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

Are You Jealous?

Gardens of Augustus View

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....