Hey,

this is Lisa. I am currently at Judson University in Elgin, close to Chicago – an advantage!

I am having a lot of different experiences. Not only speaking another language in everydaylife, but also to be in a country where there are so many different customs and traditions – which is not like I expected it to be. The Architecture Program differs very much from what I was used to at Anhalt University of Applied Science. I do not have as many classes, but those I have are therefore more intense. What I really like about the program here is working in the studio. In the building where the architecture faculty is located, is a huge room where every student of every semester has their own workspace. This arrangement creates an atmosphere that I really enjoy. You always have the opportunity to ask your classmates, talk with them about your or their projects, and discuss different opinions on architecture.

And the professors are very interested in the “european” way of architecture. I like the good relationship between students and professors.

The city of Chicago is an amazing place to experience works of world reknown architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Mies van der Rohe and Frank Gehry. Chicago is “the” city of architecture in the USA. But I also really like the numerous art works.

I go to downtown Chicago as much as I can to experience the wind from Lake Michigan blowing through the shady urban canyons; Michigan Avenue with the fancy shops where the Chicago people present their new designer clothes; the Lakeshore walk where people train for the next Chicago Marathon; the 200,000 people in Grant Park celebrating Barack Obama to be their next President; …

The life at Judson’s campus is an adventure for me. I am sharing my room with two American girls who have totally different majors and backgrounds so sometimes we have differing opinions. But this type of living creates a good commuity when you know that there will always be someone next door, or one story down, to talk, to have a nice time with.

Hey what´s up in Germany?

Now we have passed the midterm point of our studies at FAU successfully. Our projects were very interesting because we were exposed to the local connection with the community aspects of historical architecture, the climatic influences and the landscape. One example is the excursion we took to the Everglades National Park were we learned about the ecosystem and building in the harsh wetland environment.

Everglades National Park

We have realized that the design process is different than in Germany. The university follows a very structured curriculum which leads to extended hours of homework. (it sucks)

studio space

The different levels of design classes collaborate in an interactive studio space. This helps to meet people, to discuss projects and also to have fun together. The professors conduct the classes in a personable and casual manner.By the way we suggest that you study with Professor Christian Feneck for your design class. He is an up-and-coming professor with experience as a practicing architect, leading his fresh and unique approach to design.

color experiments

Another important part of the school of architecture is the AIAS (American Institute of Architecture Students). It is a national network run by students. This allows a lot of lectures, workshops and tours, like our trip to New Orleans.

New Orleans, Piazza d´Italia by Charles Moore

That´s me (Peter) in a Café in New Orleans

In conclusion, we think this is an excellent program and an exciting opportunity to study in USA, a really different world.

We are enjoying the time.

See you later.

Peter Weber & Matthias Helmle

This summer has been very long and very exciting.  I started off in Italy for a workshop in Domodossola for two weeks and slowly made my way to Dessau.  Traveling with huge bags was very difficult so for whoever is thinking about comming here (PACK BARE MIN!)  Dessau is a very small town with hardly any night life, but that was not a big problem since we got to travel practically every weekend.  Dessau is very close to many beautiful places and big cities including Berlin, Hamburg, Dresden and so on… My favorite experience was probably visiting Prague.  It is my favorite city by far… and even though our apartment got robbed there, it did not ruin the trip one bit.  There are eight of us total from Atlanta and we are pretty much spending a lot of time with each other.  Sometimes it gets hard and we argue over stupid things but even more times we travel and have fun together.  This trip is not just about the studio project, it is about learning to be independent and to live in a completely different world than your own.  Our professors have been great.  We got to learn German which was the funnest language class i’ve ever had.  Elke made it very entertaining and easy to learn.  Our studio class was very different from the one in the States.  It was nice to get a different perspective on how we design and learn.  We tried adapting and figuring outthe assignment… hopefully we did not dissapoint anyone too much.  The only thing I wish is that we could have had a mixed studio with maybe german students.  Big thanks to Katrin for babysitting us the whole time, she deffinitely made this trip a blast.  Thanks

Hey, I am a Southern Polytechnic State University student from Atlanta, Georgia!  I am in fourth year and about to leave Germany.  I have had a great time here so far going to Ulm, Baden-Baden, Prague, Bregenze, Wolfsburg, Wittenburg, and Berlin!  I need to talk only about one of these places so I would like to talk about Berlin!  A city that has much to talk about.

So far this summer we have visited Berlin at least three or four times!  While we were there we saw the Jewish Museum, Berlin Wall, Brandenburg Gate, DZ Bank, Reichstag, Altes Museum, Sachsenhausen, Alexanderplatz, Berlin Hauptbahnhof, Sony Center, and so much more!  I can tell that modern architecture is appreciated more over here in Germany than it is back in the Sates, well at least I can speak for Atlanta.   We had a break in our Excursion to Berlin [the second time I went] and we had this amazing photo op in front of the Berlin Wall (I am to the right and Rossi to the left)!

While I have been here in Germany, I have enjoyed learning about the culture and the way of life, food, transportation, and holidays.  I will have to say, I will miss the bratwursts’ and the spicy mustard!  The currywursts’ from Berlin.  The yogurts that are used in salad dressings and sauces for doners; however, I will also miss the excitement of learning about a culture that is rich in architecture and history.

I would also like to say that I am now a firm believer in riding a bike!  I just wish that Atlanta/Marietta had good enough sidewalks for that.  I do have a bike back at home, but I know that it will take gas getting up past $6 a gallon for most everybody to change there ideas about driving a car to go a mile!

 One of the most spectacular sites in Berlin was the Brandenburg Gate at night.  It shows you what Germany and Berlin has been through in the past, but it is still here to make sure that the past stays there, in the past!  I really hope everyone could see this in there lifetime.  I am very glad I did.

-Kira Melville

Summer Study Abroad 2008 in Dessau, Germany

Here are some pics of our conference on May 22nd and 23rd

Gui Bonsiepe holding his lecture on ´Interface – the Domain of Design´

back, from left to right: Gunnar Tausch (Continuity in Discrete Patterning Systems: Christopher Alexander and Architectural Morphology); Wolfgang Schaeffner (Towards a new Structuralism: a Laboratory of Structures); Aron Temkin (Granularity of Scales and Models); Reinhold Martin (Gyorgy Kepes: Structural Research in Art and Science); Klaus P. Jantke (The Structuring of Experience: Artificial Intelligence in Digital Games); Achim Menges, Michael Hensel (Morpho – Ecologies).

front, from left right: Jo Krausse (Structure vs. Style: The Structural Study Associates, New York); Walter Prigge (Moderator ´Laboratories´); Stephan Pinkau (Programming Architecture); Ludger Hovestadt (Designing Emergence: New Ways of Architectural Design); William Engelen (Verstijken voor Ensemble)

Gui Bonsiepe with the two Organizators of the Conference

Hello from Chicago

After one Semester study in the USA, I can say it was a great experience for me.

In my case, it was Judson University in Elgin. Elgin is in the Suburbs
of Chicago, around 1 hour ride on the train.

I have learned interesting project as well as working in teams. They had very good quality theory lectures.
I gained a new unterstanding of architecture.
To the Projects: In the first, we worked on a urban analyze Project, then we started to work on a Residential Project.

Compare to germany, students work together in a studio. Most of time the professors are in the Studio to help students with the
Projects. My Semester was interesting and gave me new ideas. I began to look at things from a different angle. I realize how much my own work has been influenced, it´s not only about studying abroad, it´s also about seeing a different culture and being more than a tourist.

After my semester at Judson I choise to remain in the states for my Internship. It was the best choice, because I work and live in a historical architecture city and 2012 will be here the olympies games.

best

philipp [plp]

farmwood house -by mies van der rohe

Mies van der rohe – bauhaus meet iit

oak park – frank llyod wright

pritzker pavilion chicago – by Frank Gehry

so come over here – to chicago…..

best plp

Curtis Sartor Architecture Chair at judson university and his secretary

my christmas present for judson