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K-State Today

September 19, 2016

College of Architecture, Planning & Design students exhibit Italian studies experience

Submitted by Thom Jackson

Orvieto

An exhibit by College of Architecture, Planning & Design students who participated in the Italian Studies Program at Centro Studi Citta di Orvieto in spring 2016, is on display through Sept. 30 in Seaton Hall's Chang Gallery. The exhibit includes photos, sketches, journals and design projects.

The exhibition is free and open to the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

Students in the college's graduate degree-granting programs are given the option to participate in the program during their fourth year. This year, 30 students participated in the Centro Studi Citta di Orvieto session.

Aaron Shump, assistant professor of architecture, and William "Chip" Winslow, professor of landscape architecture and regional & community planning, accompanied the students and taught in Orvieto. 

Winslow described the purpose of the Italian studies program as an opportunity to immerse the students — over a period of nearly four months — into the rich cultural history that Italy offers.

As a class composed of architecture, interior architecture & product design, and landscape architecture students, one goal of the instructors was to push established boundaries and blur the line of individual design disciplines — to become one as designers of the environment.

Students were engaged in a hands-on experience exploring the design studio theme of "Contemporary Interventions in a Historical Context." Studies employed the mapping and analysis of their surroundings — comparing and contrasting centuries of cultural materials and technology to those of a contemporary nature. The diversity of the historic precedents brought new meaning and understanding of the word contemporary.

Final student products consisted of sketch journals documenting their extensive travel experiences, which focused on mapping, materiality and connections in time; as well as a comprehensive design project, defined by each student exploring the proposal of a contemporary intervention in a real historical context. The design proposals are diverse in scale, scope, materiality and presentation technique — in the end, a tremendous documentary of their academic pursuits and personal growth.

According to Lynn Ewanow, professor, associate dean and director of international programs for the college, this is the 13th group of students who have had the opportunity to study in Orvieto.

Students participating from the architecture department:

Morgan Denton, Leawood; Michael Twitchel, Manhattan; Joseph Lewis, Prairie Village; Wade Byers, Topeka; Tara Sears, Valley Center; Jacob Cox, Wilson.

From Missouri: Andrew Huss, Columbia; Sarah Kershner, Lee's Summit; Andrew Friedmeyer, Sarah Kirchgessner and Curtis Mueler, all from St. Louis; and Michael Taylor, Warrensburg.

From out of state: Jurni Johnson, Denver, Colorado; Jacob Pivonka, Newark, Delaware; Nicole Harris, Honolulu, Hawaii; Andrew Schopen, Prairie View, Illinois; and Kaitlyn Portner, New Ulm, Minnesota. 

Students from the interior architecture & product design department include:

Steven Scott, Lenexa; and Kelsey Castinado, Overland Park.

From out of state: Patrick Smith, Alpharetta, Georgia; Katherine Arndt, Sioux City, Iowa; Emma Cole, Baltimore, Maryland; Rachel Marks, Chesterfield, Missouri; and Rmily Erbert, Omaha, Nebraska.

Students participating from the landscape architecture and regional & community planning department:

Kelsey Steward, Garden City. 

From out of state: Richard Prudenti, Fayetteville, Arkansas; Kelsie Shy, Cape Coral, Florida; Tyler Swehla, Liberty, Missouri; and Abigail Fiala, University City, Missouri.