Author: lindsey.287

A Look Back at London

It has been about a week and I am still wishing I was back in London. I am so grateful to have been able to have such an amazing first study abroad experience. One of my favorite memories from this trip was standing at the top of St. Paul’s cathedral and looking out over the city. The view was well worth all the steps we had to climb to get up there. Over the course of the trip I learned a lot about various styles of architecture and the culture of London in general. From the encounters that I had the people seemed nice and while some aspects of life and activities such as eating out were slightly different and less fast paced, I didn’t mind because it allowed me to really take in my surroundings and get to know other members of the class.

 

I was a little nervous about learning to navigate the city at first but found that after catching the tube a few times it is much cleaner and easier to navigate than the subway system of New York City. This gave me a sense of freedom and allowed me to be self sufficient in a city that is much larger than my hometown. I would definitely love to go back to London because while I got a great overview of important sites in the city, there is still a lot left to explore. I am sure by the time I come back there will be a few more skyscrapers to add to London’s beautiful skyline.

Free Day!

Today we went to Buckingham Palace and Harrods. Nothing really stood out to me as far as the facade of Buckingham Palace goes. It seemed to be pretty plain and uniform from the outside but I am sure that the inside had much more detail in every aspect of the building. After taking pictures like the one shown below, we went to the Queens gallery. It was interesting to see the different paintings that and drawings that were a part of Charles II’s collection.

Our last stop was at Harrods, which is a large department store known for the type and the amount of high end name brands it carries. Nearly a block past the tube stop, I saw people walking around in brands such as Dior and Louis Vuitton  and could only imagine what the inside of Harrods would look like. It was pretty crowded today but I really enjoyed looking at all the clothing and shoes that you don’t generally see in Columbus. While I didn’t buy anything here it was fun to explore and visit other shops in the area.

Harrods Department Store

Buckingham Palace

The Banksy Tour

Bambi Piece

Banksy

Grafitti art, in my opinion is truly under appreciated. Yesterday some of the group went on a quest to find several Banksy pieces throughout the Camden area.While there, I learned how to identify some of banksy’s work. One of the most notable features of his work, was that he was dedicated to creating pieces that were about making people think about social and political issues that surround them. His work is often described as protest art. Many people may not take into account the amount of preparation his pieces require and the detail that is within even his stencil pieces.

I believe that putting Banksy’s art work in a museum would defeat the intended purpose which is to create thought provoking pieces of social and political commentary in hopes to enact change. One of his pieces says “ If Graffiti changed anything it would be illegal” which seems to be a play off of the “if voting changed anything…” quote. People enact change, however Banksy’s artwork seems to be aiding in the discussion of world issues.

 

Tracey Post 2

Salisbury Cathedral

At this point in the trip we have passed several cathedrals, but none quite like Salisbury cathedral. The ornate detail in each section of this gothic style cathedral was breathtaking. At Salisbury we also had the opportunity to see the Magna Carta. The extra buttressing that was added to the cathedral was easily identifiable and the bowing out of columns underneath the center helped to support this large weight. I enjoyed the town of Salisbury as well and the more vibrant colors of the town was a nice contrast to the darker interior and exterior of the church. I was also intrigued by the modern sculptures throughout the property of the church and am curious to know the reasoning behind placing these sculptures around the cathedral.

Days 1 and 2

National Theatre

The Barbican

Our first few days here we put our way finding activities into practice. After a short walk around the hotel to get adjusted to the new setting, we began our site visits. Throughout the past few days, we have managed to visit several sites including the Barbican which I was perplexed about at first. Upon entering the Barbican, I wasn’t really sure what made that particular area stand out from an architectural standpoint. When we got inside the Barbican I learned that this area was not just a housing complex but somewhat of a mini city.The Barbican houses a school, theater, library, restaurants and waterways surrounded by an array of flowers plants and other greenery.

On the second day, we made a brief stop at the National Theater, which also falls under the brutalist architecture category. This one looked much different than the Barbican in that it was lighter and had no real green space. The theatre also seemed to be structured in such a way that the focus was on the pillars as a vertical unit, rather than most of them laying horizontal like in the Barbican.

Tracey’s Pre-departure Post

Just hours before the trip, I am filled with excitement and curiosity as we prepare to embark on our journey to London. Today has been hectic as the day before a big trip generally is, but I feel like I am packed and ready to go.  I am excited to see St Paul’s Cathedral, and Stourhead Garden and many of the other places we discussed in class because I am sure pictures don’t do these buildings justice.  I am sure that riding the tube will take some getting used to, but I find it fascinating that all these intricate underground pathways lie underneath such a beautiful city with a rich history.

I look forward to using various sketching styles that have discussed in class but am slightly nervous that I won’t be able to sketch quickly enough to capture everything. This of course comes with practice and I hope to see improvement in my sketching throughout the trip.  It’s a little surreal to think that over the course of Spring break while many people travel to the beach or home to visit family, I will be experiencing the life and culture of a completely different country! I am truly appreciative for this opportunity to study abroad and can’t wait to learn about the city and get to know the class better over the course of the next nine days.

Tracey’s Bio

Hello everyone!

My name is Tracey Lindsey and I am a third year from Jeffersonville, Indiana. I am a Strategic Communications major with a Legal Foundations of Society minor. My hobbies include writing, dancing, and listening to music. While my major has nothing to do with architecture, being around my sister, who is an architecture student, and seeing some of her work has peaked my interest in the subject matter. I believe that gaining knowledge of countries and cities outside of your own is extremely important and necessary in any field.

 

This will be my first real trip abroad and I am excited to explore the city and learn about the culture. Some of the sites in particular that I am looking forward to seeing are St. Paul’s Cathedral and and the Tate Modern. I remember learning about St. Paul’s Cathedral in high school and thought it would interesting to see this structure in person. It is easy to get caught up in the rich history of London but I am excited to see more modern aspects of London in addition to the historical sites. I believe that this class and the trip will help me to gain a greater appreciation for different styles of architecture and the role that architecture can play in shaping a city.  

 

Me near the Washington Monument