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Blog #19/Jan 23. From the Colosseum to the Eiffel Tour. Compare/contrast our first and last structures, and discuss what it means for a city to have such iconic features.

A lot of the first structures we saw were made with marble and stone, and had aloft of domes. This was because a-lot of these buildings at the beginning were from the renaissance era, which is associated with classical features like the marble, columns, domes, and beautiful fresco art on the inside. They also had a lot of sculptures or carving that were apart of the structure or outside/inside the structure. These structures had a lot of religious influence because the churches would commission artists and architects to design them. We then moved to some more gothic style architecture like the Duomo in Milan, which was still influenced by religion, of course and also had many sculptures inside but the gothic architecture was more striking with the buttresses, ribbed vaults, and the pointed arches. When seeing more modern architecture, like the Barcelona Pavilion & Bosco Verticale, it was hard to find similarities between these and the older structures. These newer structures had a lot of straight lines and boxy type appearances. There was also a lot of glass & windows which creates a lot of natural lighting in the building vs these old cathedrals which had windows but were still dark inside. One of the newer churches, Sagrada Familia, in Barcelona was similar to the other cathedrals/churches we have seen, but also different. There was still a ton of detail in the inside and outside. It was also cool to see the sculptures being carved into the facades of the structure vs just being a sculpture on its own. Some of the newer structures such as the Eiffel Tower & used a-lot of metal like iron and not as much marble or stone. The louvre in Paris is very interesting because it’s like newer and older styles of architecture. The stone and columns on the outside/older part of the building and then the pyramid in the middle is more modern with the glass and metal rods.

These buildings all have importance to the cities they live in. These structures will always have increasing tourism that boosts their economy. Also these structures serve as a historical importance to the city and give the place meaning and purpose. It makes the people who are from there feel important and proud of their history and their architecture. As we’ve talked about in class, architecture and urban design has a huge impact on our wellbeing and happiness, and these buildings create that for the locals who live there and for the tourists who visit.

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Blog #18/Jan 22. Pick one of these two prompts: 1) describe the typical features and function of the "French Garden" in social culture and include pictures of examples you saw in Paris. 2) research, summarize the history and culture of the Montmartre neighborhood where our hotel is located, and include your own pictures visualizing the district.

The History & Culture of Montmartre

Montmartre has a history that goes beyond 2000 years. This district has a rich religious and art history. It is also known for its beautiful steep, winding, cobble stone streets. It is one of the most unique and charming districts of Paris.

It is home to the famous Sacré Coeur Basilica which was finished being built around 1920. This basilica stays white all the time despite the pollution of the city because it’s made of Chateau-Landon Stones, which produce a white substance (Calcin) whenever it rains.

In the district there are also many famous paintings and art. Montmartre is called the “birthplace of modern painting”. You can find Monet, Van Gough, and many other artists work when you go to Montmartre, as well as where they lived and worked. Art is still a very important part of this district and they have show-casings of the work that young artists do today.

Montmartre is also home to a lot of cabaret type arts with acting, dancing, and drama. This includes the Moulin Rouge, Chat Noir, Le Lapin Agile, etc. Montmartre is known as a popular “night club district” around Paris. During the 19th century, many people avoided the area of Montmartre because of these cabarets that opened in the area.

Today, Montmartre is still known for its artistic heritage and celebrates art and artists everyday. It has become a popular “must do” place on many lists and has more than 30 million visitors every year.

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Blog #17/Jan 21. Au Revoir & Adios, Mediterranean! What was your favorite structure in the south of France or Spain, and why? What was you favorite city, and why? Finally, look back on your personal goals for the trip. Did you meet them in this phase of trip? Be specific with your evidence & anecdotes.

My favorite structure in the south of France or Spain was Park Guell in Barcelona, Spain. This was my favorite because it was a nice park I would love to have at home or to come back and sit and relax at someday. I loved the curved lines in the architecture and the mosaics that Gaudi created. The 2 buildings that the park over looks are also really cool in design with the curved lines and nature elements. The park has a lot of palm trees and greenery, as well as a lot of animals like birds.

My favorite city was probably Nice or Barcelona. I love both of these cities because they were beautiful with all the greenery they’ve included as well as the beach and mountain areas and the awesome and unique architecture. These cities are the ones I would definitely come back and visit one day again.

During this trip I met most of my personal goals. I learned a lot about the rich history of each country/cities and the importance the history has on that region. I also learned about different countries cultures, food, music, etc by going to different restaurants and talking with locals and workers, also by talking and listening to the tour guide. Through this I also greeting locals and workers with their language and used common phrases like hello, please, thank you, you’re welcome. I learned most phrases just by hearing them from others, the tour guide, or by using google if needed. I also learned a little bit about the government systems by talking to the tour guides and asking questions, but I didn’t learn much about their education system here in Europe, so I would love to research or look into that more.

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Blog #16/Jan 20. Based on Professor Moon Dog's presentation, summarize key details of the Madrid Rio Park megaproject. Then answer this question: do you think this expense of $15 billion USD between the park and highway is a good public investment, and why or why not?

- 50s population booming and Madrid growing economically and population.

- By the 90s, 4.4 million people in Madrid- wanted to make transportation easier with a circle highway (M30) that went around the entire city.

- A lot of pollution starting and river became slow and minimal plants and animals, became a wasteland and people were moving away

- City council started contest for architect of projects to create a park for the city and people and rebuild.

- Put tunnels (M30 highway) underground to get rid of noise&air&light pollution. Had a lot of space by putting it underground

- Park spans 6.2 miles, planted 32,000 trees, 472000 shrubs, 210000 of grass areas. Casa de campo 5x Central Park in manhattan that this park connects to. 7300 acres to use

- M30 blocked continuity of people/community on either side. With the new space, they decided to put a park for people to come to.

- Enhanced metro system so there were stops to get in and out of park, enhanced streets around park, enhanced walkways with benches and lighting, restoring bridges that are baroque and renaissance style, kings bridge.

- Agenthuela, double spiral bridge, Perro (where we are sitting)

- Created/Refurbished 7 dams, created fish ladders and improved fish in the water 200+ species of fish, king fished and Herons, ducks back to the river.

- Created 33 sports fields, football, soccer, basketball, racket sports, 7 padonk courts, walking and bicycle paths, 17 playgrounds for different age groups (all made from sustainable materials, 3 fitness trails, skate park, climbing wall

- Big controversy: no beaches— started to create an urban beach (ponds to be able to swim in the ponds/fountains)— splash pads

- 3 beach bars to get a drink

I think this was a great public investment because before, people were leaving this city because it was starting to decline and this brought people back to Madrid and also brings a community together. It also brought a lot of green spaces to the community for the people but also a lot of animals to live and thrive as well. People can do all different things in the parks and find things to do (walking, biking, playgrounds, sports, etc.) without having to spend money which also is a great thing for the people. Overall I think this was a great investment for Madrid and for the people who live here.

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Blog #13/Jan 17. Describe Gaudi's aesthetic and discuss how it influences emotion. Specifically discuss at least 2 separate Gaudi structures.

Gaudi’s aesthetic is that he uses a lot of curved lines vs straight lines in his architecture and design. He does this because he wanted his buildings to resemble nature because he said nature was a reflection of god and the beauty of life. He used a lot of curved and organic shapes, as well as floral and nature like decoration. Gaudi was very dedicated to God and his religion. He was even given the name “God’s Architect” because he felt it was his mission to give glory to God through his creative architecture & art.

Pictured first you see the Casa Batllo’. This is one of the most popular architectural pieces in Barcelona. It features what looks like a dragon as the roof with the cross with 4 arms to resemble a sword. Gaudi chose the 4 armed cross so that you can see a cross from any direction you look. It also features the small balconies infront of the windows which look like bones or skulls. This is a super interesting way to use architecture and make it like art and connect it to nature and religion.

Pictured Second you see “The Sagrada Familia”, one of the most famous and new churches of Spain and Europe. It is not yet finished but is scheduled to be done after 2026 or possibly 2040 due to Covid. This structure has so many details and curves which is much different from all the other cathedrals we have seen in Europe so far. Gaudi didn’t want a gothic or traditional cathedral. He designed 3 facades that were centered around Jesus’s life: his birth, his Crucifixion, and eternity. The first two have been finished but the last one is still not completed. This shows Gaudi’s passion for God and religion and how he wanted to create nature into his architecture and art for people and for God.

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Blog #12/Jan 16. Surrealist architecture. While at the Dali Theater-Museum, consider how Dali’s surrealist approach to art is used in the design of the building. Take pictures and describe two separate instances of where interior spaces were designed to enable or augment the art.

For the first picture, Dahli designed this room to frame his famous artwork “Lincoln in Dalivision”. As you can see the 3 tall arches, his famous painting is in the middle and is framed by the middle arch perfectly. The painting is first seen as a woman in the middle, but when you squint your eyes, you can see Abraham Lincoln which is a cool surrealistic approach to art because he created 2 paintings into one and it depends on how the viewer sees it/looks at it.

The second picture is of the “Mae West Lips Sofa”. It is a sculpture created by Dali. When you first enter the room you only see the furniture and art from the side. You then go up stairs and look through a magnifying glass to see how all the furniture works together to make this cool sculpture of Mae West. In order to see if from this perspective, you have to go up the stairs, this is how the architecture and spaces enable the art and sculpture.

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Blog #11/Jan 15. Montpellier is a city that has a reputation for respecting its past while investing in its future. Discuss 3 different examples from our tour of how the city strikes this balance in the built environment.

1. Hotel De Ville is Montpellier’s city/town hall that is made out of aluminum and reflective blue glass. It is a more modern/new structure that has sustainability in mind when being built and even today as it stands. It was made with the idea of bringing newness and renewal to Montpellier. It stands as a popular architectural building and to draw in more people to the city of Montpellier. It has fully accessibility to all citizens and tourists to visit.

2. We learned that the St Pierre Cathedral in Montpellier has changed many times after it being destroyed or damaged a few times. But instead of tearing it down completely, they decided to keep the cathedral and just remodel and change the architecture but keep the historical aspect of the cathedral since it is so important to Montpellier. It is now used as a cathedral still and for religious and cultural entertainment and history.

3.We learned about the Aqueduct and how it used to take clean water to places by having the aqueduct at the tallest place of the city so that gravity would take the water to different places naturally. It is a huge historical part of Montpellier and was so important for the people for years and years. But now it is not used for the purpose it once was used for and is now more of a historical landmark or structure in Montpellier. There is now a park built infront/around the aqueduct and serves as a common space for people to enjoy and see the history of the city. The park also has green spaces and trees for people to enjoy fresh air.

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Blog #10/Jan 14: Architecture can often be experienced as a series of moments along a guided or meandering sequence where you are "primed'," consciously or nonconsciously, into a new experience. Find a moment that speaks to you at Fondation Maeght, take a picture or draw a sketch and discuss why it is meaningful.

After walking through the short garden you are led to a door and opening to the art museum. You are first primed with the beautiful garden and some artwork/sculptures while walking along the paths/courtyard to this door into the museum. This really draws you into the building and to the art that is to come. After you enter through the building and go out the next set of doors, there is a nice terrace with an overview of the community below as well as some art.

On the terrace there is also a spot where you can see the next sculpture through an opening in the concrete. This primes you for the next experience of the museum and the art. It kind of shows you where to go next. You then are walking through a garden with white stones that leads you back to the inside of the building to go upstairs to the top terrace where you see a beautiful overview of the city below as well as the ocean from afar. You also can see some of the sculptures from below.

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Blog #9/Jan 13. Discuss 3 specific aspects of sustainability in the Nice Meridia district that you found particularly promising or compelling as we work towards a sustainable future in our built environment.

- When walking in the Meridia district, you see these glass fins on the building. All of the fins are different in size and the way they are placed so that they can shade the building from sunlight during the day. They are placed strategically in ways that block the building from the sun for shading to make the building cooler during summer months. The building also has a lot of glass windows for natural lighting from the sun so that they use less energy for heating/cooling as well as not using artificial lighting. Around the meridia you can not find much parking besides for employees at the offices. This is to encourage more walking and public transport which is more friendly for the environment, it also has a lot of bike lanes to encourage biking over driving as well. Beside the offices, there is a small park that has a lot of seating with trees and greenery for a nice space to relax or spend time with clear fresh air.

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Blog #7/Jan 11. Modernity meets tradition in Milan: Identify and discuss 3 different lessons about urban design and/or architecture from our morning tour.

Upon building/constructing the Porto Nuovo, we here was lots of air pollution and it was smoggy. This is why they decided to build this community/small city with sustainability. When building, they decided to use less material by using reinforced concrete which causes to use less concrete or materials to be more sustainable. They wanted to bring more parks and more buildings with greenery for clearer and healthier air in the community rather than just having no greenery. So some apartments and buildings have actual gardens and plans on them such as the Bosco Verticale. The trees and plants also serve as shading for the building to keep the apartment and building cooler during the warmer months and then in return use less energy by not using as much electricity. These plants also serve as homes to many birds, animals, and insects which is nice to have in a community and area where you live. With the greenery , plants, animals, etc in the community, it makes people more happy and serves a good for mental health and happiness. This is why they designed the community the way it is to bring this happiness to people and healthy lives.

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Blog #4/Jan 8. Ciao Roma, Ciao Firenze! Research the differences between Rome/Lazio and Florence/Tuscany, and combine that with your own observations to compare/contrast the cultural differences between the two cities/regions.

One of the main differences of Rome and Florence is that Rome is known for the ancient history of Italy and as the capital of Italy today. But Florence is known for the renaissance art and architecture of Italy. I also noticed this because Rome did have more ancient Roman history and architecture that we learned about and saw, like the Roman baths and the pantheon. But Florence had more renaissance art and architecture like the cathedral and the paintings inside of Santa Maria. Another main difference I noticed was Florence seemed more modernized in some areas like the shopping areas versus Rome. Rome seemed like it had more older architecture and not much shopping.

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Blog #6/Jan 10. Drop your pens and pick up your lens. While at the Milan Duomo, prepare a visual documentary of several "National Geographic" quality images.

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January 7th, Day 3- Roma, Italy

Pick any two of our four big structures for today (Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona, St. Peters) and compare/contrast how these structures inform/impact the piazzas

The trevi fountain and St Peter’s are two notable structures in Roma Italy. They both are very large structures with piazzas where people gather for community, socialization, pictures, etc. Both structures are similar in the way that they have some baroque elements, but they also have some differences. Both structures bring people in from the piazzas for people to view them and spend time there. Both structures have buildings and streets that lead to the structures which brings people to the structures.

The trevi fountain is a large baroque style fountain in Roma, Italy. The fountain is so large that there is not much piazza to meet at or stand at. Often the trevi fountain is packed with people and you can barely get through because the fountain is so large and takes up most of the piazza. The trevi fountain also has 3 streets that lead to it which draws people to the trevi fountain and this impacts the structure and piazza.

St Peter’s is a large religious basilica or church in Roma, Italy. The building affects the piazza because St Peter’s is framed by the buildings and piazza. The piazza is shaped circular and has a theme of welcoming people to come into the church. It is sort of like cupped hands telling you to come inside the church. This then impacts the structure because it draws people to it and to come inside. The piazza is a lot larger than that of the trevi fountain and can fit many more people.

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January 5th, Day 1- Roma, Italy

First impressions: identify and discuss 3 distinct cultural differences and/or elements of the built environment that are different between Italy and the US.

1. One thing that stood out to me that’s different between Italy and the US is how you can get to pretty much anything in the city by walking. There are sidewalks everywhere, shops, cafes, etc that you can walk to. In the US, especially the surrounding areas of Elon, you can not do this. You have to have a car most of the time to walk somewhere because there are not many sidewalks. Its more rural and larger roads and highways that you would have to walk on and it doesn’t work the way it works here. With the structure of close buildings, small streets, sidewalks, etc, it makes it easier to get to many places just by walking

2. Another thing that stood out to me as a significant cultural difference between Italy and the US is that having espresso or coffee after a meal is quite common. Here in the US, it would be sort of strange to drink espresso after a meal at a restaurant, especially at night time. But in Italy, it is actually quite common to drink coffee or espresso after a meal. I’m not sure why this is but my guess would be because it may aid in the digestive process because it’s warm and caffeine? It may also be used just for energy or caffeine because they also stay up a lot later than we do, it seems as they eat a lot later and some bars are open till morning.

3. The last thing that stood out to me is how popular public transportation is and used here in Italy. In the US, we don’t have many bus stops if really any bus stops at all. There are some that go to important areas or small towns/cities, but since it is so rural in Alamance county, NC, we do not use busses or metro/subways. There is a train that runs through Burlington but it is not nearly as popular as a transport as the metro in Italy and throughout all of Europe.

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Alamance building is my favorite structure on our campus as Elon University. It was built in May 1923 to replace the “Old Main Administration Building” that burned down due to a fire in January 1923. Some of the old bricks that remained after the fire, were used to build the new building. It is a 3 story tall building built with bricks and surmounted by cupola. It is 216 feet in length and 68 feet in width. Alamance building is the central building of Elon university’s campus and features a beautiful fountain in front of it.

This building is my favorite at Elon because it is beautifully designed with the brick and columns, as well as the fountain in front. There is a small dome on top, and the structure is very symmetrical. There are a lot of windows and doors to the building as well. This structure is also one of Elon’s most famous and historical structures because of the fire. Inside the building on the first floor in the middle, there is the Alamance bell, which survived the fire of 1923. Each year new students have convocation and get the chance to touch the bell for good luck on their new journey at Elon.

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5 Personal Objectives for My Time in Europe:

1. Learn about the history of the structures we visit and the importance of them.

2. Learn about the different countries cultures, traditions, music, and food and try different things.

3. Learn the different languages (greetings and basic conversation) from the countries and speak with others in the countries using their language

4. Learn about the different aspects of the countries government/systems and how they’re different from where I live.

5. Learn about how the education system is different in that country vs where I live and if it could be a potential place I would teach in the future?