fresh ideas.

Things are winding down, with lots to do and little time.

Mercat Santa Caterina was the site to be at this week.... okay well at least for me. History project II and the final sketching class were held at the market. Built by EMBT architects the site was originally a convent back in the roman days and then torn down to make housing and a new market for the growing city. From there the market was refurbished just a few years ago and is now a very lively and dynamic place to visit.



Still talking about edges, I think the market is an interesting place to look at, but at the same time confusing. The market is surrounded by streets on all four sides creating an edge just for the site. Mercat Canta Ceterina is a market on the front side and then in the rear responds to its surrounding community of housing and is several floors of apartments for the elderly. In this essence the architect did not completly abandon what was occuring in the surrounding buildings but rather adapted the program and added his own architectural elements. But of course the most dynamic element and edge is the roof line. The roof line takes on a wavey motion and is covered in different colored bright tiles. The edge that this building creates with the sky is amazing to look at close up and at a distance. The architect allowed the building to no longer be contained to a flat and shapless roof but took on the elements of the interaction spaces below and the fluidly of the sky. So no longer a hard edge (although it physically is) but rather a movement through the sky.

Inside the market is spilling will all kinds of smells from fresh fruit, cheese, nuts, meats, fishes, olives, and vegatables. But if you take a glance at the ceiling the use of wood in this city, to me, is a 'fresh idea' that the architect instituted. The wood planks and lines the curvature of the roof and frames the large doors and windows that allow a good amount of light into the space. I am glad to see that the architect allowed the viewer to experience the roof from the inside as well and not closing off the roof.

a building fit for a king.

what: the Barcelona Pavilion
by: Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
year: 1929
why: Built as the German national pavilion for the 1929 Barcelona International Exhibition. The Pavilion was conceived to accommodate the official reception presided over by King Alphonso XIII of Spain along with the German authorities.
with: Built from glass, travertine and different kinds of marble
history: After the closure of the Exhibition, the Pavilion was disassembled in 1930. In 1980 Oriol Bohigas headed up the design and supervise the reconstruction of the Pavilion. Work began in 1983 and the new building was opened on its original site in 1986.


okay so I just want to quickly write a little about the spaces created within the walls of the Barcelona Pavilion.

To begin, I truly appreciate the space but at the same time the space also confuses me. Before, during, and after the teachers discussion and description there was so much to look at because of all the precision taken within the placement of each architectural element. So because of all of the elements that there is to look at I am just going to focus on what I like best: the pools of water.

When approaching the first pool of water one approaches it from an oblique angle. The far left corner of the pool is surrounded by a wall that wraps around the corner. This wall helps to create several edges all at one time. 1_ The surface to sky horizon, for all of the walls in the entire pavilion are the same height and it is a height that corresponds the the heavy bottom base of the Palace walls. 2_It helps to create the visual plane at where the 'area' of the pavilion ends. 3_Also the water ends right at the base of the walls and then they begin to extend upwards. Where the two walls and the water meet I believe to be one of the most powerful edges- but yet an edge not accessible to the public.

The other pool of water is surrounded by four walls 3 walls of marble that butt up against the pool and then the 4th is in glass and it is set back enough for a walkway (between the pavilion and the water, outside). This pool is much smaller and is even more simple than the other. There is no texture to the bottom of the pool but the marble and then the statue standing alone at the one end of the pool. This space to me is very small and quite cramped but I believe that that is the way it is supposed to be. This pool then ends the pavilion on the opposite end- opposite the other pool. In way the rectangular space becomes defined by the walls and the pools. For without them the horizon line off the marble would be endless... there was an idea behind keeping the viewer contained.

There is soooo much more to tell about this building that I could go on for hours, but I feel that the way the architect contains the viewer and the ideas to just one surface at just one height between two defining walls is the most important feature.

the inner soul.

So Morocco. Where to begin.



Well to start I think a comparison between Istanbul and Fez is appropriate....they are nothing alike. Istanbul, which used to be the old Roman City of Constantinople, is now a modern tourist adventure. Where as Fez, quite frankly, is a very difficult city to navigate through and has a very, lets use the word 'rustic' feel. Although both cities are of Arabic influence, each city shows it in a very different way.

The culture of Fez was also quite different. Things, I feel, are still done the way that they were done 60 years ago. Although electricity was one of the most defining characteristics of the New World at the turn of the century, in Fez it is still coming around. I don't mean to make it sound uncommon for that it is not, but rather the efficiency that something could be accomplished would show the impact upon the city. And like most Islamic cultures woman wore head scarfs and were often not found outside after dark. But besides the obvious, the city was beautiful and nothing of what I expected. no camels :(

So Fez from the outside, meandering down the streets one would have no idea the difference from one building to the next. There is no demarcation between buildings thus it would be very easy for one to get lost (hence why we followed our excellent tour guides closely). But behind every wall there was a surprise. After gathering information from the reading and then seeing it in person, I was able to fully appreciate the Islamic architectural ideas. This idea that they should not spend time on the exterior, but rather focus on the interior spaces. Then they take this idea philosophically and relate it to their lives. For the Islamic culture, from what I understand, is to better oneself and how they live their lives. Not necessarily praying to the God above, but also being at peace with oneself and not feeling the pressure to live in a certain fashion- but to want to live in that fashion. So they try to better themselves emotionally and personally without paying mind to what they look like on the exterior.

Each inner courtyard is specially decorated to fit with that space. Hand cut tiles, open to the expansive sky above, and beautiful arch ways that lead into annexed spaces these courtyards are what help them to live the lives that they do. Each inner courtyard has its layers of space, created by different edges and walls. And each edge helps to signify something else that means a great deal in their lives. Such as: The edges of the roof tops the frame your view of the sky when looking up from the courtyard. The series of arch ways that lead you possibly into a more scared room or into a different sector or meaning of life. The series of entrances from the road to the center of that courtyard. Each of these ideas are established by the underlying ideas of creating an edge from one idea to the next (one architectural space to the next). In their culture one can not just call a courtyard a courtyard without thinking about what the underlying meaning of the direction it is facing, the tile pattern on the wall, and the colonnaded paths ways leading from the center space. Each element has been placed their for a reason, each idea is apart of their actual lifestyle.



So no longer is a wall just a wall that creates an edge that ultimately creates space- it is a lifestyle, a way to perfection. And because of these ideas, I have since become quite interested in learning more about their culture.


Although no camels, Africa was still a success.

built ON the river

So this week- a normal week I guess you could call it- Jam packed every minute of your day, it just came and went. My parents also came and went before rushing out on Friday for their Mediterranean excursion.

Girona. A simple town-sized city.
Tuesday we went to Girona for field trip and history classes. The small time city was stunning with its quaint charm and winding old streets. Besides its overly huge cathedral -mind you it has the largest nave of any Cathedral in the world, at 22 meters ( I believe), and beautiful little stairways that peel away from what you already thought could be the smallest street ever, the city is built along their river. And when I say built along the river, it is not like Bilbao where the building were set back from the waters edge creating a pedestrian edge between the buildings and the water. But rather in Girona the homes are built directly on the retaining wall for the river, sometimes even cantaleavering a small amount above the water.


This then, unlike Bilbao, forces the people to walk amgounst the buildings in the shade and then with a break in the building creating an avenue of light that leads to a bridge to cross. The river is not only the edge but the buildings help to redefine that edge, a very solid edge.


Along with this idea of edge, when we went to the small town of Olot, after visiting Girona, we went to visit a resturant built by the firm RCR Architects that created this idea of 'illusions' between edges. By this I mean that they used large amounts of glass- but just in the right places- that it created this feeling where you weren't sure where the buildings inside and outside began, they made the edge between nature and man undiscoverable.




This idea that they have created in many of their pieces and their philosphy that we were able to learn about from the 'C' in RCR Carmen at a firm visit later that night, is that nature is nature with help from man, so one must create an equal balance that one does not over take the other when building architecture. And when they built this resturant they did not want to create an edge between the outside and the inside, they wanted them to flow together, almost to act as one space-- elimating the edge.

wine_does the body good

The past week went by faster than imagined. To begin we only had 3 days of classes. From there we, as a class, traveled along the northern part of Spain, enjoyed plenty of wine. And to end, it was my 21st birthday.

At the beginning of the week for field trip class we spent both days at the MACBA/CCCB complex. It is a more modern complex just slapped down in the outskirts of the old city. The complex is near our studio but does not leave a burdening impression upon the surrounding areas. We were studying how the 3 new buildings in the complex are put together in a very anayltical way that creates a series of placas with continuous lines and ideas running through the placas and the buildings. Getting off to a rough start I tried again the second day to map out in plan the old vs. new in that block. In doing this, on my own and with others help, I was able to realize how specific walls line up with other walls to create different spaces and thru spaces. Each wall or architectural element was placed for specfic reasons, a lot of the elements helping to create some type of edge to a space. Whether it be along the street creating the side walk, the lineing up of placa spaces (terminations), or even just the simple walkways around and through buildings that help to create an edge for the pedestrian to walk around, through, or follow along. I am not necessarily sure if the series of spaces are my favorite- I like each part separtly but sometimes i still feel a lack of welcomness to the spaces.
And from there we continue north. Catching an early plane ride into Calatrava's extension to the Bilbao airport and also examining his bridge and Frank Gehry's Guggenheim Museum equaled out to be a busy Thursday. Bilbao itself, I really enjoyed. I felt that although 'there is not much to see' the dynamics of how the river cuts directly through the city creates a new way of looking at a city-for me at least. Although the river is not necessarily used as it used to be, it creates yet another edge for pedestrians to walk along, buildings to be contained in, and the intriguing cut from one side to the other.

The second day of the trip was spent traveling around La Rioja sipping wine and glancing at the most interesting and well hidden architecture. To begin, I 1)enjoyed traveling through the country side to be able to experience something different than the center of a city and 2) Enjoyed spending time in architectural marvels that were not in a city- but rather in the quite areas of rolling mountains and sprawling fields. Each place that we stopped had its own dynamic and for that I liked each as its own. The one that I best feel approached its surroundings the best was Calatravas winery. Although quite modern with nothing to dull the experience it is just his building and the fields and the moutains behind it. The roof line creates an rolling experience that when close up meets directly with the blue of the sky. When stepping back it blends in with the rolling of the far mountains. I do feel that there could have been a better way to 'end' the building for I feel that he cut a beautiful idea short by just cutting off the ends. But in the end that was one beautiful day all around.

Back to Barcelona:
And so here I am sitting to you writting just 60minutes passed my birthday, awaiting my next defining edge.

All around the world

So yes, it has been awhile. And quite frankly I don't know how to make it up except to write a another blog, so here I go.




Whirlwind Southern Spain trip:

That was a world and a half- who knew that all within the same country ideas and cultures could completely change. Madrid, Cordoba, Grenada, Seville, Merida in 8ish days. Each city had its own vibe and social interaction, along with new colors and new architectural marvels. In Madrid it was interesting to focus on how the Palace is on one side and the Paseo de Prado is on the other and that is what contains or forms the edge of the old city. Past those, the city changes into its new ideas and more modern flavors. But to notice how these things change from one side of the street to the other how it inadvertanly creates an edge. In the city of Cordoba we did not spend much time, nor did we have to. The city itself is very small and compact- but with an early morning walk I was able to discover that there is a modern side to the city, with large blocks and multiple laned streets, once again on the outskirts of the old city. Grenada, a beautiful city but I have not quite figured out how to classify the city yet modern or old. But the further south, such as Grenada, we go the more spanish you see and feel but also the more arabic influences as well. There is no wall or edge to explain the influence of Arabic architecture, for it was something that slowly ate away at Andulusia so when one travels to all of these cities they in a way all tie back together. Seville was just all around more colorful than any of the other cities and a lot larger than I ever expected. Last but not least Merida, the city of Roman ruins. It was a nice change from what we had seen along the trip and in Barcelona as well. It gives one a little snap back to reality that there was something here years and years before us.

Once circling back at the end of the trip and back on the train to Barcelona I had the time to sit and actually think about the cities and the places that we had just been to. And when everyone asks which one is your favorite and I couldn't think of one I now understand why. All in all each city, to me, had a completly different flavor, where I liked each one for what it had to offer. But there is no "favorite" or "Best" in my book, it was what does give off and offer to the surrounding people.







Then back in Barcelona we had a brezze of two weeks, a project, family and friends visiting, the Sagada Familia, the beginning of Lent, and the arrival an preparation for spring break. It was a crazy two weeks let me just leave it at that.












From there Spring Break:
Istanbul & Prague

This was beyond anything that I could have ever imagined and possibly my most favorite trip I have ever taken. Turkey was beyond amazing, I don't even know how to describe it and let me tell you it was an ambitious 3 days. We tried to hit as much as we could and I am pretty sure we succeeded. The buildings, the people, their lifestyle was just amazing I would go back in a heart beat. The problem is that is was so amazing that I don't even know how to put it into words. Aya Sofia, the Blue Mosque, the Baslica Cistern, The Grand Bazaar, The Spice Bazaar, The Palace, the Ferry rides to Asia, The 4th largest suppension bridge in the world, the Istanbul Modern, THE FOOOD!

Then to Prague, saw the biggest castle in the world, charles bridge, Old town Square, the Astronomical Clock, The Tyn Church, Fred and Ginger, National Museum, Wincelas square, the Jewish cemetery, the Municpal House and so many more things. The two cities were just phenominal each with new and greater things to offer.

This weekend Northern Spain...

Short and Sweet

Since the week flew by and this past week and weekend was full of clouds and rain and more clouds there is honestly not that much that I did, or that much to discuss. It has been crazy busy but with many little things and plenty of schedule changes. Two more projects down and one babysitting (dogsitting?) job later, I am tired and headed off to Madrid and southern Spain in the morning. All of my clothes are laid out on my bed- now I guess I just have to see if they will all fit. ha we will find out soon enough!


As far as theme goes I was not able to fulfill much this week, although I was quite interested in studying the edges that were created by pedestrians at my new studio site. For at Placa del Sol, no one really attempts to even break the rhythm and walk across the middle of the square- they remain and walk around the outskirts. I found it interesting that even though there was nothing creating an edge there was almost an emotional edge that no one wanted to be the 'center' of attention.

Although this week is short and sweet I am sure there will be plenty to dicuss after my trip.