GENOVA SPRING 2011
CAF - Clemson University
GENOVA SPRING 2011
Charles E. Daniel Center for Building, Research and Urban Studies Students inside the Siena Baptistry
Students Undergraduate: Margaret Allen Chelsea Brandt William Brantley John Caveney Gabrielle Conlon Semmes Gilmore Lauren Kenner Kara Kinsey Ross Kistler Lucy Lynch Katie McCraw Justin Miller Alex Mostov Jennifer Smetana Ben Wyszynski
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Landscape Architecture: Ryan Hunt Willie Lee Jones Graduate: Jim Graham Joe McNeill Caitlin Ranson Suzanne Steelman
Faculty Henrique Houayek* Professor in Residence Luca Rocco Alessandro Rocca Giuditta Poletti Saverio Fera Administrator Silvia Siboldi Staff: Cristina Lagomarsino Lucia Ruggiero * Spouse Kelly Houayek
This book is dedicated to the Daniel family for their generous support over the years.
Students, faculty and staff at the Villa Party February 25th 2011 3
Students and CAF members in Parma
Orvieto
Vienna
Students and Chair talking at the Villa
Vienna; Hundertwasser Kunst Hauss
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Roma
Firenze, Baptistry Door
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Students sketching at the San Agostino Monastery in Genova
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Katie McCraw Architecture Undergraduate
The past semester had been incredible. Being able to be immersed in a new culture is quite the experience and even teaches you more about your own culture. Genoa has been the perfect city to study in. It really felt like home. My favorite part about this semester has been the many travel experiences that I’ve had. I was able to travel to nine different countries seeing, learning, and eating new things in each place. Traveling really puts things in perspective, providing a different prospective that cannot be gained any other way. Villa life is also something unique to life in Genoa. It is so much fun living in a gorgeous villa, overlooking the Mediterranean, with 22 others. It really feels like one big family. There is always something going on, and the delicious food and constant supply of foccacia doesn’t hurt. The studio environment was great and it was a new experience being able to design in such a different context than anywhere else. It has been such an incredible semester and all the memories I have made here will last a lifetime.
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Alex Mostov Architecture Undergraduate
Morning at the Villa I awake to the muffled sounds of dreams. How can I blame them, my classmates, with the magnificence we experience on what seems like a daily basis? I carefully pick my way across the room, avoiding the boards which I know squeak. I open the wooden double doors, and ever so carefully close them behind me; else breezes from the open balcony will suck them closed again, as if the dream world wants to protect itself from the outside. Driven downstairs, I choose, like always, to take the big marble staircase. Its smooth winding grandeur is too inviting to ignore. The ‘pat’ sound of skin against the cold marble sounds unnatural, so I use only the balls of my feet. Without shoes, I spill down the slick steps like water on rocks. Before me, windows now illuminate my path with soft golden light. I transition my decent to the servant’s stairs. Their plainness is more then compensated for by close proximity to my goal, fresh focaccia. I squeeze down the narrow staircase and hear voices, inevitably the chatter of Christina, the villa cook, and the housemaid Lucia. Upon reaching the kitchen I commence a routine so rhythmic and flawless it could only result from daily repetition. First things first, espresso, the machine is slow and I always pour two long cups. This leaves me with plenty of time to assemble the rest of my breakfast. By now, I am consumed with a primal desire for focaccia. I half skip to the breadbasket in anticipation. Thrusting open the lid rejuvenates my wary senses. The rays of warmth and salty dough penetrate my soul. I methodically unwrap the paper and slice through the thin sheets. It’s a good day, the focaccia is lightly browned and crispy. It crackles under my knife. I drift across the kitchen and carefully pick a pear from the basket. By now my coffee is done, and I am almost ready for breakfast. I add warm milk and watch as white clouds ripple through the black pool of espresso. My focaccia is juicy with oil, and as I munch on the corner I peer out onto Genova harbor. Can this place be real? The villa has calmness and majesty I thought exclusive to fiction. I reflect on world that lays before me, so inviting and ready to explore. I am at peace.
Living at the Villa
Student experiences in Genova
Semmes Gilmore Architecture Undergraduate
The Villa provides a unique environment that enhances the study abroad experience in so many different ways. Part of the uniqueness comes from the “home base” role that the Villa plays in relation to the many trips we have taken this semester, and the other part comes simply from living in the same residence with 21 fellow classmates and our professor. This semester provided the opportunity for three 9-day trips as well as many weekend and day trips to various cities in Italy and other parts of Europe. No matter the place we travelled, it was always nice to return “home” to Genoa. In a very short time, the Villa became the place where we lived, and not just a place we were visiting for 4 months. Daily life in Genoa turned into a normal routine, and it was easy to forget how different it really was. Daily routine, however, is not exactly the best way to describe “Villa Life.” Lunch at 1 and dinner at 7 are about the only things that remained constant. Other than that, the mixture of classes, assignments, and college life in general created a one-of-a-kind environment to learn about architecture, Italian culture, and also the culture and realities of a 23-occupant house. Eating, living, travelling and taking classes with such a dynamic group frequently created extraordinary events and situations. Some of these instances are unbelievable, and all of them are unforgettable.
Lauren Kenner Architecture Undergraduate
Living in a house with twenty-one people is an experience in itself beyond coming to Europe and traveling for four months. Both presented themselves as exciting opportunities to create new experiences and learn new things. With being in a foreign country the people of the villa have become home and allowed me to create a sense of comfort in the overwhelming experiences of moving to Genova. Living in a house with both guys and girls and having all our classes, meals, social outings, and most of our travels together you become a family. We have created a sense of community that can only come from being basically inseparable for the last four months. When I say we have become a family this means both the good and the bad. There have been countless moments of family dinners, barbeques, going out dancing, Villa Parties and a general love of architecture we have shared. There have been crazy moments filled with dancing with Italian men, and the general whirlwind that are Villa Parties. We have eaten our weight in foccacia, gelato, pizza and pasta and enjoyed every minute of it. There is nothing else that can compare to the experience of living in the villa. It is a chance that will never be repeated in any other context since we have been on our own for the last four months with only each other for support and English speaking contact. That combined with all the new cultures I have experienced and places I have seen have created the most eccentric experience I could have hoped to imagine. Beyond making new lifelong friends, I can now read a subway map, and plan an entire trip along with finding great cheap food to eat. I have been able to become more independent than I ever could have if the experience of studying abroad in Genova and living at the Villa was not given to me. 9
Genova Piazza The structure of the Piazza Piazzas are among the most spectacular architecture works of the medieval city; its trace and position of its buildings represent principle functions of communal life and civic unity. In this drawing exercise students are encourage to experience Genova’s medieval city piazzas and understand its architectural structure, scale, orientation and architecture. The proposed exercise requires students to choose and investigate, on site, a medieval piazza dimension and scale - its form is reproduced in plan with its building’s facades. The following Piazzas were reproduced:
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1 Piazza della Meridiana 2 Piazza San Lorenzo 3 Piazza della Anunziatta 4 Piazza San Matteo 5 Piazza Fontane Marose 6 Piazza del Ferro 7 Piazza Luccoli 8 Piazza Banchi 9 Piazza di San Donato
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Piazza della Meridiana Alex Mostov
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Piazza San lorenzo William Brantley
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Piazza della Anunziatta Ross Kistler
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Piazza Banchi Jennifer Smetana
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Piazza di San Donato Katie McCraw
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Piazza Fontane Marose Justin Miller
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Piazza San Matteo Suzanne Steelman
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Piazza del Ferro Gabrielle Conlon
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Piazza San Lorenzo Ryan Hunt
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Piazza San Bernardo Maggie Allen
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Field Studies: Sketches
On Drawing: Design as an aesthetic practice
The process of graphic transformation of the environment onto a two dimensional page, acts for architecture students as an explicit and remarkable analytical tool. The focus of the Field Studies/Sketch course in Genova is to sharpen the student’s ability to see, understand, and record, through drawing their experiences while studying abroad. Traveling, walking and discovering new environments becomes an aesthetic practice. As for an architecture student there is no better learning experience than to train his or her visual sensibility - the capacity to explain it graphically is to reach control over architectural forms. The unique character and advantage of the “field sketch� is to allow a concentrated amount of time to focus attention onto a specific place or building in order to discover, analyze and record its complexities. Such analytical inquiry may have a reciprocal effect of interpreting the subject and, through the drawing itself, illustrates the process of how the subject is revealed, providing insightful information and reveals otherwise hidden information about the subject rather than only depicting stenography. This class procedure is very simple: students must draw nearly every day, a process which builds confidence and skill in observation and graphic presentations. Most important these drawings should help students in their own design process. Design becomes the conclusion of the chain of associations, analysis, observation and connections to existing architecture and their exploratory experiences. The following pages bring a sample of the variety of sketches and drawings done throughout the semester. Divided by city and theme, these pages present visions and discoveries while in Genova and traveling around Europe. 22
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Alex Mostov
Jennifer Smetana
Gabrielle Conlon
Semmes Gilmore
Chelsea Brandt
Lucy Lynch
Jim Graham
Lee Jones
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Suzanne Steelmand
The Villa
Visions of the Genovese home
Joe McNeill
Caitlin Ranson
Ryan Hunt
Kara Kinsey
Ben Wyszynski
Ross Kistler
Katie McCraw
Maggie Allen
Lauren Kenner
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Left - Chiesa di San Matteo: Caitlin Ranson Top Right - Porta Soprana: Jenn Smetana Bottom Right -Chiesa di Santa Croce: Ryan Hunt
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Genova
Right; view of Genova from Castelletto : Alex Mostov Left; Castello Bruzzo: Joe McNeill Ryan Hunt Kara Kinsey 27
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Left: Lauren Kenner Top Right: Alex Mostov Middle Right: Caitlin Ranson Bottom Right: Gabrielle Conlon
Genova
Top Right - Teatro Carlo Felice: Ryan Hunt Bottom Right - Castello d’Albertis: Gabrielle Conlon Top Left - San Lorenzo Cathedral: Kara Kinsey Bottom Left - Santo Agostino Church Courtyard: Alex Mostov
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Left - Pallazo Bianco: Joe McNeill Top Right: Ross Kistler Middle Right: Kara Kinsey Bottom Right: Ryan Hunt 30
Genova
Palace Doors at Via Garibaldi
Top Right: Alex Mostov Bottom Right: Semmes Gilmore Top Left: Lucy Lynch Bottom Left: Justin Miller 31
Top - Florence Landscape: Gabrielle Conlon Bottom Left - Palazzo Vecchio: Ryan Hunt Bottom Right - Santa Maria Novella: Lauren Kenner
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Group Trip 1 Frorence
Top - Santa Maria Novella: Gabrielle Conlon Bottom - Chiesa di San Miniato a Firenze: Justin Miller 33
Torre del Mangia: Left; Ryan Hunt Right; Lee Jones 34
Group Trip 1 Siena and San Gimignano
Top right: Jim Graham Bottom right: Ryan Hunt Bottom center: Lee Jones Bottom Left: Kara Kinsey Top Left: Alex Mostov 35
Top: Jim Graham Bottom right: Kara Kinsey Bottom center: Ross Kistler Bottom Left: Lauren Kenner
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Group Trip 1 Rome
Top: Joe McNeill Bottom right: Caitlin Ranson Bottom center: Ryan Hunt Bottom Center Ross Kistler Bottom Left: Ryan Hunt
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Left - Tyn Church: Ben Wyszynski Top right - Dancing Building: Ryan Hunt Bottom Center - Astronomical Clock: Kara Kinsey Bottom Right - Tyn Church: Ross Kistler 38
Independent Travel Prague
Prague Landscape: Ryan Hunt
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London Landscape: Joe McNeill Big Ben: Semmes Gilmore 40
Independent Travel London
Top right - St. Paul’s Cathedral: Joe McNeill Bottom Right - London landscape: Jim Graham Bottom center - St. Paul’s Cathedral: Caitlin Ranson Left - Big Ben: John Caveney 41
Top - City Landscape: Jim Graham Bottom Left Dean Galery Landscape: Lucy Lynch Bottom Right - Royal Palace: John Caveney 42
Independent Travel
Edinburgh
Right: Foogs Gate Edinburgh Castle: Maggie Allen Top left - Parish of St. George and St. Andrew: Semmes Gilmore Bottom Left - Arthur’s seat: Katie McCraw 43
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Left; Trinity College : Ross Kistler top right: Gabrielle Conlon Middle Right; Castle Square Ben Wyszynski Bottom Right; National Library Ben Wyszynski
Independent Travel Dublin
Right: Heineken Factory Facade: William Brantley Top left - Drury Steet pub Facade: Semmes Gilmore Middle Left - Drury Steet landscape: John Caveney Bottom Left - Pub Facade: William Brantley 45
Top: Philarmonic: Joe McNeill Bottom - Crematorium: Lauren Kenner 46
Independent Travel
Berlin
Top Right - Jewish Museum: Caitlin Ranson Bottom Right - New National Galery: John Caveney Left: Suzanne Steelman 47
Top - The Whale Apartments: Maggie Allen Bottom Left - Amsterdam Library: Katie McCraw Bottom Right - Sarphatistraat, office - Caitlin Ranson
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Top; Nemo: Kara Kinsey Bottom right; Nemo: Maggie Allen Bottom middle; Apartments: Katie McCraw Bottom left; Java island townhouse: Ben Wyszynski
Independent Travel
Amsterdam
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Top - Napoli Castle: Kara Kinsey Bottom Left - Pompei: Jenn Smetana Right - Pompei: Ross Kistler 50
Independent Travel
Napoli and Palermo
Top - Palermo Cathedral: Ryan Hunt Bottom right - Duomo di Cephals: Ryan Hunt Bottom Left - Palermo City Gate: Lee Jones 51
Venice canal: Ryan Hunt 52
Group Trip 2 Venice
Right - Chiesa del Redentore: John Caveney Left - Palazzo Ducale Facade portion: William Brantley 53
Top: Alex Mostov Bottom right: Jim Graham Bottom left Ryan Hunt 54
Group Trip 2 Venice
Top Right: Lauren Kenner Bottom Right: Alex Mostov Top Left: Ben Wyszynski Bottom Left: Joe McNeill
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Top - Villa Rotonda: Semmes Gilmore Bottom - Villa Barbaro: Caitlin Ranson
Group Trip 2 Palladian Villas, Veneto
Top - Villa Rotonda: Ryan Hunt Bottom - Villa Rotonda: Alex Mostov 57
Top Left - Brion Cemetery: Suzanne Steelman Bottom Left - Brion Cemetery: Maggie Allen Top Right - Canova Gipsoteca: Alex Mostov Bottom Right - Canova Gipsoteca: Caitlin Ranson 58
Group Trip 2 Homage to Carlo Scarpa
Right - Castelvechio: Ryan Hunt Top Left - Castelvechio: Kara Kinsey Right - Castelvechio: Caitlin Ranson 59
Contemporary European Architecture
The CEA (Contemporary European Architecture) seminar focused on a selected number of relevant personalities, projects and theories of the European architectural culture. Through the critical examination of some architectural samples, we have explored the different ideas and theories about space, technology, and lifestyle. The period of observation is fragmented through the last ninety years. The course will treat the works of some European masters of the Twenties and Thirties of the last century; architects, theories and works of the second half of the last century; and buildings, projects and new topics of the first years of this century. A part of the course was dedicated to the thinking, designing, writing and editing of an architectural book - a personal production where the students were asked to fix and discuss ideas, concepts and critical observations suggested from the topics treated in class. The books show a clearly organized collection of illustrations, texts, drawings and any kind of architectural material. They also report about other topics experienced during the trips and visits made throughout the semester.
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Studio Projects
Designing at the edge of the medieval city One of the most important considerations for the semester studies at Genova is to understand the city’s urban context and its architecture. Exceptional characteristics of the medieval city and its growth over the centuries create interesting and unaccustomed situations. This semester’s design studio focused on an area at the edge of the medieval city – marked in red in the image. A residual lot abandoned by the city evolution between the harbor and the old city wall. This long and small residual space challenges students to try new design possibilities. In each scheme, where the program is a university dorm - due to its very close proximity with the Genova university area - living, working, recreational, and cultural facilities are juxtaposed in new pedestrian sectors to promote a continuous and healthy structure in the city. Such conditions in the mix of different urban generations is very “Genovese”, representing the opportunity to design in an area where the main forces are not traditional. The movement of pedestrians happens in a vertical sense. The pedestrian circulation occurs from the top to the bottom - a high speed road blocks redefines any possibility of a traditional façade. The challenge to students is to design a structure that should accommodate more than just the program; it should help create a positive wholeness in this city area. The following pages present the students design and their response to such urban conditions.
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Ben Wyszynski Justin Miller Joe McNeill
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Gabrielle Conlon Alex Mostov Chelsea Brandt
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Meggie Allen Lauren Kenner Katie McCraw
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Caitlin Ranson Suzanne Steelman Lucy Lynch
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Ross Kistler Kara Kinsey Jenn Smetana
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Semmes Gilmore Jim Graham
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StudioMOD™ is a mixed use project by G3 DesignŽ that integrates comfortable student living near Facolta di Architettura and Genova’s city center with commercial space, a rooftop restaurant and public garden terrace. It uses modular construction tactics that have a reduced impact on the environment and save both time and money. The project is comprised of two main bodies of two person dorms and larger studio modules for young couples and small families. These rest atop a ground floor of 280 sq m that service the dorms and over 500 sq m of commercial space. The dorms are capped by a rooftop restaurant and garden terraces of more than 800 sq m that provide breathtaking views of Genova Harbor and the Ligurian Sea.
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William Brantley John Caveney
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Ryan Hunt Willie Lee Jones
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PIAZZA DI SARZANO: Revitalizing the life of a historic piazza in the heart of Genova, Italia
The design was based on the creation of a sequence to unify the entire space, because of its size, into one large kind of linear piazza. The concept has four basic levels: repetition, sequence, intersection, and unity. Although these terms may sound similar, they reflect different elements used to connect and develop the space. The concept of repetition consists of the addition of a sequence of spaces across the entire site. The repetition, defined by a series of lines of dark stone paving, offers a sense of connection and unity within the entire space. The concept of sequence consists of an order of benches organized in lines moving across the site. Although the lines offset and are independent of the layout of the site, they still respect the three turns of the site. The concept of intersection is established by a grid of lights complimenting the shape of the site. The lighting is added where the lines intersect, and their order is also independent of the layout of the site and of the bench organization. Finally, the concept of unity is created by the green spaces previously covered by asphalt paving. Although the green spaces are separated by the other parts of the design, the topography and vegetation share a unity and complement each other.
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http://thevillalife-spring2011.tumblr.com/ Palladian Villas
This book has been produced by Henrique Houayek, professor in residence during the Spring 2011 semester. It is a sample of the students experiences and their work produced while living at the villa .
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The Charles E. Daniel Center for Building, Research and Urban Studies was founded in 1972 by Harlan Ewart McLure and Cesare Fera as one of the first architecture programs in the US to establish a satellite program in Europe. Since its creation the Genova program has serve as home for Clemson University, captivating and inspiring countless architecture students. The program balances studio experience with studies of Italian architecture, contemporary design, urban practices, culture and field sketching. Students spend about a third of the 15-week semester traveling around Italy and Europe. A resident professor from Clemson is assisted by Italian professors who also practice architecture in Genoa. Visiting critics and lecturers from Italy and Europe come to the center on a regular basis to lecture and critique student work. This book presents the work produced during the Spring semester of 2011 with particular emphasis on student’s sketches and field studies.