And then we traveled the world…

Spring break ’09

From sunrise to sunset, breakfast to dinner, maps to maps, the guys and I spent an entire week of seeing three major countries. Spending roughly 3 days per city, we went from Paris to London to Rome. All in all with our experiences between speaking and seeing, I would say each city had a very unique characteristic with its own defined set of order, working for its own benefit in their own way, all with pros and cons. (But to just throw it out there, if I had to choose the best city out of the 3: London)

So much to see and so little time? Despite the little time we did have, I was happy with how much we were able to see in so little time, however sad to say… I had to sacrifice my usual sit-down sketching sessions. Though I do have one or two rough ones, I will soon post them up in latter blogs ASIST (as soon as I scan them).

PARIS. Starting off the break, we arrived in Paris at 7 am, with only a map to the hotel and a guidebook with key phrases. We did not know how to speak French. Little did we know, we picked up the language pretty quickly with our handy-dandy phrase book and within hours was able to say a few phrases. By that time, I could already see the difference of Paris from Barcelona. More welcoming, brighter, and spacious in scale, Paris didn’t seem as confined as aggressive Barcelona.

After spending the first day walking from the red-light district (location of the Moulin Rouge + our hotel) to the Eiffel tower and to the Louvre, we were able to meet up with three of our friends from the CUArch Rome program under the Eiffel tower (cool I know). Deciding to walk up the steps of the tower, we were able to see the very complex structure of the tower from the semi-interior. Massive in scale from the exterior, its four legs gives an outward branching expression which with observation, is probably why it has that presence of magnitude. Both a monument and landmark in a very open space in Paris, the Eiffel tower gives you a sense of reference and orientation within the city.

We were also lucky enough to venture out into the outskirts of Paris and visit Villa Savoye by Le Corbusier. Deceiving from the internet pictures, Villa Savoye is NOT on a large plot of open land in the middle of no where, rather it is plopped in a regular lot surrounded by trees with a neighboring school and other residential homes nearby. As old as the building is, it is definitely a must see. There we were able to witness first hand Corbusier’s ideas of inside – outside and directive framing of vistas. Even more, we were able to walk around the building that started the free plan style.

Pompidou Center. I would have to say the interior exhibition spaces are more beautiful than the skin of the building, but I wouldn’t say more interesting. Despite its really intricate and rough qualities, the design of the façade is pretty interesting. Bringing on a new aspect of inside outside, Renzo Piano had made pipes, cables, and structure visible on the exterior which I guess in a way invites the individual. The very intricate layers of structure on the façade along with its tubular vertical circulation also brings on a scale reference to the occupant.

The Louvre. Yet another icon of Paris, the Louvre is very massive. Its very Romanesque quality brings on the Parisian culture… very grand and enormous. Did you know that it would take roughly 9 months to successfully look at each individual art work at the Louvre? Yeah, our main goal was to see the Mona Lisa.

LONDON. I loved every single bit of London. Not one graffiti, not one sketchy person. Of course I might be totally biased towards criminals who mug for a living, but London is pretty safe from what I can see… safer than Washington D.C, safer than Paris, DEFINITELY safer than Barcelona. Taking aside the whole notion of “Big Brother” watching or the police in every corner, I believe that the city’s urban development had led them to the way they are today. The great fire which had demolished 80% of London’s buildings had forced them to start anew. And by anew, removing their past and on with the future. In contrast to Barcelona, London doesn’t have any residential apartments closely located next to each other. In Barcelona, in particular the old city, people live in the slums left over from the past. Uncomfortable and small in space where one building is a foot away from the next, it is no wonder Barcelonans are aggressive people. Spacial wise, as seen in London scale is an important factor. It provides for a well – kept community. Going to other things, one of the coolest museums we've seen so far was the Tate Modern Museum by Herzog + de Meuron.

ROME. When in Rome… you get to see all the major sites in one sitting? The city of Roma all in all built the future around its ruins. In one day we were able to see the Coliseum, and the rest of the Roman Forum. The following day we had the chance of seeing the Spanish Steps at sunset, giving us prime view of Rome. Lastly, we were able to go to the Vatican however Pope Benny didn’t make an appearance.

While in Rome we stayed at the luxurious apartment suites of our CUArch friends Sheila, Mary, and Anna. From their terrace, you can see the rooftops of Rome and a nearby Cathedral. Rather old but clean, the neighborhood around Campo de Fiori is closely situation next to each other. Though similar to that of Barcelona’s old city, Rome has a better community-like atmosphere with people out and about at any given day. Such examples of this idea of “congregational scale,” is at either Trevi Fountain or the Spanish Steps. Monumental by architecture, the space is enhanced by activity of the people.

And so yet again, another conclusion to a successful adventure abroad.