UC Berkeley Architecture Spain Summer Studio

Sunday, June 26, 2016

When you think Spain can't get any crazier ~

Las Hogueras de Guardamar y Alicante!

Lets just put one thing in perspective - Spanish people are c r a z y. A good crazy, though.

They know how to eat.

They know the meaning of siestas (naps) and how important they are to our everyday life.

And they know how to celebrate in the most insane, emotional, and spiritual way -

a celebration that is remarkable and worth engaging in.

Las Hogueras de San Juan is a yearly summer celebration that marks the beginning of summer and summer solstice. Celebrations take place from 20th to 29th June. The Spanish come to celebrate the longest day of the year through spiritual dances around giant bonfires on the beach, fireworks and firecrackers erupting from the city floors, and constructing massive, beautiful wooden structures around the coastal cities, where they later burn them on the evening of the 24th.

Spiritual dancing around the bonfire in Guardamar. This ritual is said to ward off evil spirits and witches.

Dancing and celebration take place not only around the city and the beaches but in barracas (or tents) that are stationed within promenades and streets of some coastal cities like Alicante.
People come here to drink,
eat and have a good time,
celebrating life,
happiness
and s u m m e r !

Structure being prepped for burning at 12:00 AM.

Burning of the structures at 12:00 the evening of 24th of June, Alicante, Spain.

We were lucky enough to be a part of this cultural experience and witnessed the spiritual dancing of the Guardamar Bonfire, as well as the explosive mascletas (fireworks) and the burning of the structures in Alicante.

The energy,

the explosions,

the people,

the happiness,

the cheering,

the excitement,

the celebration of life -

were all part of the cultural experience and it was an amazing feeling to be a part of. It's nothing like you've ever experienced!

This is truly the best way to experience the Spanish way of life!

// Mateo //

Monday, June 20, 2016

Ruins and Ritual

"Ruins are buildings that have lost their rituals."

A query: What do ruins become when they acquire new rituals not envisioned during and after their creation?

The curious case of a Toyo Ito project that lies all but abandoned in the salt marshes of southeastern Spain is one of a building that was at once realized, then shut down for having been built in a protected environment. But there are signs of sojourners to the now deteriorating, derelict hulk.

Decayed state of exterior cladding.

Including the Guardamar studio every summer, there appear to be suggestions of some kind of habitation; sofas, beer bottles, a smorgasbord of graffiti, just to name the most obvious ones. What is a ruin stands now testament to the power of the people architecture is supposed to serve; they who can turn a once bustling, robust structure into what is essentially an empty shell also have the power to revive it and steer it towards a new purpose.

Use and habitation of a different sort.

What is architecture? This most basic yet most difficult of questions regarding the field, the practice, and the study of building is yet again thrown into a loop. We're heading into an answer I completely did not expect.

///Jeremiah Zamora ///

Search for the little girl

This is taken from Castle of Santa Barbara in Alicante. The city, the ports, the beach. All in 360.

When I was young, I remember myself to be an adventurous and fun soul. I liked to run around untamed. I climbed and jumped like most kids. I was invincible. I didn't hold back and I didn't look back.

Somewhere in a cruel growing up world, I had forgotten that part of me. I became someone who I didn't recognize any more.

After coming to UC Berkeley, I was in deep search of finding that girl. That girl who lives in my distant memory. And slowly, I began to see changes. Though it was a small step, I found opportunities to be happy again like I once did, doing things like camping, climbing and hiking. I was reclaiming myself.

And coming to Spain was a bigger step of all and adrenaline rushed down my spine as I stepped my foot in Madrid. And that joy was something I hadn't felt for years. I simply fell in love walking everywhere. And it felt so natural to be that girl once again. I remembered what it felt like to walk without worries and running towards something exciting.

Of all, I find most happiness climbing and hiking all the way to the top.

I'm still not sure why I feel this way about going towards the top but the view is breathtaking and it makes it all worth it.

The expression "its beautiful" cannot do justice. There is something more than that. Like my eyes have the ability to capture something exquisite not like my camera could and that moment, I don't think of anything else. I look at what's in front of me.

"Eiffel Tower" as Jenny and I call it. Spotted at every beach. Perfect for people watching and for better horizon view towards the sea. Extremely fun. I don't know why.

Toyo Ito. Urban Ruin, my photographer friends would call this "Urban Decay". Exterior is confusing. Getting into Interior and experiencing it from inside ... compelling.

My feet above ground

- UJ KIM -

Sunday, June 19, 2016

Let There be Light

It has almost been 3 weeks since I first arrived in Spain. We've done a lot of traveling to different cities since, like Madrid, Valencia, Alicante and of course, Guardamar, our home base! I feel like these past three weeks, I have learned quite a lot about the culture and lifestyle here and I am adapting. In terms of food, I find Spanish food a bit too salty for me. However, I am now officially a fan of paella! Anyway, besides the joy of simply seeing new places, this summer, I am also learning to question and seek for deeper meanings. Light is definitely one theme that continues throughout these travelings and visits to buildings and ruins. Here are some of the pictures I took!

Light shaft at Atocha Rail Station, Madrid. You can't really see the light shaft in this picture, but the real one was breathtaking.

Light coming in from the glass on the dome at Central Market in Valencia

Light at a beach in Valencia where Sorolla painted

Centre Arqueològic de l'Almoina. This used to be a public bath for the Romans back then. Water is stored in between the glass panels on top. I find it interesting how the shadow casted by the sun looks like flowing water, as if the public bath was still filled with water!

Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia.

Inside outside?

Light at Castillo de Santa Barbara

Interplay of shadows.

~Adriana

Monday, June 13, 2016

FOOD BLOG POST

Hello all! For my first blog, I have decided to write a post dedicated to all the food I have eaten thus far in Spain. I am currently writing from my lovely apartment in the Pension Jaen, conveniently located right above the Restaurante Jaen where we are to be served a hearty meal every day for the next two months. Our previous excursions include Madrid, Valencia, and Alicante where I have been able to experience a variety of restaurants and dishes.

To begin with, it should be known that Spain has a very unique dining experience that is quite different from what I am used to in America. Lunch is the biggest meal of the day, where the several course Menu del dia is offered. Unlike the very American standard of a 12 o’clock lunch with a one hour break, Spanish lunches start at around 2pm and last for about two hours if not more. For dinner, Spanish people eat starting around 9pm-10:30pm. If you are trying to eat a dinner as early as 5pm (normal for me), you will have a hard time finding a restaurant serving meals as Spain takes its siesta, or midday nap, very seriously. At this time, most people enjoy a light snack complemented with drinks to hold them over until dinner. While this all took a while for me to get used to, I now look forward to my expansive lunch where I am able to stuff myself with food until I pass out—just in time for an enjoyable siesta nap.

From my overall experience, I have found that Spanish food consists of lots of meats, potatoes, bread, and salt.) Some of the foods that I have encountered a lot are paella (a rice dish cooked with broth and meats/vegetables), bocadillo, (a baguette sandwich), and any dish with meat and potatoes (most often fried potato wedges). Spanish people love olive oil and salt, putting this on bread and salad, but do not eat spicy food. As someone who depends on spicy food, it wasn’t long before I scoured the markets for hot sauce, eventually finding some obscure chinese chili peppers in a convenience store down the street. Of course, my love for spicy food by no means discredits the flavor and taste of Spanish food. Throughout my travels I have been thoroughly satisfied by amazing food and sensational flavors.

Nuri

Sunday, June 12, 2016

//Embarking on a Quest Narrative//

Place

It only seems natural to begin my first blog post to reflect on everything that has occurred since I’ve arrived to Spain—to chronologically and very orderly lay out what I’ve learned so far. Yet, since I’ve arrived and began to write in my sketchbook daily, I’ve sort of focused on miniscule moments that have largely impacted my experiences.

And somehow, I still want to generally give an overview of my larger experiences here. The miniscule moments have been reflected on already, and I realize how they’ve affected the larger moments.

So here I go,

dissecting moments based on place:

MADRID

A visit to Joaquin Sorolla’s home: Seeing the work of a man imprisoned by his yearn of Valencia.

VALENCIA

Playa De La Malvarrosa: The moment I felt like I had finally arrived to Spain.

GUARDAMAR DEL SEGURA

Castillo de Guardamar: Learning the historic layers of my new home and climbing to one of those layers thereafter. Beginning to understanding the soul of a space.