Author: Judd Kahle

Back to “Normal”

It was hard and didn’t feel right just being thrown right back into my old routine today. It felt like I never left for spring break and Santiago was just a dream. Santiago came and went too fast for me. I still can’t believe that I had this opportunity. Everything that I have done and seen is nothing like what I have experienced in my past.

I noticed differences between our culture and Chilean culture. But I found it easier to spot the similarities. I didn’t expect to find so many. I thought that their would be a big difference between us. The fact that we are on completely different continents and yet are so simular astonishes me.

Another amazing thing I witnessed in Chile were all of the friendships made. Going into the trip, most of us knew little about our classmates. It was crazy to actually see people go from strangers to friends in a matter of a few days. I learned so much about my peers that I would have never gotten to do if I didn’t go on this trip. I have a feeling that class this Thursday is going to be a completely different class than the one before this trip.

The architecture in Chile was amazing. Alot of it seemed to be much older than what it was. There was such a harmonious mix of styles. In the US we have a diverse portfolio too. But Chile has done much better preserving the old and introducing new. The Chileans set a good example on how to treat and use architecture in a way that is beneficial to everyone. Something that America lacks and that we should follow.

Traveling to Santiago is a rare opportunity few get to have. I am so grateful to have had it. I learned so much from this journey about the world and myself. I hope to inspire others to try something like this and I hope to be able to do something like this again in my future.

Chair Compare (Blog 3 B)

In the airport a set of interesting chairs caught my eye. They reminded me of the Knowlton chairs and the assignment we had done before the trip. I analyzed these chairs in a similar manner so I could compare with the Swan Chair. Both if these chairs have complex curves which helped make them more pleasing, and the curves helped make them more ergonomically better. But they did this in different ways. The Swan Chair used symmetry and had a void in between the seat and back to add interest. Then the airport chairs used asymmetry and have a large bulbous shape for complexity. This also helped give the chair a heavy and more permanent presence. I think these could both work in the Knowlton Library, but I don’t think the Swan Chair could go in the airport. The Swan Chair lacks the heavy presence to go in the airport. It would look out of place and fail to be a focal point. But personally I like the design of the Swan Chair better and I think it is better suited to be a seat to relax in.

Swan Chair Side Elevation

Swan Chair Section

Airport Chair Image

Airport Chair Diagrams

The Brown Line (Blog 1 B)

On our way back to the hotel from the Plaza de Armas we decided to take the new brown brown line. I wanted to compare it with the red line a bit. The brown metro was at least 7 stories underground and in a much more open and larger than the red. The brown had a a sleeker and more modern design. The red line used wall art to make the space interesting and used a yellow line painted on the ground to mark a safe place to stand waiting for the metro. Then the newer brown like used the curved walls and exposed structural features to create an interesting space and had automatic glass gates for safety.

 

Puente Cal y Canto Metro Station (One-Point Sketch) 

Justin Kahle’s Pre-Departure Post

Thinking about how we will be in a different continent in two days makes my heart pound and and stomach turn. I am so nervous for such a long flight and super excited to be in Santiago! I am almost packed, but I still feel like I am not even close to being ready. Which, I know my Spanish isn’t ready to visit Chile. A semester of Duolingo can only go so far. Thank goodness you can download the Spanish language on the Google translate app.

The past couple of days I have felt a little bit like a celebrity because of all the texts and calls I am getting from family and friends asking me to send pictures in Chile. I am very fortunate to have this opportunity. Not many people get to do something like this and, according to my mom, I am this week’s talk of the town.

I can’t wait to be in whole new part of the world. Experiencing a new culture, food, geography, people, and so on will be an eye opening experience to me. Ohio can only show you so much. I want to make the most and best of my time in Santiago. This trip may be over spring break, but I know it won’t be a break for me. I am going to be busy experiencing and learning all that a can in the week we are there. I don’t know if I will be able to sleep tonight due to excitement and I probably won’t get much sleep there. I will just have to save that for the plane ride.