dm-8 - Tumblr blog

[dm-8]

Blog 18, Jan 22: the question concerning Tectonic. Tectonic in architecture refers to the science or art of construction, both in relation to use and artistic design. It is the activity that raises building to an art form. With this definition in mind, select your favorite structure on this trip so far and discuss its tectonic

Having been assigned and presented upon Montpellier’s Town Hall I have a personal bias for the structure, but at the same time it has a very unique tectonic aspect. Although the shape of the structure is relatively rudimentary, the building is nothing further from simple. From the base, Jean Nouvel essentially built this contemporary masterpiece into the ground of which it lies. Despite it being that of a contemporary with a main outer layer of glass and steel claddings, the eastern base and atrium has that of a river bed woven into the building design. With the Lez river running about 40 yards away and a water feature at the bottom of the atrium, Nouvel weaves the essence of water into the foundation of the building and allows it to flow freely rather than deny its existence. This smooth transition really helps to play into the context of the surrounding area. Instead of having a jarring 11 story cube at the center of an open field, Nouvel allows for more of a slower transition with gravel walkways that eventually lead up into the building's foundation. Nouvel is a master at understanding the context of a local area or region and playing into its strengths in order for a building to not only complement the surrounding area but improve it as well. The use of the steel claddings and glass help to facilitate the manipulation of light and provide almost a Tetris look to the structure. Each window pane and cladding fit perfectly together so that there isn't any faulty piece or jarring piece that catches the eye. The building is just as aesthetically pleasing as it is unique.

[dm-8]

Blog 12, Jan 15: Compare & contrast the significance & signification of water in our travels so far, in terms of a) influencing cultural identity, b) molding social interactions, & c) constraining transportation. Think of water in a broad sense (water features, rivers, sea, etc.).

A major difference upon arrival in Nice was its position on the water and the overall vibe of the city. Compared to Rome and Florence, which were very similar to London and Paris (both of which I had visited before abroad) being cities on major rivers, this was my first time visiting a city that was on the mediterranean. It was apparent that mobility within the city was much more possible especially with the water access and it had somewhat of a less claustrophobic feel to it, since you had the ability to escape the buildings and walk along the beach. In terms of social interactions, almost all the cities we visited were mainly walking cities, Florence being the top one by far. In my opinion I didn’t really see water playing as big of a role transportation wise within the city itself with the exception of Venice, which I saw before the trip and was able to use the water taxi. But yes there were visibly a lot of boats that insinuated the ability for locals to venture out to other parts of the mediterranean with ease in both Nice and Montpellier; however, this did not affect my personal experience or change my personal modems of travel. 

Overall though something we tend to forget is that everything that has been built from what we visited originates back to the presence of water. All the major cities we saw reside either on a major river or on the Mediterranean itself, resulting in grandiose structures due to civilizations having been around for hundreds of years. Some cities lacked the necessary clean water needed and as a result a major aqueduct is built for this need. It is something we tend to not outwardly address but the presence of water can be seen as the main instigator of all these great cities and structures we’ve come to learn of and love today. 

[dm-8]

Blog 13, Jan 16: When observing Pont Du Gard reflect on the presence of the Roman Empire throughout the places you have seen so far during our course. Focus primarily on Roman ingenuity and how it contributes to the current built environment fabric as preserved traces or standing structures.

A truly impressive aspect of the Roman empire, as I realized throughout our travels, was the sheer vastness of it all. For us modern day humans, with the ability to cover hundreds of miles in a day through the use of modern day highways systems and buses, over the course of 20 days we were still unable to go beyond the empire’s reach back at its peak. In addition, the pace of which we traveled over those 20 days felt extremely fast that I can’t imagine how 2000 years ago Rome was able to efficiently navigate such vast territories. The fact that a civilization that long ago was able to master the territory it covered and completely influence other nations and cities is a true testament to how ahead of their time they were. Although the course is not about the history of Rome, you can’t help but think back to them as with almost every city there is some structure or ruin attributed to the Romans. Even in Paris, the furthest city from Rome that we visited (around 900 miles) there was still the ancient ruins of city walls. Even today many romanticize (no pun intended) the use of arches and the different column orders because they elicit power and influence as did the Romans. Every time they conquered a new land or city they completely revolutionized how the local people operated through their technological innovations and culture. The Pont Du Grand is a great example, as the town of Nimes lacked fresh water, so the Romans built a 155 foot aqueduct so the citizens could have access to it. It’s examples like this that do make sense in nature, but the fact that people 2000 years ago were able to solve this issue so effectively that the structure still stand to this day is truly mind boggling and is a testament to the Romans ingenuity and mastery of construction architecture and technology.

[dm-8]

Blog 14, Jan 18: Describe Gaudi's aesthetic and discuss how it influences emotion in Parc Güell. Take a picture or sketch “your moment” and describe how the architecture moves you.

Although it may be a cliche, the archway that resembles a wave “pipeline,” as surfers refer to it, was the most notable aspect of Gaudi’s aesthetic in Parc Güell for myself. Despite the materials being that of stone and “hard” the motion and angles Gaudi orients them truly elicits the feeling of movement. As you walk down the hallway you feel as though you are in fact riding a wave, with the pressure from overtop it naturally makes you want to climb up with the side in order to gain a sense of balance. In terms of emotions I’d say it definitely can instigate a euphoric feel as you walk out from underneath the crashing waves of stone and concrete. You feel as though you are free from the crushing weight and that you have seemingly escaped the inevitable crash. It is one of the coolest architectural spaces I have interacted with and it truly is impressive how Gaudi was able to elicit such movement and emotions solely through a physical structure. Like how a wave forming and crashing is almost a parable of life, how the tiniest of movements can create momentous forces that eventually die out; Gaudi captures this in a single moment and allows us to move through it experiencing every detail of what would be a split second. When looking at it, it naturally makes you want to shift your head to toward the inside, like Gaudi is playing with our innate desire to attain balance. It is aesthetically please but also infuriating.

[dm-8]

Blog 11, Jan 14: architecture can often be experienced as a series of moments along a guided or meandering sequence. Find a moment that speaks to you at Fondation Maeght, take a picture or draw a sketch and discuss why it is meaningful.

While at Fondation Maeght, I found myself experiencing the architecture in the front courtyard. I can specifically remember the serenity of the setting, watching the little school children run around with an abundance of energy as their teachers attempted to corral them. I sat at one of the cafe tables outdoors and viewed the front lawn and the sculptures that took up its space. Beyond the wall of the complex you could see the vast blue sky as the compound sat on a hill. You felt elevated and distant from other aspects of the world, but not alone. As I sat there I noticed a black triangular sculpture behind a tree and was intrigued by its movement. I began to attempt to sketch how I saw it. I admit I’m not the best artist so it takes a lot of patience for me to do it, but given the setting I felt I could slow down and truly focus on the art in front of me and try to display its image on paper. As I continued to draw I continued to find missing pieces I hadn’t originally noticed to which I added the details. Again I want to preface that I am not a great artist, so I’m sorry to disappoint, but it was the attempt I put forth that definitely helped me remember the setting and the details associated with it. I can almost feel the semi cold air against my face as I breathe it in. When I look at the picture I took and the drawing I made, it almost feels like I can transport myself back to that place and moment in time.

[dm-8]

Blog 9, Jan 12: That’s Italian! Styles in architecture know no boundaries., find and discuss 3 distinct elements or features of Nice’s built environment that are clearly influenced by italian architecture. A clue, these influences can occur at various scales (details, formal composition and spatial organization).

Given the nature of the mediterranean and the overarching influence of the roman empire, it is only natural for countries neighboring Italy to have similar architecture. Upon first entering France, one of the first details I noticed was the use of public spaces. Called Piazza’s in Italy, many of these quarters in France are called squares and the help to cultivate the interaction of humans throughout the spaces they live. In particular, during our first day in Nice when going through the green pass process, there was a park right next to our hotel. Instead of going back to our rooms waiting for the paperwork to be processed, many students chose to go across the street and interact with the park and the features it provided such as the weaving pebble walkways and the trees at the center. 

 In terms of formal composition, as we walked through Nice on the first day, we saw many buildings that had Italian influence. Within the facade, the building had double columns which is a uniquely Italian detail. In addition to composition, the Roman’s were heavy into the utilization of concrete as a building material. They realized that it was much stronger to use compared to marble and they were actually able to create it on site. This is in comparison to marble which you would have to find rough and transport it. Many Nice buildings utilize the use of concrete and can be seen on many facades throughout the city. The ability to create ascetically pleasing designs in an effective and efficient manner is main similarity seen between these countries. 

[dm-8]

Blog 17, Jan 20: Discuss the culinary differences and similarities between the cities, regions and countries we have visited so far. Be specific by comparing and contrasting ingredients, food preparation and presentation styles.

In Italy, the concept of multiple courses is a deep-seeded part of their culture. First there's the antipasto, then primi piatti, then the secondi piatti. The antipasto includes foods like cured meats, olives, peperoni, mushrooms, anchovies, artichoke hearts, various cheeses (such as provolone or mozzarella), pickled meats, and vegetables in oil or vinegar. Next is the primi piatti which consists of some sort of pasta dish and finally the secondi piatti which is the main course consisting of some type of meat or fish. The meals are extremely filling but the variety you receive is amazing, everything was fresh and I’m not sure I had a meal in Italy I didn’t like. In France, we started off hot with duck as our first meal. It was the one and only course we had along with bread that came before. It was much more in line with the American process of food ordering. In Montpellier we had fish for the first time as a main course with Cod our first night, it was my first time trying it and it wasn’t too bad. In Spain I feel many of my classmates, myself included, had a warped sense of reality having associated Tex Mex food in America to being the same as Spanish food. Everyone was trying to figure out why burritos or quesadillas were not as prevalent as they imagined. In terms of the meals we did have the meatballs for lunch along with the fried ham and cheese bites which tasted delicious (despite the owl.) At one restaurant I went to we had these brie ball bites with jelly that I’ve never had anywhere else other than Burlington Beer works back at Elon so it was funny that those are my only two comparisons I have in mind now (it too was delicious). Overall the food everywhere we went was amazing, I went into this trip not wanting to be picky and making sure to eat all meals provided. I made sure to stay true to this promise I made myself and I’m glad I did.

[dm-8]

Blog 10, Jan 13: Compare and contrast your first impressions of France with those of your stay in Italy.

In terms of first impressions, one thing I first picked up on after having been in Italy is how France does not accommodate the English language as much as Italians. I’m not sure if the reason is for less major tourist attractions, therefore they have less Americans coming through allowing them to not cater to the needs of english speakers or if it is just a cultural thing. Regardless, an example of this is when I went to a pizzeria that had an American name with some friends and despite the title of the restaurant the entire menu was in french. It was extremely difficult to figure out what we wanted due to the waiters inability to speak English and even our google translate app struggling. Another example was in Montpellier we had a group dinner at the hotel, where one would assume given the nature of a hotel English would be well received. Despite this notion, when attempting to order we ran into the same issue with a menu that lacked any English and a waiter who knew none. In regards to the actual food we ordered, when in France we finally transitioned from pizza and pasta with duck as our first meal in Nice (which I thoroughly enjoyed) along with an assortment of pork, steak, and grilled chicken sandwiches when we had lunch on the beach. I do enjoy pizza and pasta, especially what we had in Italy, but it was nice to switch it up. In terms of the architecture, it felt almost softer and warmer in a sense. This could potentially be attributed to the great weather we had when visiting Pisa and Nice compared to Rome and Florence; however, you could tell there was a relatively more current design to facades and overall more vibrant colors rather than only on rooftops. 

[dm-8]

Blog 7, Jan 10: describe the size, layout, and uses of at least two of Florence's outdoor public spaces. Include at least two pictures from different angles for each space.

In Florence, there are two main areas that come to mind: the Piazza della Signoria (courtyard outside of the Palazzo Vecchio) & the Piazza Santa Maria Novella. In terms of size, the Maria Novella is around 400ft in length and 250ft at its widest width. It has an open feel to the plain and benches are abundant throughout the walkways in the piazza. There is no main centerpiece at the courtyard center but rather two main pillars on either end that stand around 50 feet tall. At the base, 4 bronze turtles seem to hold up these pillars on the backs of their shells bearing all of its weight. As we walked through this courtyard on the way to the Santa Maria Novella, our tour guide Anna pointed out that this public space used to be the center for chariot races in Florence and that the pillars were actually the markers for each end of the track and where they would have to turn around. In comparison to the Piazza della Signoria, it has much more of a square space, rather than an oval. Although it may not necessarily feel smooth in terms of the flow of people, given that it is at the center of multiple crossroads, it is a convenient place for an opening within the walls of the city. Some of these crossroads include the Palazzo Vecchio at the center (a replica of David and statue of Neptune stand at its gates), traffic from the Ponte Vecchio from the south, and a main street from the Duomo from the north. All of these pathways lead to the Piazza della Signoria, which is why some call it the center of the city, where you will find a large number of people regardless of the time of day.

[dm-8]

Blog 6, Jan 9: take a picture, or use a picture YOU have taken on this trip, of your favorite facade. Identify its architectural elements, describe how it interacts with the built environment surrounding it and explain why you are drawn to this structure’s facade.

Of all the facades I have seen so far while in Italy, I would say the facade of St. Peter’s Basilica has been the most impressive and a personal favorite of mine. Given the significance as the center for the catholic religion and the history behind it’s creation, I already felt it had a great impact on myself simply just being in its presence. In terms of its physical features the facade incorporates massive Corinthian columns that are extremely ornate. From the outside going inward the facade protrudes outwards at difference sections and provides layers of depth for us to observe. Not only is it ascetically pleasing but it feels as though the building is reaching out to you in order to come inside. At the highest point of its facade are statues of popes apostles and saints the line the roof looking down at those who wish to enter. As I mentioned, as the center for the catholic religion the amount of wealth is apparent with every aspect of the structure being luxurious and ornate. The facade also include seemingly 3 sets of 2 story high doors (along with other smaller ones in between) making access into the basic fairly easy. On the third level are balconies with arches windows behind them. Overall the structures is made up of concrete and marble and has a classic look. For the importance St. Peter’s Basilica has it truly shows through its structure and the details the follow.

[dm-8]

Journal/ Blog Post 2:

2: Colosseum column orders - list characteristics

When visiting the colosseum we noticed the heavy use of arches and columns as the basis of which the structure stood. From the ground up each level of columns became more intricate going from Tuscan (Roman Doric), to Ionic, the Corinthian. In terms of the characteristics, all the columns where smooth at the shaft portion and were not grooved/ fluted. In terms of the Tuscan characteristics, the base is wider than then the upper portion to give off the affect of sturdiness and balance. It’s not fluted nor ordained, specifically when looking at the capital . The next level included the ionic order of columns. A main difference in these columns from the Tuscan was the rounded nature of the capital. The shafts remains the same with not being fluted. Despite the structure being 2000 years old, some of these capitals still remain and can be seen in the picture I will share below. Finally, in terms terms of the Corinthian style, this order of by far the most ornate and is the tallest of the 3 rows of columns in the colosseum. The bases and columns remain similar to the other levels and orders, but the capital is much more decorated. They are usually “distinguished by a decorative, bell-shaped capital with volutes, two rows of acanthus leaves and an elaborate cornice” (AOC.Gov) Overall the colosseum is an impressive structure and its ability to incorporate all major column styles at the time of its creation has made it one of the most iconic structures in history.

[dm-8]

Journal/ Blog post 5: Identify and discuss a distinct cultural difference between Rome and Siena

After having viewed both Rome and Sienna it gave me a better understanding of the development of Italy along with the impacts the Roman Empire had during the time of its reign. Despite them not being too far from each other due to today’s improved transportation, their distance in history affected their development and it was intriguing to see how this is still a factor in their differences today. A main difference culturally that I noticed between Rome and Sienna was the overall layout and design of the cities. For Sienna, I had many classmates comment on the fact of the buildings and architecture being that of the Italy they imagined before going abroad. Unlike Rome which had larger tourist attractions and an overall higher population, Sienna was seemingly more of a town where walking was the only option to travel. Although Sienna is a city, you could definitely feel the difference in speeds in regard to the social life. Rome, being the capital of Italy, the ancestral center of the Roman Empire and overall population had a much faster pace of life. Another difference I noticed was that you could tell the time period differences as to when the cities had been founded or even prospered. For Rome there were a multitude of ancient ruins dating as far back as to before Christ. Meanwhile, Sienna had more of a medieval feel with their cathedral and its inner workings. It truly is interesting to be able to see and almost feel the differences that these cities have and how their time difference in terms of when their area peaked social and economically can be felt still hundred’s of years later.

[dm-8]

Journal 1

Upon arrival, I noticed how little commercialized restaurants there are in Italy compared to America. Many places are original and local, capitalize on local ingredients and fresh food. It seems as though you could never get the exact same order at two different places. In addition, I believe because of this there is solid reason why there are barely any obese people in Europe. Along with that, being in a city that is 2000+ years old, many streets were designed before the invention of the car and therefore are only walkable. Compare this to American cites where you have to navigate usually by car and barely have any major areas that solely rely on walking. In addition the concept of tipping is not used here. I was told this by my parents and it is definitely strange to not calculate one after a meal. We have had a few run ins where waiters have asked for tips trying to finesse us as being young Americans but we have made sure to not fall for it. On the topic of meals the portions are much smaller compared to America but noticeably fresher food. Having multiple courses as opposed to appetizers and 1 meal is also an interesting concept to get used to. Overall, it hasn’t been that much of a culture shock and the ability to still use English is very helpful. I do feel guilty in knowing very little Italian but there’s nothing I can do about it so not going to stress too much. Going to try to learn what I can with the time I have but just have to get over it.

[dm-8]

Holt Chapel is one of if not my favorite structures on Elon’s campus. From the front facade we can see the bell tower that is in the foreground. At the top it possess a pinnacle of a cross to notify its use as a chapel to the local community. The symmetry of the structure is appealing to the eye with 6 window panes aligned on each side wall. The structure itself is made brick with a slanted roof made of shingles. It has a relatively traditional chapel design with a nave and a condensed transept that is unable to be seen from outside images.  

[dm-8]

Journal Entry #1 - Abroad

While abroad in Europe, I hope to not only have a fun time, but to also be aware and take note of the cultural differences that I come across. Living in America, I feel many of us can become accustomed to our habits and ways of life, often forgetting that certain practices and social norms are not accepted else where. It has been four years since I have been in another country and I look forward to seeing more of the world. 

In addition, I hope to take note of and appreciate the architectural structures we will be seeing. Many have great historical meaning and context behind them, much of which I have learned only from a classroom. It will be exciting to see them in person for the first time. 

Also, when traveling I usually do not take pictures as I prefer staying in the moment and having the memory to look back on. This; however, has been an issue as I often wish I had captured the moment to better remember it. I intend to take more photos while In Europe to share the experience with my family and help myself remember the great experience I am about to embark on.

Another goal I have is to more fully submerge myself into the different European cultures through eating local cuisine. Often I find myself being a picky eater and not trying something I am familiar with; however, I intend to be more open when going out for food and hopefully I am able to expand my palate.

Lastly I’d like to see/identify if any American trends or fads are accepted amongst Europeans. Whether it be certain songs, styles, or media, it will be interesting to see what similarities we may have with the local population and discovering certain bridges that cross our cultural barriers.