Baylea Johnson – Design in Context: Milan

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.