SUB|URBAN E|MERGING: MAPPING SPOKES
PORTA PISPINI
Group members: Amanda Cozens, Andres Lamos, Andrew Mattessich, Chris Leppert
Project Statement: THE RIDGE AND THE VALLEY ARE TWO SEPARATE ENTITIES. ONE REPRESENTING THE OLD + RESIDENTIAL + HISTORICAL AND THE OTHER REPRESENTING THE…
Siena11.WORKSHOP2.SUBURBAN.EMERGING 08.19.11
We chose to present the our project digitally using our 3 laptop screens to show our documentation and proposals.
Venezia. 08.06.11
The second day in Venice we went to the Biennale. This was an amazing collection of art from around the world. The central portion was a cluster of pavilions, each representing a different country, that housed a different exhibition. The art was inspiring and the snapshot views of Venice in the openings were unexpected and beautiful. There were some beautiful pavilions and there were some beautiful exhibitions. Above are some pictures from the day.
Siena11.ASSIGNMENT.Urban Space Analytique. 08.17.11
Duomo/Piazza Jacopo della Quercia
This analytique was very interesting because the piazza that was connected to the duomo is the unfinished extension. I used plan and section in the center overlapping to show the relationship of the duomo to the piazza. I also showed the column geometry as a detail. The site plan at the top blends into a window detail that shows the green/black stripes against the white facade.
From Siena to Nairobi, Kenya. 09.05.11
Fall 2011 Studio — Proff. Zdepski — Networked Square
Venezia. 08.07.11
The last day in Venice we went to the Peggy Guggenheim Collection with Sabrina. The collection had amazing pieces. There were some Picasso paintings that I loved as well as some painters that I wasn’t familiar with. The italian futurists paintings were also very interesting as a collection. The building or Peggy Guggenheim’s house was in an amazing position on the canal and had a great outdoor area in the back of the museum. From here we explored some more of the city and then spent about 2 hours trying to find a bus and found out there was only one seat left, so then we gave in and bought a train ticket back to Siena.
Venezia. 08.05.11
Venice is a city unlike any other. A city full of water and no cars. There is a feeling in Venice that you can’t find in any other Italian city. We arrived to Venice at night, which I think is when Venice is the most beautiful. Piazza San Marco at night is unbelievable and I think I could sit there for hours on end. I tried my hand at some night photos in Venice and they didn’t come out half bad.
Palio! 8.12.11 to 8.16.11
The palio and everything leading up to it was a blur of richly cultural events. The feeling around Siena leading up to the Palio was something I had never seen before. From drumming waking me up every morning to the campo transforming into a race track. The contradas putting up their lamps and wearing their scarves; you could tell that they were so passionate about the race and everything it meant. The lottery was so emotional. They are picking the horses for the contradas. Giraffe gets the first pick and they are ecstatic, from there the other contradas were not as excited. When one contrada was picked I saw a group of older women begin to cry. The emotion that you can see in everyone of Siena is amazing. The provas were high-tension, everyone seemed on edge and it wasn’t surprising when a fight broke out in one of the last provas.
The day of the palio was exciting for everyone. There is so much anticipation for such a short race. We stood in the sun for 6 hours before we got to see the start of the parade. From the flags to the carabinieri with their drawn swords, every second was better than the next. The horses took a few different times to line up correctly and then they were off and we weren’t even halfway through the excitement. Everyone around us is Nicchio and they were screaming the whole time. The whole thing seems to go by in a blur and then that’s it Giraffe wins. As soon as we figure out who wins I get pushed out of the way by men fighting and I lose my shoe. We start to move towards the Duomo, me being shoe-less. We get inside the duomo and i’ve never seen so many men crying; it was so intense. From there we left and it seemed crazy that it was over after all of that. We continued to hear periodic drumming and Giraffe would parade through the campo at night. There is only one way of describing this experience: Once in a Lifetime [even 
though I would do anything to make it twice in a lifetime].
