Culture

Santiago: An Experience Like No Other

I was amazed by the beauty of Santiago as soon as we stepped out of the airport. Day by day, I only grew to love it more. We learned a lot in class leading up to the trip, but there were so many aspects that could only truly be learned through experiencing it.

The openness, for instance, was very surprising. Everywhere in the city felt like a single open area. Sidewalks, streets, plazas, and parks all felt like one. Locals, tourists, and even dogs all shared the same space while using it in their own way. I have tried to explain this to people since I have come back home, but found it difficult to describe. Perhaps this is simply something that needs to be felt and experienced.

There was a similar situation with the architecture. We discussed and read plenty ahead of time, but nothing compares to seeing the buildings in person. A picture of a handrail in a museum does not do it justice compared to touching it in person and walking down the stairs. Images of the Innovation Center do not convey the monumentality of the space and the views that it provides.

We also spent a decent amount of class time talking about Chilean drinks and food, but no number of videos could convey the delicious taste of jugo de frutilla or the many flavors of helado on the streets.

Simply walking through Santiago or the hills of Valparaiso was probably my favorite part. Looking around gave me the opportunity to appreciate the country and its beautiful art and nature. We were lucky to have a tour guide as great as Alejandro with us because we had so much access to better understand the culture and people around us.

Now that I am back in Columbus and can reflect on the trip as a whole, I have nothing but fond memories. The trip may be over, but the memories of the beautifully vibrant city will surely last forever.

Back to Reality

My experience in Chile was everything I had hoped and more. I can say I definitely received the culture immersion that I had desired and included everything from language to food. This was especially apparent when I walked into a restaurant for lunch the first day and nobody there spoke any English. I will say, the Chilean people were very patient with us “Gringos” and our broken Spanish. Also, I noticed a large part of Chilean cuisine was either very meat or fish heavy, this was fine by me as I am relatively open-minded when it comes to food.

The one thing that really stuck out to me about Santiago and Valparaiso was their proper use of all the land available to them. Santiago was the most expansive city I have ever seen, I don’t think I was able to see all the way to the end of it even at the top of the Costanera Tower. And in Valparaiso, with the steep landscape, they were able to build up to use all the space they could in a very dense landscape.

Even with all this dense urban environment, the idea of a natural landscape was never lost on the Chilean people. This is an idea that I think needs to make its way to America more, it seemed like everywhere I was in Santiago, I was only a short walk from the nearest park. There were numerous parks all throughout the city, some with wide open areas, and some with much more condensed space. The important thing was that there was a space for everyone’s wants and needs in these parks.

First time in Chile but not my last…

The Santiago trip exceeded my expectations immensely. As my first study abroad trip, I’ve never expected to have such a entertaining time in Chile yet still be a teaching experience. I not only gained an understanding of the Chilean culture, but I also gained insight on architecture from a different continent. I understood the difference and between Chile and Ohio in terms of architecture and I’d admit that Chile is way beyond Ohio in design. Chile has been undertaking these urban ideas that have a SOCIAL PURPOSE and creating a meaningful architecture, which the landscape and climate having a huge role.

The landscapes of Chile incorporated throughout all of Santiago creates an interesting architectural promenade. Every street, every walk you took, you were surrounded by trees that bordered the road or trees/plants and created spaces for outdoor seating areas or provided shade. The heat during the day that hardly reaches 80 degrees with a constant breeze throughout the valley that keeps you cool. I’d say over all the countries I’ve traveled I’ve never experienced such an ideal weather.

One of my goals for this trip was to come back in one piece, since this was my first time traveling on the air without family members. I think I learned a lot about myself.  To be more responsible with my items. How to take care of myself independently, in terms of money. I also learned that maybe Ohio isn’t where I want to study for Graduate school… I was really impressed by the programs offered for architecture, more specifically Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, and they how they don’t label architecture as it is, but into multiple categories of design, philosophy, engineering, etc.

Santiago reminded me of a cleaner New York…. I won’t forget the guy who was selling ice cream on those hot days, screaming “HELADOHELADOHELADO!”. I definitely won’t forget the food, which were mostly meat based, really heavy to digest and was always too much to take in, but never regretful. The people of Chile were patient even with our language barriers, they always tried to understand or communicate even if it was through hand motions.  It felt more like New York when we took the metro bus and artists were performing on the bus. But what Chile has that New York doesn’t is green spaces; hills, trees, multiple parks, mountains in the distance and a whole body of ocean along the country.

I don’t think I can pinpoint a favorite project we visited or restaurant we ate, but I know I had special memories that I hold for ever place. I won’t forget this spring break trip!

¡Adiós Chile!

I’m already planning my trip back.

It’s really hard to describe how it feels to be back home right now. Since it was a spring break trip, as soon as I came back I had a lot of work to do from other classes. There was really no rest time in between where I could really take in the experience I just had. It kind of makes it feel like it almost didn’t even happen. Although, I keep finding myself saying sí to my roommate so it definitely did happen haha. It’s just hard to believe that I’m back already. The week went by so quickly, I wish I would’ve gotten to stay just a bit longer in Santiago because who knows when I’ll be back there again. Funny thing is, if there wasn’t a study abroad trip there, I don’t know if I would have thought to visit there myself. So now it feels a little weird to miss a place I didn’t really think that much about just a short while ago. I’m already thinking though about how I want to visit there again someday. Maybe bring my sister and show her the city, since somehow I have become the world traveler in the family. 🙂

Building new friendships & Experiencing a new culture

It’s a little more than 24 hours since we have returned to Columbus, Ohio. The flight home was very relaxing and the meals on the plane were so much better than what we had on the way to Santiago. The flight felt shorter and I was able to fall asleep for a majority of the flight home. Looking back to our entire trip and the itinerary, I have noticed we did so much within a short period and it was such an amazing experience. 

First of all, going to Chile is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Without going on this study abroad, I would not have known where to start my research. After this trip, I can definitely say that I can definitely plan my trip when I decide to go back in the future, and let’s hope that I know some Spanish before I decide to visit again! 

Secondly, I learn so much about Chilean contemporary architecture and landscape architecture by visiting important buildings in and out of Santiago. I enjoy seeing the colorful facades of various buildings throughout the duration of the trip. It definitely adds beauty and a unique style to the architecture. It is also very cool to see how city planing and landscape architecture can come together and create so many unique and amazing public spaces and pedestrian walkways around the city. The pedestrian walkways are often shaded and allow people to take a journey through it and end up in a much larger public space. It definitely felt much cooler in the pedestrian walkway compared to being in a place like plaza de Armas. I wish that we can have more public spaces for people to use in Columbus, and I think we are moving toward that direction in recent years. 

Lastly, I am so grateful to have the opportunity to get to know everyone on this trip. I have notice I did not know anyone and was afraid to talk to a lot of people before the trip, but now it is a completely different story. A week of intensive learning, walking, sketching, complaining and chilling has definitely brought us all close together and I would not have it in any other way. I have learned so much from everyone and learned a lot more about Chilean culture since we have returned. 

Time Well Spent

Getting back to Ohio and having some time to stop and think about the trip has made me realize how valuable this opportunity has been, both architecturally and culturally.

Firstly, I think being exposed to a wide variety of architecture will really help to expand my ideas for future projects, especially having gone on this trip my freshman year. Specifically, I found the monastery to be very inspiring. The use of materials blended with the simplicity of the design made for an overall very tranquil feeling, and it was one of those special moments when architecture makes you feel. In fact, I actually had a conversation about this very topic with an Argentinian architecture student I met at the top of the Costanera Tower while watching the sunset. He said that one day he hopes to create architecture that provokes feeling and emotion, and taught me that in Argentina, they call this “arquitectura sensacional”. We went on to talk more about school and travel and architecture, and it absolutely affirmed my passion for design. It was truly a conversation I will never forget.

I also found great significance in learning about Chile’s culture and how it relates to  the United States and other countries I’ve visited. Geographically, Santiago reminded me of a mix of Florida and Montana, with both palm trees and mountains. However, conversing with the locals and witnessing Chilean culture was unlike anything I’d seen before. When I’ve traveled in the past, I might have looked a bit foreign to some people, but I could mostly go around without anyone thinking twice about my presence. The same cannot be said about Chile. I’ve definitely never felt like such an outsider while visiting another place, and it was both uncomfortable and magical all at once. I think it’s extremely crucial and valuable to be pushed out of your comfort zone and really emerce yourself in other cultures, and I really felt I was able to do this on this trip. I’m pumped to see how my worldview changes as I apply what I’ve learned on the trip to live back at school.

Overall, all I can say is that I’m very grateful for having this experience. Thank you to the instructors and everyone on the trip who made it an incredible ten days and a time I’ll never forget.

Thoughts on Santiago

The time I spent in Santiago was a very valuable and unforgettable experience. On this trip, I was exposed to so many different types of architecture and learned so much about the culture and history of Chile. The visit to the Museum of Memory was an especially eye-opening experience for me and really helped me to better understand the history of this area and the pain that was caused by the coup. Doing things like riding the metro and walking through pedestrian streets and Plaza de Armas also helped me to gain a better understanding of daily life in Chile.

One of the most interesting things for me on this trip was seeing how much the Chilean lifestyle differed from that of America. The laid-back style of service and small size of restaurants and stores contrasts the fast-paced, big-business culture of America. It was also interesting to me that most people, while not overly-friendly, were not outwardly rude or annoyed and no one seemed to be in a rush, like we often see in America. Even though most of us spoke another language, most people we interacted with were friendly and patient with us, and didn’t become easily frustrated or annoyed.

Overall, I am really going to miss Santiago and all of its special characteristics, like the dogs wandering around everywhere and the delicious foods, like empanadas and huesillo. I’ve gained so much from this trip, including a greater knowledge of architecture, culture and the Spanish language, and I’m glad that my first trip to South America was this one.

Returning from Santiago, Chile

When I return home from Santiago, Chile, the first thing I thought was that I am very grateful that I had this opportunity. I learned a lot about architecture, landscape, and about myself.
The experience of seeing the project we learned in a lecture on the site and taking time to sketch on the site was very special. Especially design details that correspond to the climate and locations (such as sun shading strategies etc), I could understand clearly by being at the exact site.

One of the most interesting things about the city of Santiago was how it interacts with water, pedestrians, and landscape.
The water was used in many different ways in everywhere through the city. different forms of water vary from fountains and ponds in parks, steam fan in a metro station, and water walls and falling water art in a mall. It was clear that the water element was utilized to cool down from the hot weather. In contrast, when we went to Valparaiso, water elements were less used in the city due to colder weather.

The driveway and pedestrians street are very close in Santiago. First, I was feeling it is close to Tokyo, Japan. However, as I see more places, I felt that the separation between driveway and walkways is more ambiguity than Japanese street. Not only the walkways on right next to driveways but also many parks, restaurants’ seating areas, benches, tennis courts, markets, and even kids parks were located on the right next to driveways, sometimes next to highways. Usually, vegetations, section level, lower objects (ex. semi-sphere stones at Plaza de Armas) and/or material shift separates the two zones. They are very ambiguity separations and I sometimes felt it may not safe. However, I also thought it is very interesting how density the city is and pedestrians space are more dominant in the city, trying to maximize the pedestrian’s spaces.

This was the first time to sketch on site. First, I struggle to find a good spot to draw and how to express my findings of the building. As I sketch more and more, I could find what I am most interested about the project, and how to sketch them better and faster. I feel I can analyze buildings better now and I actually enjoy sketching. I will definitely continue to bring a sketchbook when I travel.

I learned many skills to analysis. I am very happy I could travel with my classmates and all members could return safely.
I appreciate the instructors for planning this travel and provided various opportunities for us to learn. Thank you!

Learning from Santiago

When I arrived home yesterday I had many thoughts about what I was exposed to in Santiago. I realize I had many preconceptions before I arrived there that were proven false. For one, I thought that the city would be larger in terms of surface area. However, in reality it was a bit denser than I expected. This density provided a liveliness to the city and a necessity for well operating public transportation. Actually, I think above everything I was most impressed by the transportation and infrastructure in Santiago. For example, the roads and tunnels were well maintained and none of the roads we encountered were rough like we have here in the United States. Also, the metro station had pretty consistent arrival times between stops and across different lines as well.

So, what could big cities in the United States learn from Santiago in terms of infrastructure? I think what I noticed above all is that there was an effort to improve on what is working. In the United States bureaucrats have a tendency to accept that what is working is acceptable. While most places in the United States do not have the density to run an efficient metro or bus like Santiago does, we should be invested in improving the infrastructure we already have. There is no incentive to fix things until they become a problem. Admittedly, this might be a societal problem that we as Americans face which is where the difference in amenities occur. So, while it does dishearten me to see my home running so inefficiently, I also see it as an opportunity to plan on what I can do as an architect. On this trip we had so many types of students. There were architecture, landscape architecture, city and regional planning, business, and law students in attendance. The amount of talent and different insight on the trip made me optimistic that we as a generation can use this knowledge moving forward to design or plan projects that give back to society. We all play a role in the process of making spaces that give back to society.

New cities, buildings, food, and friends

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.

Tourism, Parks, and Public Spaces: reflecting on Santiago

For such a large and layered city, Santiago is not that touristic. Compared to some of the large European cities I have been to, it felt like the city catered much less to tourism- and more specifically American tourism. For example: only a small amount of the signs are in English, just two lines of the metro make announcements in English, and many people did not seem to change their behavior to make us feel more comfortable.  Why then make a distinction about American tourists? After all tourists in general can be inconsiderate and annoying- to be fair to people from the US, we are not the exception. What, in my opinion, distinguishes American tourists from the rest of the world is their expectations. We don’t need to speak another language, they should speak English. We don’t need to know other cultures customs, they should accommodate ours. It is refreshing to see a city that doesn’t feel like is catering to all of our expectations.

Despite how Santiago is now, talking with Alejandro he seems think that tourism is an increasing industry in the country. And often times increasing tourism is a good economically for a country. I also think that it would be problematic to say that Americans shouldn’t go to an area for fear they would taint it. Often I think that it is unfortunately the case that the tourists will come and the question becomes how can they be responsibly integrated into the city. An answer to the question that may not immediately be the most obvious, but one that I would argue is the most encompassing is creating and maintaining healthy public spaces in the city. These may be pedestrians streets, plazas, or parks but often they all work together to allow a healthy interaction between people occur.

Why is it important for tourists and the public to interact? It may seem like a trivial question, however list off some major tourist cities and often the two don’t mix. Cities sometime have an active interest in keeping their citizens away from tourists. In Santiago I often felt closer to the citizens of the city and I believe it is unequivocally because the public spaces are well designed and allow for this mutual exchange to occur.  Pedestrian streets and bike lanes reach to not just areas with hotels but areas where people live and draw them towards plazas and parks. Seating is designed to accommodate different sized groups and different uses. The spaces feel safe and maintained- and thus they are cared for by both tourists and the public. I think a perfect example of this is plaza de armas. It is remarkable that the space is both so populated by tourists but also immigrants and citizens of Santiago. The plantings and design make it interesting, maintenance keeps it cared for, authorities keep it safe, and walking streets get people there on foot. All these things must work in harmony to make the public space work and perhaps most importantly- allow the citizens and tourist to coexist.

 

New Place, New People, New Perspective

Traveling to Chile was such an amazing, immersive experience that gave me knowledge that I could not have attained from within classroom walls. Being able to actually experience the architecture we are learning about helped me understand the projects much better. I could see the entire context, the little details, and the big pictures as the designers would see. While seeing images and videos in class is very helpful to learn about the different architecture, it is the feeling that the architecture evokes when you are present in front of it that is the most important quality to learn. We could only learn this by visiting these beautiful works.

While this trip continued my growth in architectural knowledge, it also greatly helped me in my sketching. I have become more confident in my abilities, a quicker sketcher, and more able to correctly portray the subject of my sketch. I also gained the experience in making plans and sections while on site, which I found extremely helpful.

Each city, Valparaiso and Santiago, had totally different feels. While Valparaiso was a large city, to me, it felt like a quaint, little sea-side town. The vibrant houses compact together create the city’s iconic identity and create a feeling of happiness and being content. Santiago felt like a huge city, having many tall buildings, bustling streets, and city traffic. However, the Andes Mountains surrounding the city allow people to be able to take a brief break from the busy city ongoings to just breathe. These cities are not the extend of what Chile has– it offers extreme natural beauty as well, which I got to experience in Maipo Valley and the hot springs that accompanied it.

Experiencing the Chilean culture makes me excited for my future travels and eager to go and explore more of the world immediately. Trying new foods, seeing the typical ways of life, and experiencing the culture gave me insights that I never had before the trip. The rushing Metros that could pack large amounts of people in them, the bright street art in Valparaiso, and the Andes Mountains surrounding Santiago evoked emotion that one can only experience in Chile.

 

Santiago Chapter Personal Reflection

My chapter in Santiago, Chile has been written and finished. I have been so lucky to experience Santiago and Chilean culture with my peers and I discovered a lot more architectural design and structural systems. I can already tell my personal adventures abroad will influence my studio projects, as I was so inspired by everything that I saw. From Chile’s metro stations to cultural centers to their sustainability designs, I personally believe America’s melting pot of culture can learn from them and adapt promptly. 

As I stated earlier, I believe that students should learn not only inside the classroom but outside as well. I never would have taken away my new perspective after reading a textbook or attending one lecture. Undoubtedly, these academic perspective allows for formal training, however,  by experiencing architecture first hand, I know I grew as a student. 

Traveling to Santiago made me eager to experience other cultures. I am thirsty to engage with other types of sustainability designs that other countries have effectively incorporated into their cultures. Not only is this practical and functional, sustainability guarantees a much brighter future for future generations to enjoy this culture that my generation can have an impact on through architectural design. 

Although this chapter has concluded, I cannot wait to begin a new one. And of course, I will always refer back to this chapter and recall what I have learned and how it has impacted me. In all,  my travels to Santiago have been absolutely wonderful. I will miss it but remember it with smiles. 

¡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!

artists de la calle

As the end of our trip now rears its ugly head, I look back on my Santiago experience and think of some of the major differences between what I’ve seen and experienced here versus back in Colombus. The large amount of plant life penetrating the cities here, the language barrier, the weird trash pick-up baskets, and (what stuck out most to me) the amount of street art here. It seems that everywhere you turn there is some moral, tag, or scribble; and no surface is safe. It’s on buildings, street signs, the road, benches, and literally all of the bus windows. The people here are creative and it shows through the marks they’ve made on their environment. Over the week I’ve seen lots of reoccurring tags in different locations through the city. Whoever did each of them has that innate desire to leave something personalized and recognizable for others to see. Even though it may not connected to their name what matters to them is knowing they have this entity out there that everyone can see that is inherently theirs. Art is all about creating and making something outside of yourself that evokes something in other people who see it. What better gallery than a cityscape that millions of people live and work in? Back home grafetti is certainly more frowned upon back home. But I’m a person that thinks that any art opposed to no art is usually good art. I think it adds interest and depth to santigo. It makes the large city feel more personal and connected. It helped me to recognize the cultural perspectives of the people here through their own handiwork on their city. Continue reading →

Day Opener: Eye Opener

My Day Opener as is shows the range of projects we visited starting from La Moneda ending it with the Furnicular.

My last blog in the country is about my first sketch of this trip. I think Day 1 was the busiest day yet the most diverse in terms of the projects we saw. From historical buildings to different transportations to parks, the first day of Chile gave a me a sense of the kind of architecture the city of Santiago focuses on. Chile’s architecture ranges from a traditional colonial aesthetic to contemporary modern architecture as it deals with the variety of landscapes that make up the South American country. I now end this trip finding their focus of sustainability and their use of green space. The green spaces filled the city and the mountains in the view reminded me each day how I was in a whole new place.

 

Architecture Made Human: A Pablo Neruda House Analysis

Diagrammatic sketch showing how La Sebastiana is divided by floors and La Chascona is divided by volumes.

Image showing the vibrant color and elegant water feature that help capture the essence of Neruda’s vibrant home

Image showing the connection of space through exterior circulation and landscape.

In both visits, I was completely enveloped into the world of Pablo Neruda but couldn’t quite pinpoint why. I had been on similar tours before, so it wasn’t just the fact that there were so many personal artifacts. Even the architecture itself was not something I had taken many notes on. The combination of the two, though, resulted in something that felt specially magnificent and heartfelt.

Our visit to Neruda’s La Sebastiana spurred a curiosity about the relationship between interior decoration and architecture. Is the interior of a building truly what defines its character, especially with something as intimate and personal as a home? This concept certainly is not one that would be endorsed at Knowlton. It has always seemed to me that if decor is the primary essence of a building, then the architecture itself is lacking in one way or another.

Truth be told, I initially thought that the exuberant interior completely overwhelmed other facets of the space. The more I thought about it, though, I realized that the interior is what makes the building feel alive. After all, Neruda lived in the space. The pieces there weren’t just any other decor- they were vibrant and tasteful. Nothing was there for the sake of filing the space, and everything had a meaning or story behind it. It was amazing how the memories behind each piece still could be felt in the room.

Upon visiting Neruda’s Santiago home, La Chascona, I was not surprised to see that the character of the building was still there. The design of the space, though, seemed so much different. As opposed to one five-story building on a hill, this home was composed of three separate volumes with about two or three stories each. While I would expect this separation to make the cohesiveness and warmth of the building to be challenged, especially since it was right along the edge of a busy public Santiago street, that was not the case at all. The vegetation between the three pieces was the connecting tissue that enveloped and shielded them. It was the glue, or the fabric, that unified the house and made it whole. Now it was not just the interior decor, but the landscape that helped define the home. Neruda’s personality was strong, and his homes convey that in a multitude of ways.

It is said that the architect of La Chascona originally oriented the home so it could strategically face the sun, but when Neruda saw the plans, he flipped them around completely and said he wanted it built that way to face the mountains instead. That, to me, captures the essence of Pablo Neruda and his homes. It roots down to feelings, thoughts, and emotions. It may not be what we learn about in architecture school, but it is something I want to carry with me throughout my studies. Architecture is, above all, for the people. It should read as such. A house should become a home.

The Houses of Pablo Neruda

Visiting two of Pablo Neruda’s houses, La Sabastiana in Valparaiso and La Chascona in Santiago, I was able to get a better understanding of Neruda’s design style and how site was influential to the architectural design of the buildings. Both of these houses make use of a concept of stacking, in La Sabastiana with the stacking of floors and in La Chascona with the stacking of buildings up the hillside. The small plot that La Sabastiana sits on makes for a very claustrophobic floor plan and a need for the house to rise vertically to fit in the necessary programs. La Chascona has much more space on its site to spread out and makes use of that by dividing the programs into 3 different buildings connected by a central garden. These buildings were also both designed with a focus on the views. La Sabastiana and it’s very vertical form allow for many widespread views of the hills of Valparaiso and the ocean below. La Chascona focuses instead on the views of the central garden and courtyards. Besides the floor plans, the interiors of both buildings were very similar. They were very eclectic, combining many different styles and cultures. Each were filled with a variety of memorabilia and prized possessions that Pablo Neruda collected throughout his lifetime. The interior designs are a good reflection of Neruda’s lifestyle and the things that he found important.

Exploded perspective of La Chascona

Exploded perspective of La Sabastiana

View from window of La Sebastiana

La Chascona symbol in on the house in Santiago

Plaza de Armas; Creating Sketches and the Importance of Spaces.

Diagram of trees in Plaza de Armas.

Diagram of benches in Plaza de Armas.

Sketch of the aerial plan of Plaza de Armas.

When you are immersed in Plaza de Armasa, it is difficult to understand a layout of  the space. I found it very difficult to put what I was seeing onto paper. That is why I chose to take this sketch on in various steps. By breaking it down I was able to further understand the design of the plaza’s vegetation. As noted in class, the major organization in the plaza is a 8×5 grid of palm trees. But to further emphasize the importance of the plaza, there is a change of elevation coming from the streets up to the center of the plaza where most of the shade is. The fountain in the middle of the plaza also is the main focal point in the plaza, but there also is a gazebo on the x-axis coming from the fountain that is important as well, as it a unique presence in the plaza that provides a unique space for activity. Overall, the plaza provides many spaces for everything from street performances, to relaxing in the shade and is very successful at it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

European Feel in a South American City

One of the first and strongest observations I got from Valparaíso was its resemblance to small European towns. Last year, my sister studied abroad in a small French town a few hours outside of Paris, and my parents and I got the chance to visit her in the summer. I had been to France earlier in 2015, starting in Paris and working our way down and around for close to a month. Long story short, I’ve had a lot of exposure to small village architecture. Quaint facades, narrow cobblestone roads, worn-down materials, the whole Shabang.

What I found interesting, then, was that I was taken right back to my time in France while walking around the streets of Valparaíso, despite being on an entirely different continent. Of course, there were some major differences, namely the brightly colored buildings, the graffiti, and the sheer size of Valparaíso (although when walking its streets, it’s easy to forget you’re in such a large city). However, I found the similarities to greatly outweigh the differences. While you’re in both places, the age of the towns and the amount of history that surpassed in it is clear. Extremely quaint, culture-rich, old architecture, and very cute. The walls and streets are heavily worn, most the buildings themselves are originals, and if they were in fact renovated, usually only the interiors were updated to keep the its exterior charm.

One thing I was not expecting in Valparaiso was its buildings to be so worn down. At first I took this as a lack of effort by its residents to keep it up, but later I decided that although very inhabited throughout the years, this old-timey feel was what gave the city much of its charm.

Overall, I was blown away by Valpariso. I didn’t think I’d find a place so European looking in South America, but this turned out to be an incredible surprise. I feel lucky to have been able to travel to two places that are so different but still find incredible similarities, and I’m excited to be able to compare Chile to the places I travel to in the future.

View of street in Valparaíso

View of street in a small French town

French building art

Valparaíso building art

Quick sketch of street in Valparaíso

Chile: A Country of Many Identities

By spending all of our time in and around Chile’s major cities Santiago and Valparaíso, we had not gotten to see much of the natural beauty. On Friday, our free day, a group and I traveled to Maipo Valley and to the hot springs; it was unlike anything I’ve experienced before. While it was a fun day, we learned much about the Chilean culture outside of the major cities.

Our tour guide explained to us that the Maipo Valley area is experiencing an issue with the hydraulic drilling that is occurring. It pollutes their natural streams and disrupts the ecosystem. However, they don’t have many other options for income. Their income source used to be mining until it was shut down due to the danger regarding drilling and earthquakes. Now, the little Chilean towns rely on tourism. 

I found this particularly interesting that tourism is the main source of income in the smaller towns. They don’t look like typical tourist traps that one would see in major tourist destinations in America. For our tour, we stopped at the same quaint restaurant for breakfast and a nice little tapas dinner. While I was expecting the tour to be great, it blew away my expectations. 

Along with the economic aspects, we learned about the environment and the vegetation’s that can only grow in Maipo Valley due to the specific climate and altitude. We learned about the three types of trees that grow there— soap bark tree, the Baldo/doctor tree, and a litre tree that causes allergic reactions. The cacti there also only grows 900 km above sea level and can be surrounded by snow. 

With our tour, we hiked a 18,000 foot volcano and went in seven hot springs, with the hottest one being 60° celsius, or 140° Fahrenheit. It was two kilometer hike up and another two kilometer hike back down. While it was a long day, it was an experience that I will never regret or forget.

The heart of Maipo Valley, showing off it’s amazing views in the mountains and natural streams.

My sketch of my favorite place we saw in Maipo Valley.

One of the natural springs on our tour.

Light and it’s effect on shopping

As advertisers and entrepreneurs may already know, the ambience of a space can have a very direct influence on how people act and feel in that space. I think this principle was shown very clearly when we visited the two markets today. Both were technically open air markets, as they had ceilings that were not closed and minimal amounts of walls. Despite this similarity, the two markets were different in very distinct ways and I would argue these differences arise as a result of their qualities of light. Within the main Vega market the roof is formed  by slanted corrugated panels that open up, shown in the diagram below.

Diagram showing directionality of light at Vega

While some light is let in, because of the orientation of the building this light is limited and the market feels quite dark.

Looking up inside the Vega market

I do think that it contributes to it having a subterranean feeling. This is quite different in the first market we visited. The ceiling and light were treated in a very different manner.

Outside view of panels

Inverted pyramids with permeable faces allowed a diffused amount of light to enter the market, giving the space a more full, welcoming quality. The pyramids are instrumental in this, allowing light to pass no matter the time of day, as opposed to the strict directionality of the roof of the Vega market. The eating places were located on the second floor and while it may simply be correlation and not causation, I noticed many more people eating on this floor.

Elevation of pyramidal panels

what type of roof you plan to have may not always be number one concern on designers lists. However, as the case with many things, attention to detail can make a huge difference in how a space feels.

Immigration in Chile

Graffiti on the side of a german church in Valparaiso

Café Pu In Valparaiso. A Peruvian restaurant

One of the main reasons I wanted to travel to Chile was to get exposed the culture customs and traditions that mild the experiences of a typical Chilean. This meant learning about the political climate in Chile but not limited to learning about the economy. I wanted to understand current issues that affect this countries demographics whether it be immigration or emigration. In order to get a real sense of what was happening I indulged in a lot of conversation with the locals to grasp a real understanding on immigration in Chile. After various personal narratives I learned about the huge Venezuelan and Peruvian population that immigrated to Chile to find better opportunities in this country as theirs experience a huge financial setback governed by the order of a corrupt government. It’s amazing to walk around and see that a lot of Chileans accepting others into their country. I notice that there are  lot for Peruvian and Venezuelan businesses that are all around Santiago and Valparaiso  In addition, it was incredibly interesting to see Chileans support these businesses by not only being friendly and accepting of these businesses but by supporting them  Although some support immigration the country experiences a strong setback from government. After talking with locals many feel that the president resembles  Trump’s as he pushes for tighter control over the flow of immigration. This strong anti immigration platform infests the country as some have take it upon themselves to graffiti Trump’s famous slogan. It’s interesting to see how these two viewpoints play out in a different country. Although I saw both views expressed in a nonviolent matter I wonder about the violence that might occur to draw attention this political debate about immigration in Chile. As I continutue to learn about the political climate in Chile as a student I hope to use my experiences to continue to mold my perspectives on immigrants and the push and pull factors that influence one to immigrate to another country.

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. 

America, Land of Who?

The United States of America or just America, that’s how I and most others refer to these 50 states. Whenever I travel abroad, I refer to myself as an American. I know my customs and traditions to be American. I remember the first time that I was introduced to the concept of “America” meaning more than just the United States of America. It was in one of my introductory Spanish classes at OSU. My professor asked us who was more American, us or someone from Panamá, perhaps. After all, Panamá is located in Central America. Ofcourse I was already aware of the existence of both Central and South America but we, the USA were the Americans, right? It was during that Spanish class that I began to challenge that idea. I was indirectly reminded of this when visiting La Moneda Cultural Center. On the glass walls, the phrase “America, Tierra de Quienes”  was painted. This translates to “America, Land of Who?”. As I was pondering on this, I began to think of the ethnic and cultural background of the people that make up “America”. Let’s think about Latin America in particular since we are in Chile. In 2019, it’s a melting pot like the United States but we know that much of the cultural make up comes from Spainards, enslaved Africans, and Indigenous peoples native to this land. I saw this cultural make up represented in the artwork all over Valparaíso which we visited on day 5. Some of the people depicted on the murals were, in my opinion very clearly of African descent and others indigenous. This experience in Chile has truly brought this concept to life for me and I will continue to learn about and expand on this idea of America being more than the United States of America.The United States of America or just America, that’s how I and most others refer to these 50 states. Whenever I travel abroad, I refer to myself as an American. I know my customs and traditions to be American. I remember the first time that I was introduced to the concept of “America” meaning more than just the United States of America. It was in one of my introductory Spanish classes at OSU. My professor asked us who was more American, us or someone from Panamá, perhaps. After all, Panamá is located in Central America. Ofcourse I was already aware of the existence of both Central and South America but we, the USA were the Americans, right? It was during that Spanish class that I began to challenge that idea. I was indirectly reminded of this when visiting La Moneda Cultural Center. On the glass walls, the phrase “America, Tierra de Quienes”  was painted. This translates to “America, Land of Who?”. As I was pondering on this, I began to think of the ethnic and cultural background of the people that make up “America”. Let’s think about Latin America in particular since we are in Chile. In 2019, it’s a melting pot like the United States but we know that much of the cultural make up comes from Spainards, enslaved Africans, and Indigenous peoples native to this land. I saw this cultural make up represented in the artwork all over Valparaíso which we visited on day 5. Some of the people depicted on the murals were, in my opinion very clearly of African descent and others indigenous. This experience in Chile has truly brought this concept to life for me and I will continue to learn about and expand on this idea of America being more than the United States of America.

America, Land of Who at La Moneda Cultural Center

One of many colorful murals in Valparaíso

Mural in Valparaíso

Valparaiso Around the Corner

I can honestly say that the city of Valparaiso is the the most beautiful and unique city I have visited. Not just because of the vibrant colors on all of the buildings, it’s the unique organization and topography that help to make the city so memorable. Being built on the side of a mountain, makes the view of the city and the navigation through the city very different from the flat Ohio fields where I grew up. Everywhere you go there are either stairs or inclines, hardly a flat place in sight. The constant changes in elevation and everything being packed so close together make it hard to see very far in most directions. This aspect allows for many hidden doorways, alleys, and drop offs everywhere you turn. Just walking through the streets of this city is an adventure. The surprises at every turn give the city a very playful and fun atmosphere.

The compactness of the city also exaggerates its eclectic nature. Everything, old and new, the wealthy and shanties are often butted right up next to one another. This allows for even more stark visual contrast. No matter where you look, you don’t know what you’re gonna get.

 

Accessibility at the Gabriela Mistral and the Museum of Memory

Something I noticed today was the efforts to make the areas accessible to people who are visually impaired. The first thing that caught my eye was a handrail at Gabriela Mistral that had braille lettering along it to coincide with lettering in the glass behind it. Something that interested me about this was the fact that the lettering had faded and chipped off but the braille remained intact so that in order to read the lettering one would need to know braille. They also had a map that indicated the spaces buy indenting them into the metal surface along with a braille description.

The 3D map at Gabriela Mistral Cultural Center.

The handrail with braille to match the text on the glass at Gabriela Mistral.

    I also feel like the museum of memory did a good job of integrating things that allowed people with impaired vision to access and understand the exhibits. For example there was a drawing that a child did for their parent who was imprisoned and underneath there was a 3D version with braille and important elements raised up. There was also a map of the locations of key places involving the imprisonment that was raised and indented with braille captions. The map was able to be followed by one’s finger with the key spaces being raised and numbered in braille. The floor also had strips of a different material that one could follow around the museum to experience it that way. Then on the second floor there was a ledge with captions in braille leading to the voting ballot which was completely reconfigured in braille underneath the actual ballot.

My interpretation of how the Museum of Memory made some elements of their exhibits more accessible to the visually impaired.

    Last semester I attended a Buamer series lecture about art restoration and how to make history more accessible and seeing these elements in the museum reminded me of that. I think that accessibility in historically or culturally significant spaces is something that is incredibly important. Learning about art and history can help enrich an individual’s experience and making spaces more accessible allows a wider range of people to indulge in these things. I also found that the tactile elements helped enrich my own experience as someone who is fortunate enough to have vision. Being able to actually touch the outlines of a drawing and experience it in a more tangible, hands-on, way helped make the experience more real to me. I also think that this was an especially important element at the Museum of Memory and Human Rights because it is a space that is rembering people who have been through a traumatic experience while also placing emphasis on the fight for justice. Not excluding individuals who have disabilities from this experience helps support the idea that it is a space for all people to pay tribute to the atrocities that occurred. Overall, I appreciated the efforts both of these spaces made to create an inclusive experience.