Author: Katie MacDonald

¡Gracias Chile!

     The past week in Chile was jam-packed with new experiences, learning lessons, and memories for me—almost as filled as the metro was on Thursday night! So many meaningful cultural and personal moments together created my amazing time in Chile that I would like to reflect on as many as I can.

     First and foremost, the Chilean architecture was the whole purpose for this study abroad opportunity and it did not disappoint. I really appreciated the variety of architectural styles we visited from the simple intersecting cube design of the Benedictine Monastery to the very elegant, classical, symmetrical La Moneda Palace facade. This trip taught me to stop and stare, think, question, analyze and ponder the architecture rather than just snap a thousand pictures because it looked cool and move on like I used to do on vacations. Even from just one semester of architecture courses, I realized that I am much more aware of how architecture functions and feels as I move through it from a student’s perspective rather than just look at its aesthetic appeal as most tourists do.

     Sketching was a major component of the experience and the deeper understandings I gained about the sites we visited. Sketching was an educational tool for me both in continuously learning, adjusting, and trying out techniques along the way and in the natural way sketching made me pay more attention to details I otherwise would have missed. Often times my diagrams made me pay more attention to materiality, light, and structure which for me are architectural traits that I had to be present with to truly appreciate. My sketchbook became filled with more notes than I would have anticipated because I really found it meaningful to write down personal feelings or opinions that just came naturally from studying my surroundings.

    Language and food were incredibly influential cultural aspects of my Chilean experience. These were both areas that I was nervous or hesitant about being uncomfortable with at the start. As a classmate said before the trip, “We need to become comfortable with the idea of being uncomfortable,” I still was not ecstatic to seek out uncomfortableness. But then on the first day I found myself ordering, in very broken Spanish, a sandwich I had no clue what would be on it and ended up loving it. My confidence in just speaking naturally rather than perfectly and trying foods open mindedly grew each day. I actually enjoyed using Spanish to help classmates order ice cream or ask a vendor “Cuanto cuesta?”. I even accidentally answered in Spanish when someone asked me where I was from in perfect English at the fish market. I discovered I love empanadas and all types of flavored jugos and even was ok with peeling off the heads (with eyes!) and tails of all my shrimp at my last meal—something I never would have done before in the U.S.!

    A moment that really captured my perspectives as a traveler and American was when I was able to observe the daily lives of the university students relaxing in the shade or staring at us or just heading to class at PUC and Adolfo Ibanez campuses. I was constantly pondering whether we were more similar or more different than them than I had initially expected and finally decided all that mattered was this balance of both. Similarities unite us and differences make us unique both as people, cultures, and countries. Similarities in landscapes and architecture allowed for me to connect and relate to my understanding of the architecture I experience daily here at home while differences allowed me to critique and admire the way design can so easily and influential adapt and fluctuate to surroundings. Overall, this first time studying abroad and in particular studying architecture abroad was an eye-opening journey that I can not wait to experience again in the future!

Structured for Success

Geometric patterned mosaics and truss support system at GAM

Close up view of Museum of Memory and Human Rights facade with visible structural beams.

View of Museum of Memory and Human Rights’ bar building facade with structural system clearly visible.

My quick diagram sketches of the basic truss support system and other geometric relationships at GAM

     Despite not having taken a structure course yet, I was able to gain a new understanding and appreciation for analyzing structure. I wanted to diagram and learn how structure can efficiently serve its important functional role but also greatly facilitate design themes. For instance at Gabriela Mistral Cultural Center, I noticed a design theme of geometrical patterns organized in relation to the ceiling’s steel truss structural support. The use of a truss system, in which the diagonal components allow for more space to be carved out of large structural mass, make the structure at GAM not feel overbearing and still let the mosaic pattern be the focal point. It also appeared as if the triangular shapes formed by the structural beams influenced the triangular mosaic pieces within them to form a cohesive geometric design. Also, the large circular stone seating bench I was sitting on mimicked the circular glass pattern directly above it on the ceiling and the linear block patterned flooring with metal accents related in geometry and materiality to the linear support beams directly above.
     The benefits of truss structural system were also important at the Museum of Memory and Human Rights. The structure was mainly located towards the edges of the bar building which allowed for continuity of open, spacious circulation and exhibit rooms throughout the interior. Since the beams at the museum were spaced more irregular and are clearly visible from the exterior facades, they also serve as an eye catching graphic design focal point.

Defining Light Through Shade

     The Benedictine Monastery was a breathtaking surprise to me. Light radiated throughout with an almost spiritual presence that appealed to me unlike many other churches I have visited. It was a welcomed and striking contrast to the darkness and extravagant, rich architecture in the Metropolitan Cathedral in Plaza de Armas. I was compelled to try the shading only sketching technique to capture the quality of light that so greatly defines this beautiful space. Only shading was initially a challenge because the first thing that jumped out at me were the strong lines defining the edges of the walls and ceilings planes. Also while I love shading sketches, I think shading can be difficult to master because it can cause a lot of ambiguity such as determining whether it is meant to show depth, light, texture, materiality, or tone. I tried very hard to use shading to distinguish the light flooding in from the gaps between the ceiling and wall planes while also showing the linear emphasis of the thin slats of wood wall paneling versus the smoother floor and ceiling textures. I think it is interesting that the qualities of airy light can still be accurately captured by such dark graphite sketches when in reality the monastery was one of the most white-washed, naturally lit, bright worship spaces I have been in. I learned a lot about shading as I kept trying to change up my technique in these sketches and tried out a blending stump for the first time!

Shading sketch of the altar space at Benedictine Monastery

Shading sketch of the space opposite the altar in the back of the Benedictine Monastery featuring the statue of Mary holding baby Jesus.

Discovering Chilé’s Vibrance

      If there is one word to encompass my perspective of Chile so far it would be vibrant. I have especially enjoyed the vibrance found in the natural landscapes, the artwork displayed at the PreColumbian Art Musuem, and even the exuberant people at the Plaza de Armas. My sense of appreciation for the natural landscape of Chile started when I first opened the window on the plane as we soared above the breathtaking mountaintops and clouds. Then at the top of Cerro San Cristobal I gained a new perspective of the Andes mountains that enclose Santiago and their colossal scale and impact they must have had on shaping the city from an urban planning lense. The vegetation and landscape surrounding the statue of the Virgin Mary was a touching reminder of the beauty of God’s creation and the innate vibrance it brings to our lives.

      The exhibit “La Fiesta de Las Imagenes en Los Andes” at the PreColumbian museum is now one of my favorite art exhibits I have ever visited. I appreciated that it brought vibrance to the museum by being interactive, eye catching, colorful, insightful, full of illusions, modern and historical. I tried to capture the themes and concepts of layering, perspective, illusion, color, and movement found repeatedly throughout the exhibit in media such as the illuminated double mirrors, the hanging colorful art display in the courtyard, the maze of decorated ropes, and the layered video projectors.

A collage of diagrams showing the repeating themes of color, layering, and perspective at the art exhibit.

Amazing view from top of Cerro San Cristobal!

Beautiful weather and vibrant landscape and surrounding the focal point Virgin Mary Statue at the top of Cerro San Cristobal.

Katie’s Pre-Departure Blog Post

        I am amazed at how fast this semester has gone by as I prepare to finally take off for Chile! I feel very lucky to have this opportunity to travel to South America for the first time and in particular to a country I never would have thought I would get to see if you had asked me even just a year ago. I am definitely ready for warm weather too. This education abroad trip will certainly be a once in a lifetime experience for me.

       Chilean food, culture, architecture, landscapes, history and much more await our eager and curious minds. I am excited to document all of these new experiences in my sketchbook, which is something I have never brought along with my on any of my trips before. This sketchbook will hold so much importance to me after this journey as I use it to recall our daily activities and sightseeing, show others such as family and friends what I learned, and to inspire myself to keep working on my sketching abilities after this trip and class are over. I look forward to my first of hopefully many study abroad experiences, the chance to use my rusty Spanish skills, the invaluable architectural exposure, and the many memories to come!