*Forgot to post this when I wrote it, here it is now*

Got back yesterday from a hostel in Agerola. We had a long weekend from class and I went on a mini vacation. I only spent one solid day there, but it was amazing. I walked down to Amalfi. The walk was absolutely beautiful. I have never seen anything so blue. I was only in Amalfi for a few minutes. I made it down to the beach just in time to hop on a boat to Positano where I spent the majority of my afternoon. 

I haven’t posted in a very long time. I got really busy with class and have barely been on tumblr lately, let alone long enough to post pictures.

Anyway, we have a 5 day weekend now and I’m getting all caught up.

First, some pictures from last week from class.

Friday we went to Ville d’Este and here are some fabulous pictures. Enjoy.

Sorry I haven’t posted in a while. We got back in Rome and have just had so much to do to get back in the swing of things. We pinned up a project today and have another one to turn in Friday morning.

This weekend is a three day weekend though so I will get tumblr all caught up.

Ciao!

Back in Rome! We all missed it so much. The first thing we did (after get on the internet) was go downstairs to the bar and order crostinis. We were then told they hadn’t turned on the oven yet and we couldnt have any, so we drank in saddness.

We are going back later.

Week 2 (prequel)

Tomorrow morning we leave for 6 days to a small area NE of Rome called Monti Simbruini and the few villages within it. I won’t haven internet for that time so I am going to explain the project and reasoning now and then go into detail after I get back about what we did with pictures and such.

The area of study is actually a 70,000 acre park land with extreme topology variations. Within the park are several small villages situated along the river. These villages are often a pilgrimage stop along a much larger route into Rome. We are to investigate the park area, the villages and the needs of the pilgrims that pass through, to propose design suggestions for the cities. As it stands now, the cities have huge influxes of people when the pilgrims are there, but are pretty much empty when they aren’t. A system is needed that can expand and contract to the population size. 

We will be looking at two main site/design locations. One being an abandoned factory/mill. Turning it into something the passersby will need/use or something to keep bringing tourists coming to the area all year round. The other site is at the pilgrimage site itself, and having to reflect on the religious and cultural aspects of the villagers and visitors. 

I’m not too sure what we are getting ourselves into. We will be in a convent for 6 days and without internet. Our desk spaces are outside in the courtyard and it is supposed to rain a few days. We can’t leave the convent without the entire group.

We are bringing a pack of cards, maybe I will get really good at poker.

Until then, Ciao!

Rest of Week 1

This week (tuesday) we spent the day exploring the ruins of the Roman forum. Paying attention to layout, axes throughout the site, and how the site responded to the area around it.

From the forum you overlook the Colosseum. We decided not to go in. But the outside is the really fabulous part.

The next day we went back to the Vatican (as a class) to take pictures and study its layout, the way it makes you feel when you are there, and the various spaces within it. This was all for a quick little project where (specifically, Peter and I) were looking at created perspectives within the Vatican and relating to the Vatican. (This week we are looking at spaces and parks that we may be able to relate to our next project (that I will go into after this post).)

The following pictures are the perspectives I studied and later sketched:

First view of the Vatican from the river, the only place you can see the entire Dome. 

Progressing through the colonnade towards the Vatican, being lead by your curiosity and the paving.

End of the colonnade, building facades leading you left, around the corner. Column design changes.

Around the final bend, facing the Vatican as it is presenting itself to you. You line up with the archway on the left, leading you in.

After experiencing the Vatican, turning around to look at your progress, your procession.

*I am taking a break now to go to the store and get some coffee.*
*lol jk, took a 2 day break from this post, but now I’m back*

The next day we went to the church of Santa Maria della Pace. Contrasting its layout and processional spaces to those of the Vatican. (Completely informal and irregular, bending to the city vs. planned, symmetrical, extremely formal, and making the city bend around it.) We all felt more comfortable at this little church. It had irregular nooks and crannies we could sit back in and observe. At the Vatican, I always felt in the way of something.

Friday we had a full day site visit to Ostia Antica. It was interesting, but not overly inspiring. Looking at the layout of its city and theater and CBD. The end of the day we jumped on down to check out the beach which was a few train stops away.

Statues in the temple of Love.

Phew. Finally finished. 

Ciao!!

yeah i havent posted in a bit, ive got a few more pictures from the past few days that i may put up tomorrow sometime. it just takes so long to load pics into tumblr.

ok sounds good…

ciao!

Finally have hot water in the apt and I just got out of a hot shower!!!!!!!

We walked into the elevator as the plumbers were walking out. Perfect timing.

They had to clean the pipes with acid (a draino type thing I’m assuming) so you have to run it for a bit before you get in the shower. BUT ITS HOT!

Oh, and this is also the second day we haven’t had hot water so I had to “shower” with pretty much a wet wipe and wash my hair in the sink.

In relatively good news, the guys are coming by tomorrow morning with plumbers to fix it because apparently it is all clogged up. 

Yay?