Pictures of the day

These photos are from the Ara Pacis Museum in Roma. Katie, Claire Jojo and I all posed as statues of the Caesar family. This is one of my favorite museums in Roma so far. The Alter of Augustus, in the center of the floor, is really the main focal point of the primo piano. Drawing attention to something so large and historic inside a modern building is sometimes hard to do when an architect designs a museum. The architecture is attempting to highlight and enhance  the language and art of the altar which I really admire. The building structure doesn't over power the beauty of the ancient history settled in the center of the room.  

Many Romans don't like what is considered modern style in their city, but change takes time. I think if you have time to go into this museum and really take a look at the revealing of the floor to the walls, walls to the windows ect. ect... you start to understand the amount of care that was put into the designing process. In this case, Meier's plain white architecture is really highlights the contents of the museum because it comes from something greater then itself. It has reason and meaning behind every detail, which is something that comes internally. Yes, the outside of the building  may contrast with the ancient Roman designs and thus stick out in the city fabric, but doesn't it make so stop and look at what is there? I mean to me, I think it's a pretty successful project.

The Ara Pacis Museum also has fantastic natural lighting. We stayed until dusk and the sunset. The shadows are very dramatic and its almost as if there is a curtain falling on the Alter before the spot light comes on at night. This was a cool field study class where we had to diagram the space. It really made me understand that my sketchbook shouldn't be just pretty details and perspectives but also diagramming and thinking about space. This day taught me a lot. Reveal, connections, space, lighting, material, patterns, rhythm, details and meaning.