RISTA SHRESTHA

With the exhibition taking over 3 floors in the gallery, Chihuly's extensive range of work can be seen from his large chandeliers and glass towers hanging in the lobby space, the loudest, boldest and largest of his works, to the brash neon paintings [being exhibited for the first time in the UK].

The eerie feeling is accentuated when the installation grinds to a halt and you are submerged in darkness, which is both nerving and claustrophobic. The lights come back on but not as a solid beam but a circular light with a hollow middle, almost like a UFO. The metallic chimes become faster and heighten and the motion of the 'torches' are more diffused. 

Installations by Grafton Architects, Diébédo Francis Kéré, Kengo Kuma, Li Xiaodong, Pezo von Ellrichshausen, Álvaro Siza and Eduardo Souto de Moura 

My favourite piece by far was the well deserved second prize winner, aquadocks - a swimming pool and spa proposal for the Royal Docks area. The proposal is highly spatial and sensory which can be seen through the installation found at Somerset house. Through the installation and the beautiful visualisations you get a clear sense of the intended atmosphere within the proposal.

Gwyneth Leech only paints on used cups, either her own or those kept for her by friends; avoiding waste through art. The cups are preserved through an encaustic process, similar to what the Romans used to preserve artwork on tombs, after working on them with gouache, watercolour, oil paint or Faber-Castell art pens. The cups are graphic and colourful, depicting street scenes, people, architecture or park landscapes. On the base of every cup, along with her signature, she writes the date, location, occasion and beverage consumed, so that each cup becomes a record of a social moment. The store Anthropologie invited Leech to create an exhibition similar to Hypergraphia [a previous exhibition in New York] working in the brands store window for five days in front of the public eye. 

28.280 is a custom made chandelier, hung from the cupola [the highest point of the V&A.] The installation spans over more than 30 metres and is made up of 280 individual 28 series glass pendant lamps. Each lamp is handmade at Bocci's glass factory in Canada using a fabrication process developed by Arbel. The 28 pendants are a result of complex glass blowing technique whereby air pressure is introduced and then removed from a glass matrix which is heated and then rapidly cooled. Thus resulting in a distorted spherical shaped. 28.280 was designed as part of London Design Festival.

A dramatic gateway of 5000 paper windmills turning in the breeze. A playful walk through installation drawing in light and wind into the galleries. Each windmill is hand made and attached to a plastic tube using custom made 3d clips. Air is release through tiny apertures in the sides of the tubes whereby each leak is directed towards the sails of the windmill on an adjacent tube, causing the windmill to turn. A computer programme controls which pole releases air, causing ripples of movement across the installation. The lighting is also controlled to brighten and dim as though the installation is breathing. The wind portal was designed as part of London Design Festival. 

Through the exhibition there are various themes pointed out detailing Roger's beliefs and projects, along with models, thought process' [extracts from his books] and drawings. Each of his collaborations are pointed out, showing the team work and the thought process behind some of the biggest buildings he's designed, such as the Pompidou centre and Lloyds of London. 

The hardwood sculpture consists of 187 steps divided into separate sets of stairs which can be assembled in various configurations, allowing the public to explore climbing in aimless directions to reach a view of the Thames river, St Paul's cathedral and the Shard. 

This pavilion could possibly be my favourite pavilion to date, the grid like structure is highly enticing and intriguing. The stark contrast of the dense frame to the sparse park, leads the pavilion merging with the surroundings, a merge of the natural and the man made.

The second board shows most of my final designs showcasing the most public and social realm within the proposal, through sections and axonometric drawings. 

More beautiful views of Kathmandu and one of the most famous temples in Kathmandu, Swayambhunath, also referred to as the monkey temple. Swayambhunath, also referred to as a stupa consists of a dome which is a cubical structure with eyes painted on representing the Buddha looking in all four directions. 

The architecture in Nepal is forever changing, rapidly, but what I love the most is the tradition architecture found in Bhaktapur. This kind of architecture is getting lost as the years go by, with buildings becoming so old they fall apart or being demolished. Some of the ideas that can be seen in their architecture is something we no longer see, especially in already developed countries. The intricate wooden details within the columns and handles are becoming so rare, it should be something that is treasured and preserved. The beauty seen in these types of buildings are not done justice in photographs, but is something that needs to be witnessed in person. 

A recent holiday to Nepal. I have chosen some of my favourite photos ranging from views of Nepal to various temple visits. 

Le Fresnoy, Lille France. Designed by Bernard Tschumi - A studio of contemporary arts. Tschumi has described the project as 'a series of boxes in a box'

Sketches of St Maurice Church in Switzerland 

Rolex learning centre, Lausanne Switzerland. Designed by Sanaa - A university study centre open to both students and the public. The building most renowned for its shape, is spread over a single fluid of space, providing a seamless network f services ranging from libraries, study spaces, restaurants and social spaces. Through the use of gentle slopes this forms a disjointed rectangle when drawn in section.