Experiencing It

During my study abroad year, at Manchester School of Architecture, I took advantage of every break in classes and traveled Europe visiting over 20 countries in quest of art and architecture and experiencing the cultural treasures of Europe and North Africa.

I crisscrossed the continent from Portugal and Morocco to Estonia and Russia and from Egypt and Albania to Denmark and Ireland.

I visited the architecturally compelling cities of Cairo, Rome, Athens, Seville, Berlin, Saint Petersburg and Paris.

I walked a number of mesmerizing buildings including Diocletian's Palace, the Palace of the Alhambra, the Sistine Chapel and the Ronchamp Chapel and some disturbing ....the Lenin Mausoleum.

I investigated archaeological sites, like the Roman Forum, the Acropolis, the ruins at Butrint, and Delphi.

I admired a variety of architectural styles including the Gothic in Paris, the Renaissance and Baroque in Rome, Muslim Architecture in Granada and Marrakech, the Communist Era monuments in Tirana and Warsaw, and historical military structures in Saint Malo and Kotor.

I explored, first hand, works of many grand architects including Imhotep, Michelangelo Buonarroti, Francesco Borromini, Antonio Gaudi, Victor Horta, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Le Corbusier, Daniel Libeskind, Sir Norman Foster, Zaha Hadid and Frank Gehry. I addition, I acquainted my self with works of Sauerbruch Hutton Architects and Barkow Leibinger Architects by visiting their firms.

I studied newest trends in contemporary architecture at ArchiLab2004 convention in Orleans and the 9th Architectural Biennale in Venice.

I admired contemporary and antique art in many museums including the Bilbao Guggenheim Museum, the Foundation Beyeler, the Zacheta, the Urbis and the State Hermitage.

I braved the murky alleys of the bazaars in Cairo, strolled through charming lanes of the old town of Copenhagen, the dark streets of the Medina in Fez, the winding walkways of Dubrovnik and lively, with St Patrick’s Day Celebrations, roads of Dublin.

....and, as the highlight of this architectural experience 2004-2005,
I entered the eerie interior of the only remaining architectural Wonder of the Ancient World, the Great Pyramid of Giza. I also visited the great temple at Luxor and contemplated over the dubious achievement of moving the Abu Simbel.

Below you will find, not in any particular order, a selection of images from my Architectural Experience of 2004-2005.

More images and some descriptions coming soon