Saturday, May 2, 2009
Istanbul!
In our last long weekend, we decided to go visit our other classmates abroad in Istanbul, Turkey. Their abroad program was the full 4 months of the semester and we visited them at the tail end of it, so they were all fully integrated into the culture. Istanbul is a much busier city than Rome. Rome felt very hectic whenever we first got there, but fails in comparison to Istanbul. The effect of the Muslim culture, waking up to the prayers over the loud speakers of the mosques was an interesting aspect. The food there was also very interesting, with a much wider use of meat and spice than in Italian culture. Getting to see our friends for the last time in some cases, was also amazing. Many of us are splitting up next year staying in Auburn, going to Urban studio, or going to Rural studio.
Sperlonga
Our last group trip was to Sabaudia and Sperlonga, seeing a vast range of different Architectural styles in the very axial, ordered fascist look in Sabaudia and the close quarters hill town feel of Sperlonga. We visited the post office at Sabaudia that was completely covered in a beautiful blue mosaic tile. In Sperlonga, we made our way through the ruins of a summer villa of a roman emperor with a fantastic grotto out back near the sea.
Sea Behind the Ruins at Sperlonga
Sea Behind the Ruins at Sperlonga
The Ruins of the Summer Villa
Town of Sperlonga
The GrottoHadrian's Villa and Villa D'Este
On this trip, we went to see Hadrian's villa and Villa D'Este. We had a picnic out on the grounds and had plenty of time to sketch and soak it all in. Afterwards we headed up into the town, and got to roam around the huge gardens at Villa D'Este. The fountains and and greenery were beautifully sloping down the hillside behind the Villa, and these pictures do not do it justice.
Model of the Villa
Perfectly Straight Walls, Showcasing Roman Engineering Prowess
Maritime Theatre
View from the Picnic Area
Off of the Back of Villa D'Este
Beautiful Rows of Fountains
More Fountains
Central Axis through the Garden to the Villa
Model of the Villa
Perfectly Straight Walls, Showcasing Roman Engineering Prowess
Maritime Theatre
View from the Picnic Area
Off of the Back of Villa D'Este
Beautiful Rows of Fountains
More Fountains
Central Axis through the Garden to the VillaVilla Farnese
Sorry for the lack of posting here lately, it got busy and I got lazy towards the end of the stay.
This is the pictures from our visit to Villa Farnese about 3 weeks ago.
Villa Farnese
The Gardens
View over the city
This is the pictures from our visit to Villa Farnese about 3 weeks ago.
Villa Farnese
The Gardens
View over the cityFriday, April 10, 2009
Auburn/Arkansas/Philladelphia Workshop Project!
Finally for my pictures back from the last workshop we were involved in with UArk, and Philly. We were split up into 14 different teams with about 5 people per team. My team consisted of 5 guys, so you know it has to yield an amazing outcome right?
Myself - Auburn
Allen Harris - Auburn
Matt Hoffman - Arkansas
Doug Brewer - Arkansas
Dave Criemer - Philadelphia
Our Project was to design a system of connecting a major transit hub, Piazza Venezia and the new plans for the subway line D that is being currently dug in the area, to the currently unavailable area of Trajan's forum (near Trajan's column) that has been an archaeological dig site for some time. Many groups took a broader approach to the project trying to really open up the site into a piazza almost, and make it a very public space.
Our approach was to attempt to make a minimal move addressing everything required in the program in a single "swath" as we have been calling it. We have aligned the exit of the subway, access to the forum level and also a civic use of being able to cross over the large area as a bridging element, and also make a new direct connection to the current museum of Trajan's Market nearby.
We wanted to use subtle movement through the intervention to facilitate a set of controlled views inside of the forum and also key elements in the area, Trajan's column and Trajan's Market. The place of our intervention was also set along the long axis of the side aisles for the Basilica Ulpia, keeping a clear understanding of movement in that axis, and also bringing up structure for our ramps matching the existing columns and hinting at the scale of the basilica that was once there.
Plan View of the Site and Project
3D Aerial Axon
View from the Direct Subway Conenction Underground
View from the Museum Connection Piece
Myself - Auburn
Allen Harris - Auburn
Matt Hoffman - Arkansas
Doug Brewer - Arkansas
Dave Criemer - Philadelphia
Our Project was to design a system of connecting a major transit hub, Piazza Venezia and the new plans for the subway line D that is being currently dug in the area, to the currently unavailable area of Trajan's forum (near Trajan's column) that has been an archaeological dig site for some time. Many groups took a broader approach to the project trying to really open up the site into a piazza almost, and make it a very public space.
Our approach was to attempt to make a minimal move addressing everything required in the program in a single "swath" as we have been calling it. We have aligned the exit of the subway, access to the forum level and also a civic use of being able to cross over the large area as a bridging element, and also make a new direct connection to the current museum of Trajan's Market nearby.
We wanted to use subtle movement through the intervention to facilitate a set of controlled views inside of the forum and also key elements in the area, Trajan's column and Trajan's Market. The place of our intervention was also set along the long axis of the side aisles for the Basilica Ulpia, keeping a clear understanding of movement in that axis, and also bringing up structure for our ramps matching the existing columns and hinting at the scale of the basilica that was once there.
Plan View of the Site and Project
3D Aerial Axon
View from the Direct Subway Conenction Underground
View from the Museum Connection PieceSunday, April 5, 2009
Weekend Trip to Naples/Capri!
This past long weekend, we took a trip to the coast, staying in Naples and branching off again to different areas around, including Mount Vesuvius and the island of Capri!
Friday we arrived in Naples and spent the day seeing the city, and eating along the waterfront which was amazing.
Saturday was Capri, which was the best day by far. We went across on a hydrofoil in the morning and spent the day wandering around the island trying to catch all the scenic views. We visited the Blue cave which you take a tiny little rowboat into a 3 foot hole, where the sun reflects through the water to make an entirely blue inside. We ate lunch at a cool little cafe with a glass wall overlooking the port, and then we stumbled onto the gardens of Augustus, which was INCREDIBLE! Words can barely describe how pretty this place is, so I will let the pictures do most of the talking. I can say that this island is the most pristine image of Italian culture I have come across yet, and Florence was great, so thats saying something.
Sunday was Vesuvius and the town of Ercolano. We road a tiny little bus up to the top of the mountain, which one of the "seats" was a chair just sitting in the van.... which was sketchy at best. We had to hike with walking sticks up to the top, and walked around the rim of the volcano. A long hike, but very worth it.
and finally the pictures at Capri....
Friday we arrived in Naples and spent the day seeing the city, and eating along the waterfront which was amazing.
Saturday was Capri, which was the best day by far. We went across on a hydrofoil in the morning and spent the day wandering around the island trying to catch all the scenic views. We visited the Blue cave which you take a tiny little rowboat into a 3 foot hole, where the sun reflects through the water to make an entirely blue inside. We ate lunch at a cool little cafe with a glass wall overlooking the port, and then we stumbled onto the gardens of Augustus, which was INCREDIBLE! Words can barely describe how pretty this place is, so I will let the pictures do most of the talking. I can say that this island is the most pristine image of Italian culture I have come across yet, and Florence was great, so thats saying something.
Sunday was Vesuvius and the town of Ercolano. We road a tiny little bus up to the top of the mountain, which one of the "seats" was a chair just sitting in the van.... which was sketchy at best. We had to hike with walking sticks up to the top, and walked around the rim of the volcano. A long hike, but very worth it.
and finally the pictures at Capri....
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Last Project Pictures at Last
Here is a Picture of the first big project that we worked on for about a week or week and a half. It was a study on Sixtus V's urban plan for Rome and our interpretation a certain point of interest. The church in the center is Santa Maria Maggiore, and we focused on 2 Axis that came off of it as our thesis. We used a variety of techniques like hand drawing and water color, as well as acetone ink transfer.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Venice on the Water Bus
Here is a video of Venice when we were heading
to the train station on our way out!
Long Weekend!
Phew! We had a 5 day weekend, and we took advantage of by hitting the road!
We left Wed. after we got back from Ostia, and headed on a train to Florence. From Florence we took day trips to Pisa and Sienna. We stayed in a hostel in Florence that was really nice, and very much enjoyed our stay.
Day 1 Pisa!
We traveled to Pisa on a local train that was about 6 dollars from Florence, and spent about a half of a day there. We visited the Chapel, Baptistery, and famous leaning tower of Pisa. We had lunch and gellato to finish off the visit.
ps. it was warm and cozy this day
Day 2 Sienna!
Friday we took the local train out to a hill town south of Florence, Sienna. It was so cold when we got there, and the wind never stops blowing! We didnt stay there too long because we were miserable and cold when not inside the buses, but we did go to piazza del Campo and the Cathedral/Baptistery before making our way back to Florence enjoying the Tuscan countryside.
Day 3 Florence!
After traveling to the train station and spending our nights in Florence, we thought it was befitting to see the city a little more in depth. We got up early to visit the statue of the David, which was amazing! We all stopped in there to sketch him, but sculptures are really hard to draw we found.... We went to the Duomo of Florence and climbed about 5000 stairs to the top to see the view. This was incredible and well worth the 2 following days of soreness.
Day 4 Venice!
We capped off our trip with a night and half day in Venice. We again stayed in a hostel here, but was not quite as lucky with the nicety. There was about 10 people per room, 30-40 people in the hostel, and 2 bathrooms amongst us. Drunken people wandering in at all hours of the night ended in a few light hours of sleep at best, haha. We got up early and waited in line with 8 people in front of us to take showers, but then finally got out to see the city. We took the water bus to the Doja Palace and went to across the channel to the glass furnaces, and watched a demonstration of how to blow glass. We then made our way back to the station to ride the train 5 hours back to Rome. Home sweet home, our own beds felt good after that.
We left Wed. after we got back from Ostia, and headed on a train to Florence. From Florence we took day trips to Pisa and Sienna. We stayed in a hostel in Florence that was really nice, and very much enjoyed our stay.
Day 1 Pisa!
We traveled to Pisa on a local train that was about 6 dollars from Florence, and spent about a half of a day there. We visited the Chapel, Baptistery, and famous leaning tower of Pisa. We had lunch and gellato to finish off the visit.
ps. it was warm and cozy this day
Day 2 Sienna!
Friday we took the local train out to a hill town south of Florence, Sienna. It was so cold when we got there, and the wind never stops blowing! We didnt stay there too long because we were miserable and cold when not inside the buses, but we did go to piazza del Campo and the Cathedral/Baptistery before making our way back to Florence enjoying the Tuscan countryside.
Day 3 Florence!
After traveling to the train station and spending our nights in Florence, we thought it was befitting to see the city a little more in depth. We got up early to visit the statue of the David, which was amazing! We all stopped in there to sketch him, but sculptures are really hard to draw we found.... We went to the Duomo of Florence and climbed about 5000 stairs to the top to see the view. This was incredible and well worth the 2 following days of soreness.
Day 4 Venice!
We capped off our trip with a night and half day in Venice. We again stayed in a hostel here, but was not quite as lucky with the nicety. There was about 10 people per room, 30-40 people in the hostel, and 2 bathrooms amongst us. Drunken people wandering in at all hours of the night ended in a few light hours of sleep at best, haha. We got up early and waited in line with 8 people in front of us to take showers, but then finally got out to see the city. We took the water bus to the Doja Palace and went to across the channel to the glass furnaces, and watched a demonstration of how to blow glass. We then made our way back to the station to ride the train 5 hours back to Rome. Home sweet home, our own beds felt good after that.
Ostia Antica
On Wed. last week we took a class trip to the coast, where there is one of the best preserved cities from Roman antiquity along with Pompeii. Ostia was the port in which all the goods came into, and were then transported to the center of Rome via horse or boat by river. All the marble that comes into Rome that covered so many famous 
buildings came through this port.
buildings came through this port.
First Project = Finished
This is a space saver for when I get the pictures back for the last project we completed.
We took the Sixtus V urban plan, and analyzed it, forming different hypotheses about more localized portions of the map.
We chose to focus on two roads leading up to the main center point of the plan: Santa Maria Maggiore. We formed our theory based on one of the two major axes in particular: Via Panisperna and how Sixtus aligns the dome of his chapel on axis with the street he created, that connects the political and economical centers of medieval Rome: the Forum, to the center of his new urban plan; and when more closely examined, himself as well.
We used a variety of hand drawing techniques including water color, inking, and acetone transfer to create this piece.
We took the Sixtus V urban plan, and analyzed it, forming different hypotheses about more localized portions of the map.
We chose to focus on two roads leading up to the main center point of the plan: Santa Maria Maggiore. We formed our theory based on one of the two major axes in particular: Via Panisperna and how Sixtus aligns the dome of his chapel on axis with the street he created, that connects the political and economical centers of medieval Rome: the Forum, to the center of his new urban plan; and when more closely examined, himself as well.
We used a variety of hand drawing techniques including water color, inking, and acetone transfer to create this piece.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Studying Santa Maria Maggiore
Here are a few pictures and a video of when We got to go up to the top of S. Maria Maggiore.
Here is a short video of the view we had!
Front of S. Maria Maggiore
Here is a short video of the view we had!
Front of S. Maria Maggiore
On the Move
Hello everyone!
Sorry it has been a few days since my last post, but it has been a busy week! We are just now getting into the core of our first project with visiting professor Karen Rogers, and she has been cracking the whip!
We have been looking more in depth at the "first urban plan" for Rome done by Pope Sixtus V. In particular the area around Santa Maria Maggiore, which is the center point for the plan. Allen, Evie, and I walked the straightened streets of Sixtus and formed our theories as to his intentions. After all that was done, we got lost on the transit system going home and it took us almost 2 hours to get back. =*(
Since then we have been working on a presentation board to display all of our research! We have been doing everything by hand, using water color and acetone transfers. Yes, even I helped water color, and had fun with it. Hopefully I can get a post of the finished product to put up here soon.
We went to the zoo that other day as well, which was very fun! The animals there all looked pretty sad though.... They had sections for injured animals in recovery as well. I thought it was funny that they had a cow there, haha.
The Class at the base of the Spanish Steps.
Sorry it has been a few days since my last post, but it has been a busy week! We are just now getting into the core of our first project with visiting professor Karen Rogers, and she has been cracking the whip!
We have been looking more in depth at the "first urban plan" for Rome done by Pope Sixtus V. In particular the area around Santa Maria Maggiore, which is the center point for the plan. Allen, Evie, and I walked the straightened streets of Sixtus and formed our theories as to his intentions. After all that was done, we got lost on the transit system going home and it took us almost 2 hours to get back. =*(
Since then we have been working on a presentation board to display all of our research! We have been doing everything by hand, using water color and acetone transfers. Yes, even I helped water color, and had fun with it. Hopefully I can get a post of the finished product to put up here soon.
We went to the zoo that other day as well, which was very fun! The animals there all looked pretty sad though.... They had sections for injured animals in recovery as well. I thought it was funny that they had a cow there, haha.
The Class at the base of the Spanish Steps.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Davide Vitali
Italian Instructor that we are lucky enough to have.
He seems very knowledgeable about architecture
and has a cool accent to boot! Turn up the volume
to hear it in the video!
Davide giving us a short lesson on the architecture
of the palace on the Palatine, and the progression
of additions through several different
emperors.
He seems very knowledgeable about architecture
and has a cool accent to boot! Turn up the volume
to hear it in the video!
Davide giving us a short lesson on the architecture
of the palace on the Palatine, and the progression
of additions through several different
emperors.
Visit to the Colosseum
Today we went to the Colosseum and spent a while walking around admiring this massive structure. We had free tickets left from our Roman forum visit yesterday and decided to go take advantage of the free visit to the symbol of Rome while we had it. Us college students can still be economical you see... We all pretty much split our separate ways and cooked in, which we had pasta with a cheese on the inside, yum. A great day overall!
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