I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to travel to a country with such interesting and diverse architecture. This experience was unlike any other because it was one thing to sit in a classroom and learn about architecture, but then to be able to travel across the world and see it first-hand was very unique.
When I told my family and friends that I was traveling to Chile, most of their initial reactions were something along the lines of “What’s there to see in Chile?”. I think that most people’s preconceived notions of South American cities are not very architecturally interesting. Admittedly, I initially wasn’t exactly sure what there was to see in Chile, but after this trip I am able to tell everyone how intriguing the architecture and landscape of Chile actually is.
One thing that really stuck out to me was how the architecture responds to the terrain and landscape of Chile. Being a very mountainous region, I could imagine that building a structure on this terrain would be extremely difficult. However Chilean architects such as Smiljan Radic and Alejandro Aravena take this challenge in stride and use it to create some very interesting pieces. I was particularly interested in the Adolfo Ibanez campus and how it was constructed far up in the hills. Winding roads lead to the beautiful school, and once you are inside it is hard to imagine how a space so unique could have been constructed on anything but a treacherous, sloping terrain. It truly fits in perfectly with the landscape, and the challenging terrain is part of what makes it such a unique place.
This trip has inspired me to think more analytically about the architecture around me, as well as challenge myself in my own designs. The experience I gained on this trip is something that cannot be taught in the classroom and is truly invaluable. I am very grateful to have made lots of new friends and to have experienced such a unique country and all of its culture.