Piazza San Pietro and me
Author: Kyra Vreeland | Major: Architecture
Saluti da Roma! (Greetings from Rome!)
Ciao! My name is Kyra Vreeland, and I am a Fay Jones School of Architecture student pursuing a Bachelor of Architecture. This current 2022 summer semester, I am studying abroad in Rome, Italy to complete my required study abroad architecture studio at the University of Arkansas Rome Center. While I am certain more learning is to come, I wanted to write this blog after completing two weeks of the program as a way to reflect now as well as later on after my experience completes.
While studying abroad is required for all Bachelor of Architecture students, I chose to take advantage of the unique summer studio option due to covid scheduling delays as it enables me to graduate a semester early and enter the professional work environment in December of 2022 rather than May of 2023. The classes I am taking in Rome are Architecture of the City- a deep dive into the history of Rome and its architecture, and Studio- with a project specifically located in Rome. So far, I have really enjoyed both of these courses as the material being taught and discussed is all around me every day. One of the activities I was really looking forward to during my classes here in Rome was sketching and drawing by hand in the city of Rome. After first year of architecture school, sketching isn’t as prevalent as we begin to transition into more and more computer work. The Architecture of the City course is equal parts history and site visits to sketch from observation. I have never had a class before that went out weekly to sketch architecture, and I am truly enjoying this experience. After two weeks, I can already tell that my sketching from observation is improving. I am excited to see how much my sketching abilities have grown by the end of the summer, and I know I will be able to use this improved skill when I become a professional architect. My Professors Francesco Bedeschi and Riccardo D’Aquino are also exceptional, I have never met two people who knew the history of a place and the principles of design as well as they do, the amount of new knowledge I have already gained in these two short weeks is astronomical. However, a learning curve I wasn’t anticipating when studying in a new country was ironically just keeping days of the week straight. Typically, at the Fay Jones School, studios are help on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays; so, having studio in Rome on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays was certainly a mental exercise to adjust to as myself and studio peers kept confusing the days of the week after the repetition of four years of studios in Arkansas.
Nonetheless, the main reason the Fay Jones School requires study abroad is to experience great architecture. Everywhere you walk in Rome, the architecture surrounding you is part of history and are magnificent works of art. On my walk to studio every day, I get to walk through the sculpted columns of Saint Peter’s Basilica and down the path of the Via Papalis. Additionally, some of my favorite built works I have seen so far are churches we just happen to stumble upon. While some facades are more articulate than others, every church’s interior in Rome is breathtaking. Of course, I could not write a blog about my experience in Rome studying abroad and not mention the food! Not only is the prepared food at restaurants amazing, particularly the pizza and pasta, but the fresh produce at markets is also remarkable. Just to name a few, I truly believe that Italy has some of the best cherry tomatoes, apples, and blueberries that I have ever had.
Even though studying abroad is required for architecture students, I would absolutely recommend this program. Sometimes there are other destination options for architecture students, but the presence of the University of Arkansas Rome Center is something I think all architecture students should experience. Not only do you get to study and have your own studio space in the Palazza Taverna, a beautiful and historic palace, but the architecture here truly is worth seeing and experiencing. While Rome has been amazing, the first thing I am going to do when I get home is spend time with my boyfriend that I have greatly missed while studying abroad here in Rome. With a 7-hour time difference, something I wish I had known beforehand is how homesickness can be worse with such a time zone difference. Communicating with friends and family back home can be a challenge, so discussing ways to communicate before leaving is crucial to having a good time in Rome while still keeping in touch with important people in your life back home.
With 8 weeks left, I still have much learning to do and adventures to embark on. Ciao!