Faith

I believe expressing one's faith through architecture and design is one of the purest forms of expression you can portray. You are creating something completely in honor of something that is above you, that has no real proof of being real, yet you look to that higher "god" for guidance and strength. Being Catholic, I have been raised to go to mass every Sunday, pray when needed, and always look to God for help. With a very religious stepfather, I have seen many churches in my day. I always find myself sitting in the pews looking up and around at my surroundings because no church is the same. In high school, I took a human geography class, that for a semester focused completely on different religions. I learned that all religions create some variation of design or architecture in honor of their "god" or "gods". Although they all have that in common, every religion is different in their portrayal. Some have temples, mostly in Asia, that are very exquisite in form and color. Cathedrals are very popular in the Christian faith and have very similar gothic architecture, especially in Europe. I have found the best way to express one's faith is in an over-the-top way, showing as much respect as possible.

I chose the Wat Arun in Thailand for its amazing architecture and use of light. I find Hinduism fascinating along with how over-the-top their places of worship are. My brother went to Thailand this past year and I was so jealous of all the beautiful temples and buildings he got to experience.