Accessibility in a city as old as Rome can be challenging. They were not exactly keeping wheelchairs and blind canes in mind when making cobblestone streets and stairs all around the city. But today there have been additions to the city that help aid those who need it. For people who are visually impaired there are many things put in place so that they can enjoy pieces of history as well. At Largo Argentina and the Peggy Guggenheim Museum there are small replicas of the art

Wayfinding in Rome can prove to be more challenging in some places when compared to others. In the airports, train stations, bus stops, there are signs that help you navigate. Universal icons that help you understand what the signs are communicating. But on the streets of Rome, there are not many signs that tell you where to go. There are some things that help you navigate and orient yourself when you are feeling unsure or lost. Sometimes the cobblestone patterns can help y

All around Rome it is easy to find spots where there are different design styles within eye shot. At any ancient sight you can look around and see the surrounding buildings look different. At the Temple of Hercules Victor you can also see examples of ancient, baroque, and romanesque design styles. The temple has an ancient design style and seems to be the visual hierarchy of the area. There are no other buildings around it, just some grassy areas. The buildings with other des

Piazza di Pietra is a high traffic and very large piazza. It spans nearly the length of a football field and is located between the Pantheon and Trevi Fountain. It was interesting to see all the different ways this piazza is used throughout the day and the human behavior patterns found throughout. I spent around thirty minutes sitting and observing what happens in Piazza di Pietra at the following times: 10:45am, 11:45am, 2:15pm, 5:00pm, and 6:00pm. Since this piazza is in

The city of Rome is layered with history, and its architecture reflects that. As you take a walk, you can see many different styles on the same street. The Coppedè district is a wonderful example of this. A neighborhood designed by Gino Coppedè with many design styles in mind. There are examples of art nouveau, neo-gothic, baroque, art deco, and modern design styles. Gino Coppedè designed the monumental arch that is near the center of the Coppedè district. It is a fusion of

As many cities do, Rome has that hustle and bustle feel to it. Constant sirens, people talking, cars honking, and of course, construction. There is no escape from scaffolding, large machines, barriers, and everything that comes with a construction sight when in Rome. many times you are even rerouted around construction sites. Most of this has to do with the restoration of buildings. This year many of the church's facades were getting cleaned. There is lots of scaffolding an

Not only did the Romans use the aqueduct system, but they also perfected the sewage and drainage system. Knowing that the aqueducts were feeding so much water into the city, there had to be a way to drain it out. So they made a drainage system that was underground. Its main purpose was to move the surface water that had already been used for baths, fountains, drinking water, and bathrooms, away from the city. The largest sewer system that is still in use today is the Cloaca

Ancient Rome used mainly natural sunlight as the primary light source. The best example of this is the pantheon. The oculus found in the center of its dome acts as the primary light source. But the pantheon was not the only one that did this. In the Domus Aurea’s octagonal room there is also an oculus. There are also windows in the tops of the walls that connect to the adjoining rooms. These windows allow for light to travel from the oculus into the rooms. This was a great wa

Romans were known for how they solved problems with their architecture. From the beginning they used many techniques that led to making many incredible things. But some of these techniques they adopted from others, like the Etruscans. An example of this is the stone arch. The Romans may not have invented it, but they seemed to perfect it. This detail is seen all over Rome. The colosseum, the aqueducts, bridges, vaults, and so many more places all use these arches. One thing t

The Romans are well known for their innovative designs, especially how they have used water. One of the most impressive examples of this is the Roman Aqueducts. They are a gravity fed water distribution system. With eleven original aqueducts, the Romans were able to make water an everyday commodity and not just a rarity. But how did they do it? They started at the tops of hills where they were able to find mountain springs as a source of water. The Aqueduct channels then dec

Five weeks in Italy is an experience anyone would say is life changing. Enough time in another country to truly immerse yourself in a different culture. However, to get the most out of an experience such as this one, you have to be looking for it. Noticing the details of how locals act, what they do, and their environments. Really paying attention to the past and present of the place you are in. A great way to do this is to notice the architecture, a true lasting impression o

For our final week here, we were asked to explore the extremes of our components. This could be an extremely beautiful example, extremely overwhelming example, and an extremely boring example.

This week we were also asked to study our components through the sense of taste. Each of the following niches have some sort of taste element. It could be apart of the niche, or the circumstances surrounding the niche.

This week we were asked to observe our components through smell. Each of these niches had a very particular smell that filled the air around them.