Baylea Johnson – Design in Context: Milan

In Reflection

Arriving for the first time in a foreign country was quite a stressful experience. Although IES and UT did everything in their power to make our experiences perfect, there are always discomforts with traveling. However, after the traveling was over and I had some much needed sleep the exploration of the city was the best experience I’ve had in a long time. After arriving at my apartment, the first thing I did was make the trip to cioccolati italiani with my roommates, and although I was exhausted it was, by far, the best ice cream I had ever had.

After seemingly just arriving in Milan, I then experienced, in my opinion, the best view in the city. From the top of the Duomo, you could see the amazing Milano skyline and the beautiful mixture of old and new architecture. After just a little exploring of Milan’s park and beautiful sforza castle, I visited one of the most scenic locations in italy, Cinque Terre. It was wonderful to visit a much smaller town with such a different atmosphere, however my stay was much too short as I could have explored this small area for days. When it came time to make the journey back to Milan, I was surprisingly relieved to be back in a familiar city. Even in just a short time, the subway and train station of Milan had become oddly comforting, especially after hopping on the wrong train home from Cinque Terre.

The few other trips out of Milan each had their own atmosphere. The trip to Lake Como had a surprisingly different weather as I had not brought a jacket. However, by the end of the day I managed to get a sunburn standing on top the beautiful World War II monument. The view of the lake and mild wind that day were well worth the sunburn though. Visiting Venice was a wonderful and beautiful trip, however one of the most memorable parts of the trip was the visit to the typography museum. Preparing the print of our names for the poster was so interesting to watch and so much fun to actually do the printing as well. Finally, visiting one of my oldest friends at her university in London was an amazing opportunity to see the lifestyle and culture of another European city and perhaps country.

Preparing for this trip I did not expect Milan to be much different from what I was used to, and in some ways I was right. What I did not expect however, was the way in which this trip and the Milanese lifestyle would change my perspective. At first I was mildly annoyed to have to dry my hair in the morning and the recycling and sorting of all the garbage every day seemed like a lot of work. I loved walking absolutely everywhere and the subway system made travelling around the city even more freeing. Everything was within a reasonable distance by walk or subway. I felt like I could see a lot of the city, without having to put in too much effort. Siesta times, although sometimes inconvenient at the beginning, were quite an enjoyable excuse to take a nap by the end of the trip. Adapting to the eating habits of the Milanese was not very difficult for me as I typically enjoy eating a late dinner, but discovering aperitivo was one of the best discoveries we made in Milan. After falling into the habit of doing some of these things, I feel like they are small, simple things I could take back with me and adapt a little to my own.

Week 4 in Review

The highlight of my third week was visiting one of my oldest friends in London. As I’ve never been abroad before, making the most of my trip to Europe was one of the most important things for me. Although my visit was short, being able to see where my friend’s university was incredible. Buildings such as the shard and the gherkin were beautiful and unique in the buildings and architectural style of the surrounding London skyline.

The beautiful castle-like building, Royal Holloway University, my friend is able to call her university was also incredible to see. Although small, the space is used to its fullest extent.

The beautiful bridges in London are well known around the world and after being able to see them in person it is obvious why. The view from these huge bridges is beautiful and city in the grassy area near Tower Bridge was a wonderful way to end my stay in London.

Week 3 in Review

The Triennale di Milano was one of my favorite museum experiences so far in Milan. It provided an extensive opportunity to sketch chairs that were quite different than those typically found elsewhere in the city. The modern art style of museum was an exciting and bright atmosphere to be in. The fun-mirror decorations and the hidden corners of the museum made the act of seeing the actual art more exciting.

The other museum we went to this week had a very different atmosphere than the previous. The setting was much darker and as the we progressed through the exhibit, it became more and more unsettling. These huge leaning towers, however seemed to be the most unsettling part of the tour. They looked as if they could collapse at any moment and their size would make anyone feel small.

My favorite part of the week, attending the La Scala ballet, was exciting in all parts. From getting ready for the ballet to discussing the movements of the dancers from afar, everything about the evening was incredible.

Week 2 in Review

After getting more comfortable with riding the metro and making my way to IES and back home, it seemed quite a bit easier to explore Milan without worrying about getting lost. In fact, I hoped to get at least a little lost so that I could get to know a new part of the city. During one of these adventures discovering Milan, we found a restaurant and bar called Chinese Box.

The day trip to Lake Como was one of the most beautiful starts to a week I could imagine. Climbing to the top of the War Memorial was exhausting, but well worth the exertion. The view of the lake and the surrounding area was amazing and the memorial itself was a beautiful way to honor those lost in the war.

The other personal highlight of the week involved the visit to the Alpha Romeo museum. Even though I do not have any particular interest in cars, the exhibit was quite interest to see. The transition in technology and style throughout the lifetime of the company involved so much more change than I previously though in such little time.

Week One in Review

Upon arriving in Milan, I was immediately struck by the size of the city and the number of people crammed into such a small space. The trains were packed, the subway was full of passengers even at odd times, and the coffee shops were always full, but always worth the wait. The amazing combination of new fashion and ideas in a place rich with history was exciting and different than any other experience I’ve had. Visiting Duomo, I was even more surprised at the amount of people, and pigeons, you could fit into a small area. Although I don’t have an extensive background in design, the culture of the city is tightly bound with the historic buildings in the area. The shear amount of people in the city was clear when a few of us attended a concerted and were packed into a small park in the middle of the city. It was not only interesting to see the night life, but also the combination of beautiful historic buildings in a park hosting a DJ filled with people young and old.

After seemingly just arriving in the city, I traveled to Cinque Terre with Karina and Linda where we spent most of our time near the shore in La Spezia. The beautiful atmosphere was much different than Milan and traveling was a bit harder due to the fact that fewer people spoke English. However, the scenery was a beautiful mixture of old castles and pastel apartments which captured the unique style of the city.