July 21, 2013 by shannonchance

Reshaping a Roman Site

I’m wrapping up my week as “Scholar in Residence” for the University of Oregon’s study abroad program in Rome. It’s been a fun and informative learning experience.

I’m posting images from the studio review we had on Thursday, to give you an idea of what it’s like to be an architecture student or professor.

These students have completed second year of a five-year professional degree program (leading to the Bachelor’s of Architecture degree). They will start third year in the fall.

They’ve done some very nice design work so far in their three-credit architecture studio class in Rome. Their site is an embankment wall, built in the late 1800s to keep the Tiber River from flooding the city as it has done for centuries.

According to Wikipedia:

The Tiber was once known for its floods — the Campus Martius is a flood plain and would regularly flood to a depth of 2 metres (6 ft 7 in). The river is now confined between high stone embankments which were begun in 1876. Within the city, the riverbanks are lined by boulevards known as lungoteveri, streets “along the Tiber.”

Drawings by a student in Daisy’s class.

Amanda’s model of the existing site

Amanda’s new design…

…using the concept of frames.

Amanda presenting

Daisy commenting…

…and offering suggestions.

An analytic model of the existing site

Nicki presenting

Nick included a new bridge for access using bikes and wheelchairs…

…and she drew a helpful perspective of the new design.

A detail of Nicki’s site section

Around the table

Miranda explaining the research, precedents, and conceptual underpinning of her design.

Miranda’s model of the existing site

Miranda’s new plan

The model of Miranda’s proposed design

Getting feedback…

…from Daisy…

…and Lauren, and Shannon.

Laurel presented her ideas, too.

Laurel’s goals and objectives…

…helped her generate a new design…

…converting the existing site…

…into an urban beach.

July 20, 2013 by shannonchance

Penciling in Rome

Headed out for breakfast and a day of exploring in the breeze and sunshine of Rome. Yesterday’s rain cooled the city down, and it’s amazingly comfortable today. Hoping to get some more sketching in today.

Via dell’Arco del Monte

July 18, 2013 by shannonchance

UO Studio Review

Taylor, Katie, Daisy, Cody, and me deep in conversation over a design proposal.

On Tuesday, I delivered a lecture to the University of Oregon architecture students here in Rome. Daisy made me feel like a million bucks with her introduction! We worked together at Hampton University from 2005-2010 and got to know each other well. I miss her, but I’m thrilled that she’s doing so well for herself!

In the talk, I shared examples of the research I’ve been doing and discussed the need for architects to expand their research abilities.

After the lecture, three of the students presented their design progress. Daisy, the other students, and I gave feedback and ideas for further development.

A scheme for getting down to the water…

…as seen from the other side of the Tiber River.

Models are great for helping visualize space.

Here’s Cody’s model of the site’s existing qualities…

…and a conceptual sketch of his along with a list of design objectives.

In our group on Tuesday…

…everybody got involved in sharing ideas.

We had lots of interesting work…

…to discuss…

…and contemplate.

July 12, 2013 by shannonchance

The World… on Water!

The Fulbright Ireland crew had a lovely day on the MS The World, as the outgoing students and scholars for 2013-14 were officially announced. There are 37 Irish Fulbright awardees in all this year, and they join the ranks of 1600 other Irish Fulbrights who have gone to the US since 1947.

Events were held on a very impressive cruise ship where people actually live… it operates like a very high-end condo. The ship is called “The World” and we were lucky enough to get tours from the staff.

We were guests of ship residents Jack and Monica Pinkowski, who are Florida residents.

Jack was a Fulbright to Dublin City Council in 2008-9, and the couple continues to support the Fulbright program today.

12:00 – 12:45 pm	Guests Arrive and Ship Tours Gangway
12:30/12:45 – 1:30 pm	Light lunch / drinks with traditional Irish musicians performing Tea Room/ Garden
1:30 – 2:30 pm	Remarks / Presentation of Awardees The Colosseo § World Representative and Fulbright Alumna, Dr. Jack Pinkowski § Fulbright Commission Chair, Mr. Patrick McDermott § Chargé d’ Affaires, U.S. Embassy, Mr. John Hennessy-Niland § Fulbright Commission Executive Director, Ms. Colleen Dube § Lord Mayor of Dublin Oisín Quinn
2:30 pm	End of Event

Boarding the ship…

…with its impeccable maintenance.

Fulbrights touring.

Jonathan and Amanda playing tunes.

Impressive guest list.

DCU education expert.

Acting Ambassador to Ireland.

Director of Fulbright Ireland, Colleen Dube.

Irish Fulbrights for 2013-14.

A gift for our hosts.

Dublin’s new Lord Mayor.

The new Fulbright scholar in Marine Science (who I got to interview in January).

The new Fulbright student in engineering (who I got to interview in January).

Fulbrights on deck.

The Lord Mayor and an outgoing Fulbright.

View from the top deck.

Photo ops…

…with our host and the Lord Mayor.

July 9, 2013 by shannonchance

Secret Paris

The book Secret Paris sent me to many interesting but obscure sites nestled off the beaten path in Paris. Not all were open or accessible. But with a little patience, I found my way into some lovely spots that most tourists never see.

This was the first time I felt at home in Paris, and this little book helped a bit. It helped me find some person-sized places. It’s all too easy to see only the monumental scale sites of this city. Paris is about monumentality and uniformity–especially along the boulevards. But he back streets and courtyards are often lively and quaint.

In Paris, sped some time avoiding the monuments. It’s much nicer to take a slow pace and find some nooks and crannies that you can call your own.

Here’s a sketch I made in one “secret” space of Paris… the courtyard of a set of 48 or so apartments northeast of the Opera.

July 8, 2013 by shannonchance

Victorian Times at Ryan’s Pub

Ryan’s Victorian Pub

The snug at Ryan’s Victorian Pub.

The count down is on for me. I’ve got about six more weeks in Europe, with one being in Rome. So, amid finalizing research projects and submitting papers, I’m trying to visit sites I’ve overlooked and people I will miss.

These are some photos of my visit to Ryan’s Victorian Pub, just across the Liffey from Heusten (train) Station. At Ryan’s, they serve up a lovely Beef and Guinness Pie!

July 3, 2013 by shannonchance

Passage in Toulon

I’d forgotten how much I love Toulon, France. It’s a naval town, and the sister city of Norfolk, Virginia, where I live in the States.

The little plazas–scattered throughout Toulon–are amazing. Full of character and life. And, they are so close together that you’re never more than half a block from a lively public space.

Our Hampton University architecture program has worked with officials and urban planners in Toulon each summer since 2010 to develop design strategies for revitalizing the city using architecture and urban design.

This year’s HU students in the plaza in front of the opera house, on the way to an event.

Reception hosted by the Sister Cities organization in Toulon.

A sketch I made this year of a pedestrian friendly street in Toulon. We got to see inside an apartment on this street in 2010.

This refection photo from Toulon was part of my recent exhibition.

June 27, 2013 by shannonchance

Pyro-technics at Pont du Gard

The Roman aqueduct, Pont du Gard, lights up once a year for just four nights. And thanks to Hampton University’s Prof. Mason Andrews, I’ve had the chance to see the animated light show twice… once in 2010 (the first year such an event occurred) and now again in 2013.

The 2010 show depicted the history of France. The 2013 show was titled Ulysses the Pirate. The event planners (F Group) expanded the effects significantly over the years–they have added many new pyrotechnics.

This year’s production included some of my favorite animate footage from 2010 (illustrating structural characteristics of the Roman water bridge) as well as animated projections onto a nearby building and cliff face.

Pont du Gard crowd

Pont du Gard pyro-technics

Pont du Gard fireworks

June 27, 2013 by shannonchance

Discovering Uzes, France

I’d never been to Uzes, France even though some of my Hampton University architecture students had. Uzes is home of the famous urbanist, Leon Krier, though we didn’t get to meet him there this year. We often use his book, The Architecture of Community, in my Urban Theory class.

Visiting Uzes made for a wonderful day of learning and exploring. I even wrapped with two decent sketches of my own.

Arriving in Uzes, Mason sent us off…

…into the market…

…and lunch on our own.

Then to work–sketching…

…and discovering details of the town.

Learning to sketch from Ray Gindroz…

…a famous architect and urban designer.

One of my sketches in progress.

A courtyard of Uzes.

A street in Uzes.

A small little plaza along a street in Uzes.

My sketch of the market square, after the market finished.

The trees make this plaza very pleasant.

June 7, 2013 by shannonchance

Chasing Lions in Dublin

I went on the hunt for lions in Dublin last week, and found plenty to stir my soul! Disney’s theatrical production of the Lion King is energetic and mesmerizing. The costumes and choreography amazed and astounded me.