I've been studying in Barcelona for the past couple of months, and the architecture of this city never fails to amaze me. In particular, the work of Antoni Gaudi, the Catalan…

I've been studying in Barcelona for the past couple of months, and the architecture of this city never fails to amaze me. In particular, the work of Antoni Gaudi, the Catalan architect, has blown me away. It's incredible how he used aspects of different types of architecture to create his own unmistakable style. I think this is most evident when looking at the world-famous cathedral, La Sagrada Familia: Gaudi's unfinished masterpiece. What's so interesting about it is that it revolutionised the way people imagined cathedrals, while also staying true to the traditions of the past. When designing the cathedral, Gaudi used some typical features of Gothic architecture, such as spires and rounded windows, called oculi. However, rather than using pointed arches and flying buttresses, which are traditionally gothic, he chose to use columns to support the weight of the structure. These "double-twist" columns, though influenced by Greek, Roman and Baroque styles, were his own original creation. The first time I visited the Sagrada Familia, I was stunned by its one-of-a kind design. It has been under construction since 1882, making it one of the longest ongoing construction projects in recorded Dubai Serik a Nothing quite prepares you for the sense of wonder and awe you feel the moment you set eyes on Dubai's modern landmarks. The sheer scale of them is immense, and I found many of them positively mind-boggling to look at. The first building that really struck me was the 0-14 tower in Business Bay. The tower is twenty-two stories tall, but what's truly impressive is its huge concrete exoskeleton. This outer layer is perforated, in other words it has holes all over it, and so it actually bears a resemblance to an enormous slab of Swiss cheese! But it's not only for show. Apparently, by designing the lateral support structures on the outside of the building, architects Reiser and Umemoto ensured that they could minimise the use of structural supports in the core of the building, and provide more open interior spaces that didn't require load-bearing columns. At first, it might seem a strange idea to create a building that is essentially inside-out, but from the perspective of an architect, it's incredibly innovative. Another building that has made a lasting impression on me is Atlantis The Palm, a huge hotel resort at the apex of the man-made palm islands. The whole area is a feat of design and construction, with Atlantis itself as the spectacular centrepiece. The building incorporates typical Arabian architecture infused with a modern twist that gives it a sense of wonder and adventure. It's a luxury resort and so is adorned with precious stones and shells. There's nothing like it anywhere in the world. Seeing Dubai had been on my to-do list for ages. I'd heard it was unique, but that word simply does not do it justice. It is a spectacle of modern engineering." 11.3.2 Based on information in the text, answer the questions in your own words. 1) What is the importance of the shanyrak? 2)How did Antoni Gaudi manage to combine different architectural styles when designing La Sagrada Familia? 3) Which aspect of Dubai impressed Serik the most?