Author: Nick Frederick

Fueling Confusion

Back in U.S. soil and I will have to say that I was disappointed in the flat land, cold weather, and perpetually hazy skies. Within these last 48 hours, I find myself reflecting more and more on how much I loved my abroad experience. Even more than the various beautiful destinations that we went to, what I loved the most was my ability to analyze the buildings we observed. In that aspect, I surprised myself. This revelation can be interpreted as both good and bad. Since I took this course to see if my curiosity in architecture would correlate into some ability, I am glad that my interest in architecture has been fueled further as a result of this trip. Pessimistically, part of me also wanted to hate every aspect of this trip so that I could be certain that a career in finance was the route I should take. Thanks to all of you, that did not happen. As I continue down this road called life, I have reached a point where a road diverges. I have to decide if I should take a relative leap of faith and pursue a masters in architecture or stay true to my undergraduate and enter the corporate world.

P.S. I will also say that I like OSU’s campus a lot less after going to UC’s. I used to completely love the uniformity and clean nature of all our brick and mortar buildings but after visiting the campus at San Joaquín, I have begun to think that we lack the necessary variety that makes each department so special.

The Beauty of Undeterred Business

Being a business major, i wanted to take time to address the business climate here in Chile. I have been astounded at the economy’s acceptance of free market capitalism regardless of size, quantity, or quality. When I say this I am referring to the countless tent or blanket sheet merchants that live in the streets of nearly every major thorough fare. These merchants offer various commerce ranging from fruits to used clothes and everything in between. I think that this action, this acceptance has been pivotal in strengthening this economy to what we see it to be today. This increased economic activity allows for a more cohesive society one that is interdependent and works towards the same ends. I also have enjoyed being in the atmosphere of such hard-working and  entrepreneurial people. The ambition that they carry around everyday regardless of their profession is refreshing to me and invigorated my pursuits. When we go back home to the United States, we will return to a nation of formal institutions. One where vendors require permits, small corner stores tend to be more corporate, and where large institutions are the predominate force in commerce. Now I’m not saying that the US, a very successful capitalistic country should take notes on Chile’s economic activity yet I think it is very important to note the fluidity of their ability to exchange commerce. I believe if the US were to relax their permit regulations for vending or implement a greater importance on markets similar to how Valporaiso created a weekly market schedule (Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday), then we would see greater economic activity. Through witnessing all of this entrepreneurial activity I am further interested in the structure of business incubators and further passionate about implementing my own. I’m going to take what I’ve seen in Chile, the passion that individuals have for their craft and attempts to help as many Americans with that same passion as I can. While it may not be as visible, I know that the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in America. 

A Perfect Harmony

Today we visited what was my most sought after destination, the innovation center. The reason I was so excited for this building was because it houses a business incubator program similar to the smaller scale one that I’m in the process of starting back in my hometown. I wanted to take my financial knowledge and couple it with my preliminary architectural ideas to see how well this building fit its purpose. More specifically, to see how the Chileans and the University of San Joaquin are able to create a thriving incubator program. The innovation center is breathtaking to say the least. As soon as the campus was visible via the metro, I was immediately drawn to the center. This was Elemental’s intention as the university wanted a landmark building. The momental concrete structure with large voids thanks to repressed windows created a beautiful building. I had two initial thoughts. First, that this building is just beckoning for individuals to explore it. The large scale and limited transparency on the exterior makes for the curious mind to run wild with imaginations of the building’s layout. That curiosity is amazing marketing, in the aggregate, for the program. Individuals will be drawn to enter the building and that proximity will allow for a higher consumer traffic through the tenants. While that is good, my second thought questions the transparency of the internal building as it relates to the limited transparency of the external. A common system in an incubator program is to have relative transparency between one member and the next. It is the intention to have the tenants be inspired by each other‘s work and determination in order to increase their own drive. I was initially worried that the lack of transparency on the eternal would also lead to a lack of transparency in the internal yet as I entered the building I knew right away that was perfect. Whether it was the open middle section allowing for visibility to nearly every tenant or the adaptable rooms so that companies are able to utilize their space to best suit their needs, building was tailored for multi-tenants, transparency, and innovation. I have made intentions to try and decipher the program structure of the innovation center and will still research that at the conclusion of this trip yet basing solely off the architecture of the center, tenants have a great opportunity at their hands to jump start their business due to the location, marketing, and passion found at El Centro de Innovacion. 

A Simple Pane of Glass

At the onset of my experience in the building, I was mesmerized by the Pre-Columbian Museum. Initially, I found the transparent gift shop to be a modern addition to the classical feel. It is in fact that harmony of contemporary renovations with the existing classic structure (provided by the old customs house) that made for the perfect museum venue. In particular, I my appreciation for the architecture of the building stems from the second floor exhibits. To me, the transparency that the display cases created across the second floor brought out a connectivity throughout the building. As you know, the building was structured with an open courtyard and two walkways. One walkway is adjacent to the courtyard and the other went through the various rooms. It was the display cases that Radic chose which created the beautiful transparency we see today (See attached interpretation). By having the back wall of the display cases be made of glass, it allowed for those walking around the courtyard balcony to admire some exhibits yet not take away the more prominent focus of the ambient light and the courtyard below. Flipping the coin, when you are walking though the exhibits and looking at the artifacts held within the display case, you focus on the pieces yet have a subtle reminder of the inner-walkway, the courtyard below, and the displays whence you came from. This instrumentation of transparency used by Radic will always resonate with me. He was able to connect the building, remind you of various aspects of the museum, and create a more wholistic experience through the simple choice of glass panels for the back of display cases. I am really looking forward to more building interpretations in the week to come.

 

Nick’s Pre-Departure Post

It really hit me after I got through TSA. Sitting outside gate B32 waiting to embark on the first leg of our trip, I am beginning to fully realize the reality of this trip. Im am realizing that when I wake tomorrow I will not only be in another country but another continent. Santaigo as the final destination fuels my yearning for new experiences. Being emmersed in a new culture, with a different language and different customs will be refreshing as an outsider.

With my major being finance, I am also very excited for all of the architectural exposure I will receive from this 9 day trip. Coupling both my finance and architectural interests, I am particularly interested in the innovation center that we will be visiting. Beyond the striking architecture, I am hoping to have either a conversation with a respresentative of the center or obtain some literature regarding their business incubator program. A side note is that I am starting my own small scale business incubator program in my hometown, so if I am able to understand the structure of their high scale program, I could better structure my own program.

I am really looking forward to all of the experiences that I will have over the course of the next 9 days.