I progressed further in my studies and traveled more around my country, I figured out that architecture is more than just designing luxurious and expensive buildings for aristocracy. It is the matter of people’s comfort and tranquility and the architect’s goal is to create this space for people. I yearn to become such an architect and I will try my best in every moment of my life to achieve my goal."
Ehsan Sakhinia:
"First I chose mineralogy as my major at university, but when I started to work, I see no interest in myself to have activities in this field and actually my inner most is not oriented this way. The fact was that art and anything which is related to fill me with great sense of creativity and amusement. Architecture seemed a right choice for me and I can remember from my childhood that watching buildings during my trips with my family captivated me. I deeply pondered their designs (especially some especial buildings in Isfahan).
Now after 8 years, I am studying architecture. I have decided to become a wise and effective architect. And hope people remember me as a person who has influenced their lives. "
MORE INFORMATION
For further information, visit our Frequently Asked Questions, or email info@berkeleyprize.org.
