Roma

... the post all-nighter effect ;)

... toga 'welcoming' party



Piazza Navona

... Absinthe... gross

... beautiful day in Roma, Anfiteatrum Flavium, a.k.a. il Colosseo

... gladiatori


Colina Palatina

Il Foro

Piazza del Campidoglio

... sunday with the Pope

... one of the Quattro Fontane, Francesco Borromini

Ara Pacis Augustae, Richard Meyer


... view from the apartment (one of the things I miss the most), Piazza di Campo dei Fiori

Basilica di San Pietro

... somebody got the 'munchies' while waiting in line

... details inside


Church of San Pietro in Montorio

Tempietto of San Pietro, Donato Bramante

Bilbao

Pasarela, Campo Volantin Footbridge, Santiago Calatrava

Guggenheim Museum, Frank Gehry

... a taste of the detailing


... walking around the city

Barcelona Pavilion, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Pobe Espanyol

As a change from our usual history class at the university, this time we were actually able to go and see what it was that we were about to learn about, the Barcelona Pavilion. Our class was taught by the architect in charge of rebuilding the pavillion after it was basically 'dismanteled' and taken back to Germany after the exposition had ended. It was, needless to say, very interesting to hear the pavillion's story from his point of view.





Right after class Bob, Tom and I decided to head over and visit Poble Espanyol, as well as the BCN Pavillion, this is one of the sites of the 1929 Exhibition that still exists. The 'Poble' is a small village-type attraction that gives the public a taste of Spanish architecture and culture... what is characteristic of each region in Spain.

Project I- Phase III

Part three, DONE!
Time to change phase and scale once more. By means of this third phase of our project, each group had to change the scale in which they were working at; from the design of an area (the whole urban context of the site) to that of a particular block within it. We all had to choose a block that would pertain to the ideas presented and dicussed on our main proposal. In our case, we chose block 2A and B, the one divided by Avinguda Diagonal.

Within the group, three new proposals would be developed in terms of the block's building massing, later on focusing on one building, it's physical form and possible impact on the adjacent areas.
For my approach, I focused my thoughts around the concept of filtration. How can this be applied to a building form? The basis for this idea is to find a way that by creating this form I would develop a space that would be related to the building behind it and the plaza as well as emphasize the most important element from the main proposal: pedestrian movement.
The shapes respond to the immediate surroundings, building height being the primary aspect, as well as react to the avenue's physical angle.


For the 'pin-up' we were to present our main concept aside from the new massing design; diagrams representing our overall ideas.



PS. This is progress work... not the final thing :)

Adding some 'seasoning' to the trip...

So far it has been two and a half months of arduous work and a couple of new experiences in this new city; nonetheless, before my usual homesickness episodes, I got a visitor from a little place 18 degrees south of the Ecuator. My best friend, Alexander, came to visit from home. Overall, it was a good weekend, I had a blast.

... the adorable old man dancing to the group's tunes, Plaça de la Catedral

CALÇOTS!!!
As one of our professors, Cecilia, suggested, we went to eat this 'typical' Barcelonian dish at a restaurant in the Gracia village. It is this kind of root vegetable that can only be found in the area during the month of March. They basically bake it and to eat it you have to 'pull the inside out', dip in in the sauce and eat. It was very messy, fun, but above all, delicious... I strongly recommend! As one of my Barcelona compadres, Benjamin Shealy, said, "calçots would be a good first date 'icebreaker'".


... our sign of approval

Barça VS Real Madrid @ Bar La Nubaa


... the other travel secret, the Argentinian bartender