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Statement of Purpose
Less is More & Less through More

In appreciating the unique, rigorous and orderly architecture by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, I cannot help appreciating his motto that “Less is More.” As a student of architecture myself, I have always been contemplating how to reach this “less” state and how van der Rohe has attained this state. My conclusion is that, in order to achieve maximum suggestiveness, one has to have a vast knowledge of what to leave out and what to incorporate to achieve the essential simplicity. Van der Rohe was able to attain this simplicity because he has been a great master who knows so much about architecture.

On the verge of completing my undergraduate program in architecture at China University of xx, I am interested in pursuing a Master’s program in Urban Design at the School of Architecture at University . This application is essentially a “less-through-more” act. In urban design, as in architectural design, maximum suggestiveness through simplicity is always desirable and since I have determined to develop myself into a first-rate urban designer, the only way for me to attain this goal is to undertake your highly respected program which will let me really know more about the subject.

Since your program admits students holding degrees in architecture, landscape architecture or planning, I believe I am a worthy candidate for your program. Created 72 years ago as one of the first 8 institutions of architecture in China, our College of Architecture has been consistently ranked among the top of the nation. In such an academic environment imbued with dynamic teaching and research heritage, I have received systematic training in all aspects of architecture theories and design. Though my heavy extracurricular responsibilities as class president for three years and my second degree program in Industry and Business Management diverted an important proportion of my time and energy, I still managed to excel in my proper area of specialization, claiming a GPA of 3.3/4.9, putting me into the top 10% in the entire grade consisting of 57 students. Apart from winning two awards for Academic Excellence and one award for Distinguished Overall Performance, I was three times the winner of the very important xx’s Scholarship, awarded annually to students with outstanding architectural designs.

My study of architecture has undergone an interesting process of maturation. For the first two semesters, our basic coursework mainly featured general introduction of architecture, focusing on how to understand the masterpieces of architectural designs and my concern were idealistically aesthetic. As I entered the sophomore year, I started to do architectural designs of small outdoor environments, teahouses, and villas. My designs were liberal and aesthetically fastidious, unfettered by concerns for complicated structures and functions, displaying amateurish imitations of modernism and deconstructionism. A turning point came in the junior year, when I had to think and design like a real-world architect, my utopian whimsies quickly giving way to serious concerns for striking a balance between the aesthetics and the functional structures. Each design project was a new challenge in which optimum solutions had to be explored.

My transition of interest from architectural design to urban design happened in the second semester of my junior study when I came under apprenticeship of Prof. x x x in his studio. With his discerning eyes, Prof. x x x told me: “You have more talent in two-dimensional designs and in three-dimensional ones.” It was this perceptive observation that made me realize my true potential and I indeed felt increasingly fascinated with general urban space, a more expansive plane area requiring the designer’s capability to creatively solve complex questions. The scale and the sweep of urban design allow for much more room for individual creativity than individual buildings. In Prof. x x x’s studio, most of the projects I have chosen to do are related to urban planning.

A number of other factors have also contributed to my changing interest to urban design. As class president, I have developed my ability as an effective leader and active interpersonal communicator. The training I have acquired from my business administration in social communication, economics, laws, and real estates permits me to evolve a management perspective in undertaking design projects. Urban design entails knowledge of economy, law, ecology, management and, above all, organization and coordination of concerted efforts towards a common objective. This totality perspective required by urban planning is precisely what I excel in.

In September this year, as one of 8 student delegates from our college, I participated in a 9-day exchange program in France—xx—sponsored by xx Institute of Architecture. Throughout our tours of the city’s urban construction, I was struck by the balance between the city’s preservation of history, culture and architecture and its accommodation of modern lifestyle. This experience has been decisive in reinforcing my interest in urban design.

In my paper xx, I have examined many of the evils in the urban planning of the city where our university is located and where I have been living for 23 years. xx, the city with the quickest economic boom in China, still suffers from serious transportation problems and sprawling urban construction despite its past 15 years of urban planning. An ecological approach to urban planning would help create a harmonious working and living environment for my fellow citizens.

I am strongly interested in learning urban planning in the United States. Last Oct., Prof. xx from xx State University at delivered a lecture at our university—xx. Though his lecture, I learned about the age-old history of urban planning in the United States. Since late 19th century, urban planning has evolved into a well-developed academic discipline, with a comprehensive framework of theories and practices. The School of Architecture at xx University at xx is precisely a leader in architecture and urban design. Your program emphasizes the metropolitan urbanism, engages central city, suburban, and exurban development, and integrates architecture, landscape, and infrastructure concepts and principles. Furthermore, your program challenges students to achieve a balance between speculation and pragmatism in order for metropolitan design issues to be addressed in an innovative and progressive manner. All those ideals perfectly match my interests.

Practicing painting as early as 5 years old, I have always loved to pursue beauty. Architecture and urban planning are two applied disciplines that fuse artistic beauty with technology. I believe that your program will bring out all my potential to create beauty through my unique and innovative urban design and, to this extent, your program will be definitely a turning point in my academic and professional development.