Enferma...otra vez: Sick...again

I woke up sick this morning but pulled myself together to go to sketching class. It was the COLDEST day we've had so far in Barcelona...and the longest outdoor-time, too! Figures...

We walked through Gracia, saw one of the oldest remaining farmhouses tucked into the dense city that grew up all around it...then saw one of the first Gaudi buildings for a tile-maker of the city, then Plazas, as per usual. One of them was plaza de Rebellion where people used to gather to protest and such, and Placa Rius i Taulet, which I ended up sketching. It has a bell tower and acted as a town meeting space. Monica and I were so cold--the pavement and marble were sucking out all of our heat--so we just hit up a cafe and sketched from there while we drank some Cafe con Leche.

We all got back together and visited a really cool library with a glass platform on one of the upper levels, and a curved facade that bubbled out over the sidewalk. From there we continued our walk to a row of buildings made in the modernista era with awesome facade-work very much like stucco, but patterned across the entire building. I can't explain and sadly I was so cold that I didn't remove the camera from my pocket for fear that I might freeze in the process. Perhaps I can steal pictures from other people later on when I create a slideshow or something...otherwise you'll just have to come visit and see for yourselves!

After all of our work on the model, it was scrapped today and we are now re-working the topo to be representative instead of literal. We didn't finish the topo I proposed, and after all of the hell we went through it's sad to see it go to waste, but I think that this will be better for the group's sanity and efficiency-wise it makes sense. So...Here is a pic of the old topo...I'll be sure to update when the new one is completed tomorrow or something. We got an extension for the model until after we return from the field trip, but the sooner it is out of the way, the better. I guess it's a good thing I enjoy model-making!

After studio, it was firm-visit-time, except today we went to the gym (across from the hostel Bob and I stayed at on C/St. Pau) that was designed by a friend of Eugenia in the University that won a competition. Part of the building was originally a factory and had to be re-finished and incorporated into the new part of the building, which made it really interesting. There were major efforts made to maintain many aspects of the industrial feeling of the spaces.

BECAUSE WHO DOESN'T CARRY THEIR MATTRESS HOME FROM THE STORE?

A NICE WINDOW DETAIL IN THE EXTERIOR OF THE OLD FACTORY

BEN, JOEL, TOM, EUGENIA, BOB-discussion at the rear of the bldg.

MONICA SHOWING OFF OUR POOL-SIDE SHOES (worn to keep the areas hygenic)

THE SPA-ZONE: SNOW! This is the first snow I've seen in nearly a year, if not more...it is the 2nd step in the process...the 1st is the sauna. The snow is meant to be smoothed over the hot skin to tighten, tone, and heal. I especially like the effects of the color!

THE SPA ZONE: Step 3, a lower body jet-stream massage treatment! Push a button and the water jets out to massage your legs--apparently this encourages blood flow!

THE OLD FACTORY: re-finished interior with treadmills, free weights, and other equip

Mas tiempo al estudio: More time at studio

Not much to say about today...

We met for graphic design class just to talk about our ideas for the class and the book that we will be creating to document our experiences with the study abroad program here in Barca. We didn't do too much other than communicate our hopes and expectations--which is pretty important. Christi and Esteban are probably going to create a syllabus from the discussions so it's kinda interesting to be part of creating your own class...I guess that's why they call it "indepent study," no?

Gisela and I went to the International House today for a tour because we will be starting Catalan classes when we return from our trip. It's weird to think we're starting a class 1/4 of the way through the semester, but they are about 2 hours long and I'm realy excited about it since Catalan is SO different from Spanish.

History as usual. Then studio until forever to work on the model! Go team!

BEN-Still working hard on topo

BILLY-cutting out pieces Monica traced

BOB and TOM-discussing city blocks

BRIAN-sanding the edges to make pieces fit on the base

FELIPE-finishing up Torre Agbar model

MON and BOB-working on their presentation boards

Trabajando...rapidamente: Working...quickly

So--after lots of work to figure out the actual topo lines of Placa de les Glories, the group effort kicked in more than ever to get the base produced so we could start making the actual building on the site. It's a pretty tough process so much so that I'm going to give a short list of tasks that go into the model itself, before any buildings can even be placed.

I took a plan of the proposal for a new road plan and green space for Glories, and placed it into a CAD drawing so that the lines for the topo could be drawn on in different layers. We used section drawings created for the same proposal to get the main points for the topo, then used the European topo map of the square (consisting of points with meters above sea level listed) to fill in the rest of the points in between the ones given by the sections. From that I could draw lines for each meter of rise in the land in order to build the model. Because there were 14 meters of difference between our lowest and highest points, we chose to simplify them to 7 layers, each 2 meters in height, and so began the model-making process.

Since we do not have a plotter like we do at Catholic, and our model is so large (about 4 or 5 feet in width and length) we came up with the idea to use the projector. By hooking up the computer with the CAD drawing of the topo lines, we could trace the topo lines onto trace paper. We had to do this in multiple pieces since our trace paper is only about 2 feet wide.

After completing the entire topo on trace and matching them up to make sure they fit, we could begin to transfer this info onto chipboard. To do this, we traced the lines with a ballpoint pen to make an imprint on the chipboard below. From that imprint we could either retrace to see it better, or just cut straight from the print.

We needed 4 pieces of chipboard cut for each of the 7 layers...as you can imagine this was quite a feat! Unlike the chipboard we are used to, this chipboard is very warped...we are hoping that with the glue and a bunch of books and other heavy objects around studio (laptops, backpacks, human beings...haha) we will be able to flatten out the pieces as the glue dries.

After the pieces are glued together and dried, we have to make sure that everything fits together correctly. This requires lots of sanding!

While we work on the topo, we also have to be getting prepared to make buildings for the model, so we are also tracing the city blocks out t be cut when we complete the topo. Our presentation boards are also in progress...ALL AT ONCE!

As you can tell, we are all pretty hard at work...but it will all be worth it when we get to the Field Trip at the end of this week! Check out the process in pictures:

GISELA-workin on the comp.

SEAN-working on the computer.

FELIPE Y TOM-beginning work on the infamous Agbar Tower

ROB-Cutting out topography like an all-star!

MON-Cutting out MORE topo!

BEN-YEAH TOPO! (and you thought this was a small task!)

BRI-utilizing all of the books we have to keep the chipboard glued together flat

VICTORIA-using our inventive use of the projector to draw out the Cerda city blocks

BOB--helping to direct Victoria to draw the blocks

BILLY-working hard on CAD

VICTORIA...THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU STAY UP TOO LATE IN STUDIO :)

Don't get me wrong...we're still managing to have fun!

Casa Batllo y la noche: Batllo House and the night

GAUDI MUST HAVE BEEN ONE OF THOSE "CRAZY/GENIUS" PEOPLE

TERRACE ROOM-flooded with sunlight

ROB AND MON at the Mushroom-shaped fireplace seating

THE FLOOR PLAN-check out those curves!

THE STAINED GLASS OF THE FACADE WINDOWS-gorgeous!

HIDDEN STAIRCASE-there seemed to be lots of these...I was curious...boo for rules

THE DRAGON'S BACK-not the colors that I expected, but neat just the same

THE TOP FLOOR OF THE ATRIUM-yeah--it was pretty intense

ROB SEAN CHRISTI MON GISELA BEN

After Casa Batllo, we checked out the HUGE art supply/anything-you-could-possibly-want-to-buy store, then grabbed lunch, went to Aldana for a bit, then hit up studio til 8:30, when we went home to get ready to go out. I walked to dinner with the group, ate about 6 rolls and had water while they waited for their food, then peaced out to meet Alfredo at 11. We walked down Las Ramblas, checked out a British bar that had fake trees placed throughout the interior--it was that whole "indoor/outdoor" theme-haha. Then we walked over across the water to MarMagnum (a big mall), and up on the roof, where at night, the mall stays busy by attracting anyone into the club scene with about 5 or 6 different dance clubs/bars on top! We went to "Sunset" and danced until about 3 or 4, then headed back and just talked as we walked back to Aldana until 6 am. Yes, this type of schedule is actually NORMAL here!

Mi cumpleanos (parte 1): My Birthday! Part 1

It's technically no longer my birthday...but oh well!

The day was fine, not too different from any other day, really, except that everyone and their brother wrote me facebook messages!

We got up this am to meet Christi around noon at the Museum of the History of Barcelona near la Placa del Rei. Mom, Dad, and Jess called while we were waiting outside--6 am at home!

The museum is especially awesome because it has the largest enclosed ruins in the world (I think), some of which date all the way back to 12 BC! One cannot even begin to imagine what that means, even when you are face to face with it! Bob and I walked through together...awed and amazed!

BARCINO-the ancient name of the city of Barcelona, this (comparatively) new sculpture is at el portal (doorway) to the old city

Afterwards, we all walked up Passeig de Gracie to see Gaudi's Casa Batllo...which requires its own entry...

El dia antes: The day before

I was awake until 3:30 am wringing out my wet clothes and mopping up the water that came flowing out at me upon opening the washing machine around 2:45 am. I got everything hung out to dry on the line...it's still wet. Oh well. This morning Ben and I sat down with a dictionary and translated all of the dials on the machine, we found the spin cycle...that would hav been helpful. haha.

PS--a warning, unless someone has a suggestion for how to avoid this: line drying towels...screws up the towel...at least thats what happened with mine...roughness!

Brian and I hit up Rambla del Raval today to work on our project. This is one of the signs to warn of the roundabouts on either end of the plaza.

I got to talk to Chels (DC) and Rachel Green (Munich) on skype today! Yay skype!

Topo issues in studio. We are sticking to the original plan of layered chipboard for the base, and about 7 layers of topo to show the true site. I just want it to work, already, especially after we have been working so hard to get to where we are.

Bri, Mon, Bill and I got gelato tonight on las Ramblas. Nothing like icecream to make the day end right!

Oh-and Alfredo, from the club, texted me to hang out tomorrow night--I'll probably do something with the group then meet up with him after, or maybe we can all meet up at a club or something. Who knows?

Tomorrow is my birthday! :)

El techo de la catedral: The Roof of the Cathedral

So--Today we had sketching class and afterwards we went to one of my favorite places so far. Eugenia brought us to la Catedral in Ciutat Vella, and we got tickets to the roof. It gave me a completely new understanding of the construction. It was breathtaking to see the city from the center and in the sunshine and...WOW. I can't say enough good things about it! This is a shot from the inside, obviously...sun shining--did I mention it's been sunny EVERY DAY since I've been here...not to mention it's atypically warm right now (in the mid 60s some days)!

This is Ben demonstrating how humans have increased in height since la Catedral was built!

This is for everyone who keeps emailing me to make sure I "GET IN A PICTURE" haha. Yes, Mom and Dad, I am actually here, in Barca--not China--on top of the Cathedral with Monica :)

Clearly we couldn't just walk on the roof itself, so this was my most artistic attempt at including the walkway into my pictures...most of the time I was just in awe...and when the bells started ringing at 12, and then the other bells throughout the city echoed the coming of noon...I can't even explain. It was perfect.

This just kind of sums up the beauty of the place...the simple facts:

the sun, the architecture, the city