This week we have focused on 20th century design in a fascist regime in many tours of museums and real life examples of architecture hinting at its past. In Como, we examined two architectural examples of this time period and how they model a sort of new authority amongst their surroundings with straight lines and even placement of windows to create special effects with natural lighting. It is very interesting to see the intention behind seemingly innocent architectural pieces.
While we have been studying design, no matter the topic, I have found myself astonished by the beauty of the place that surrounds me. No matter whether I’m looking at a building marked by its time, or how the mountains of Northern Italy assert dominance in the sky, I can see the beauty and extreme detail in the creation of the world. The way the leafs face the sun to soak in the sunlight, causing vines to cascade over the edge of a building in search for the energy that feeds it. The way the water in Aosta is crystal blue green, rushing and slushing down such as a melted stream from a glacier atop a mountain would. The way there is a hushed chatter no matter the hour in downtown Milan, but it is never as loud as NYC. In all these ways and more I can see how the Lord has intricately designed this world.
The craftsmanship it takes to bring such ideas into reality is something that I find myself both humbled and impressed beyond belief by. I am so thankful for this week, for our presentations and learning about design from a new point of view, and for being able to learn from and among such brilliant, kind and talented individuals.
