SPQR

Pride

One thing I have noticed while being in Rome is that Italians have a very specific kind of pride and love for their country and their buildings. Of course Americans also love and are proud in their country there is no doubt in that it is just a different kind of pride that I don't think Americans have. In history/theory class we talked about inglobare and how ancient Rome has played and still plays a huge role in the growth of Rome and in the lives of Italians. In Italy their history is part of their every day lives. Where they live, where they work, where they walk, and how they act are all rooted in ancient Rome metaphorically as well as physically. Many of the present day buildings use the foundation of the ancient roman buildings that stood before them. So every building in Rome holds artifacts of Roman history and represents the origins of Rome. Not only do Romans walk around knowing that this is the area in which the Roman Empire was born and grew to become one of the largest empires in the world, but they know the structures they walk by everyday and the roads they walk on are connected to ancient Rome and the Romans that lived before them. In America I can’t say I feel the same way when I walk around. Whenever we build or design a building the first step is always to demolish the existing structure and start from nothing even the existing building has some slight historical value. Of course we have the monuments like the white house, etc but most of the common buildings in the US have no historical value unlike in Rome where every building has historical value. So when an American is walking down the street they look at the architecture around them and decide whether they like the style or the design. When a Roman walks down the streets of Rome they are passionate about their surroundings because they aren't just surrounded by common buildings they are surrounded by their history. They are proud. 

This is how architecture should be studied

 Campidoglio - Michelangelo

San Andrea al Quirinale - Bernini

San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane - Borromini

San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane Courtyard

Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore

A picture may be worth a thousand words but all these buildings speak louder and clearer in person. Its one thing to sit in class looking at a blown up picture of the dome in San Carlo alla Quattro Fontane in Koubek and decide you like it, it’s intriguing. It is a completely different experience to explore the building noticing every detail deciding you love this masterpiece. You feel the complexity of it instead of just seeing it and in the case of San Carlo alla Quattro Fontane it makes all the difference. 

So is there a better way to study architecture?

Nope