8 . Last July, my parents and I went to visit my aunt and uncle in Seattle, a city on the northwest American coast. Dad did some research and had no difficulty in finding us cheap tickets online.

On the day of our flight, we had to wake up very early. When we checked our bags in, we found that one bag weighed too much, so we had to pay a fine. After that, dad insisted that we go and have some breakfast at the airport restaurant. We had a lot of fun watching many different people there. Then we realized it was getting late, so we rushed to the gate. It took one hour for everyone to get on the plane, but finally the door was shut and we were on our way!

I think my favorite experience during our trip was our visit to Mount Rainier, a volcano near Seattle. It was nothing like I had expected. Before we left, my aunt lent us hats to protect us from getting sunburned, so I supposed that it would be very hot. Imagine my surprise when we drove up the mountain and I discovered the top was covered with snow and ice.!

My uncle led us to a small path beyond the main trails to increase our chances of seeing wildlife. We walked over a small hill, and suddenly before us there appeared a field of snow. Small wild flowers grew up through the snow; underneath the snow we could hear rushing water—a small stream. Little animals stood still to avoid being noticed; tiny birds rose into the air. It was the most beautiful sight that I’d ever seen.

10 . Inspired by his mentor Louis Sullivan, an influential figure in the world of modernist architecture, Frank Lloyd Wright coined the term “organic architecture” around 1908.

Rather than imitating nature or organic elements within the natural world, organic architecture is more concerned with re-interpretation of nature and harmony between the organic and the built environment. It ensures that the individual elements within buildings are put together to reflect the order within nature. Here are four of the most striking examples.

Casa Milà

Location: Barcelona, Spain

Year of completion: 1910

Architect: Antoni Caudi

Considered the greatest master of Catalan Modernism, Antoni Gaudi was devoted to nature and the Catholic religion. While he originally intended this organic building to have a religious purpose, it is now an apartment building. True to the organic style, it features honey shapes that seemingly emerge from the earth.

Learning Hub at Nanyang Technological University (NTU)

Location: Singapore

Year of completion: 2015

Architect: Thomas Heatherwick

Earning the nicknames “dim sum basket building” and “the Hive”, the Learning Hub consists of 12 eight-storey towers arranged around a public atrium (天井). The organic nature of the building extends to its interior with features like gardens that are intended to encourage social interactions and study among students.

Falling Water

Location: Mill Run, Pennsylvania

Year of completion:1939

Architect: Frank Lloyd Wright

A classic of modernism and organic architecture, Falling Water sits on top of a waterfall. Frank Lloyd Wright designed it for the Kaufmann family who—though they had originally hoped for a view of the waterfall-came to love the home.

East Beach Café

Location: Littlehampton, UK

Year of completion: 2007

Architect: Thomas Heatherwick

Located in a seaside area with an industrial history, East Beach Café resembles a piece of driftwood. Forty meters long, seven meters wide and five meters high, it initially polarized locals, but has since been well-received by the whole community. It was the first building for Thomas Heatherwick who previously was better known as a sculptor.