architecture, people, interactions.

22.04.12 I knew it was almost too good to be true  considering we’ve almost gone a whole week without any real sit-down studio work. Being in the isolated town of Davos without any way of getting to a mountain to snowboard…we’re spent most of our time sitting the hostel because nothing seems to be open around here. Today we did an eight hour design charrette, more commonly known as a mini-design project. The basis of the requirements was a small cabin in the woods without electricity. The running river besides the site forced us to look at site placement in order to bring running water into the cabin. Without a single computer-drawn image, we were required to come up with four pages of drawings explaining our concept and design strategies. Good thing I enjoy hand-drawing, it made the project a lot easier to complete.

Besides the architecture work, I’ve spent a lot of time enjoying the peacefulness and quiet of the town of Davos. Sooner rather than later, I’ll be back in Boston where the sleepless nights and super busy weekends will once again take over my life. I wish it was easier to escape into quiet towns like this back home. To be surrounded by snowy mountain tops was just incredible. 

21.04.12 What do you get when you put SANAA, Zaha Hadid, Alvaro Siza, Jean Prouve, Herzog & de Mueron, Frank Gehry, & Tadao Ando together? VitraHaus Complex…architecture student goldmine. I didn’t know such a place existed…it was like I was dreaming or something.

Naturally my favorite building was the conference center by Tadao Ando. Again, another brilliant man that knows how to use straight lines and edges so effectively that the walls almost sing to you. Although his rather excessive use of concrete can come off as super brutalist, his building when walking around inside, is actually quite comforting and warm. Maybe I’m starting to appreciate the simplicity of architecture more and more because the world around us is so complicated.

20.04.12 I found traces of Mies van der Rohe’s architectural style at the Beyeler Foundation today. It’s like I was back at the Barcelona Pavilion all over again. It’s something about the way the simplicity of a single wall that puts me at ease. With that being said, I don’t like doors. They don’t do much for me. If you’re a good architect, you should be able to create private spaces without doors. Sounds simple, right?

19.04.12 That awkward moment when you walk around a museum and don’t even look at a single piece of artwork. I believe that’s the story of my life. Architects hired to design museums have a really difficult task. Not only do they have to design the gallery spaces, but they have to do so in a manner that won’t take away from the art that’s going to be put inside them. Speaking as an architecture student, I can tell you the building is ALWAYS more interesting than the pantings or drawings inside. Paul Klee seemed like a weird guy anyways, I was so not interested in his painting of daemons and angels.

18.04.12  We spent the day touring projects of a local Swiss architect today. It was really great that we had the opportunity to get a tour with the mastermind of these designs. The elementary school, still in progress was super simplistic, yet very effective. I like minimalist architecture, it just looks so clean.

To end the day, we got to spend a few hours in the Rolex Center designed by SANAA. Curves on curves on curves, yet it works. The concept was real interesting, don’t get me wrong. I’m just not sure how practical it is to have steep sloping floors throughout an entire building. If it works, it works though right?

17.04.12 Evian, such a quaint little town on a lake…and by lake I mean huge lake. It was weird being in such a busy city (Montpellier) for three months then in a matter of a days worth of travel, be up in the mountains where almost nothing in the town was open past 7pm. Thank god we found a little ma & pa restaurant and enjoyed our rather expensive fondue. 

17.04.12 And my 10 day travel through Switzerland has officially begun! With about two hours of sleep I managed to make it through a few Corbusier buildings and a lot of driving. Bring it on Switzerland, show me what you got.

16.04.12 It has become very obvious to me why the rest of the world thinks Americans are fat. I was your stereotypical American at the restaurant we went to in Barcelona while we waited for our train home. After not eating much all weekend, Michelle, Trish and I managed to eat two breadbaskets, a full plate of paella each, as well as our actual dish we ordered. The best part is that we didn’t realize the paella was a full plate…we ordered it as an appetizer. Needless to say, I ate everything that was put in front of me and it was so delicious. 

15.04.12 I love sunny weather. It puts people in such good moods. There have been so many instances where someone is having a bad day, yet the minute the sun comes out they’re happy and talkative and excited as if nothing was ever wrong. It’s weird how that happens, well not really. Obviously it’s linked to science and the way our bodies function and respond to light. What I’m trying to get at is that today was one of the better Sundays I’ve spent here in Europe. Having the opportunity to walk around the island of Ibiza with the sun out and ocean in front of me was exactly what I needed. 

14.04.12 I don’t remember the last time I went on a real vacation. Every time I travel I usually have my laptop and am working on some sort of AutoCAD drawing or portfolio or god knows what. For the first time in forever, I packed my bags for Ibiza without my laptop or any form of schoolwork. Aside from my actual bag being quite a bit lighter, I also felt a sense of release that I could actually relax for once. I will be spending the next two days on a small island off the coast of southern Spain. Ibiza, known for it’s crazy summer clubs and hot beaches has greeted me with open arms, even during the off-season. Everyone needs a break from life once in a while, now it’s my turn.