Berlin Study Abroad Experience

 Blog 3 Feb.19. 23     Our semester project in my studio class has us building an architecture to fit within a set site. As implied by the title, it spans the whole semester and starts with site analysis and will eventually end with a fully developed structure that we believe best suits the area. The site is part of Berlin’s Kulturforum, a collection of interesting architectures that include Mies van der Roh’s Neue Museum, and the Berlin Philharmonic. It is a great display of iconic Berlin architecture. The Berlin Philharmonic is a modernist building designed by Hans Scharoun. It features an interesting yellow facade and organic structures that seemingly wave with the wind. Directly across from the Kulturforum is the Sony Center. This post modern building has become a highlight of Berlin’s architecture, thanks to its reactive glass ceiling. While the building is without a doubt unique and thought provoking, it pales in comparison to the Philharmonic and Neue Museum. ...

 Blog 2 2/18/23 Having had time to get acquainted with Berlin I have began to notice and enjoy some of its more subtle quirks, particularly within our area Kottbusser Tor.  While our area is certainly not one of the nicest I have grown to appreciate it. It has large Turkish and Vietnamese populations which can be felt throughout the area. The streets are lined with pho and doner restaurants. While I am yet to make it to one of the many pho restaurants, I have grown to love the doner kebabs. Although it is not what I anticipated eating or even enjoying, I can confidently say a good doner is delicious. Another interesting characteristic of our neighborhood, but also Berlin in general is the graffiti.  The streets and buildings are lined with graffiti, ranging from simple tags to artful masterpieces like the giant spaceman I frequently pass. (I would attach a picture but for some reason and unable to- google Berlin spaceman graffiti if you are curious). While the graffiti is...

  Blog 1 1/7-1/23/23      In comparison to Geneva, staying in Berlin has been like living on another planet. While it has been relatively easy to get accustomed to the changes and barriers, it is still an entirely new experience for me. Having traveled to Europe before and briefly stayed in Germany, I did not expect to be caught off guard by the different cultural practices or worldviews. These differences however, have shed new light on to how Berlin operates but also how the cultural gaps throughout the world are not just labels, but tangible differences in how people live and think.        While I have noticed countless differences between American and German culture, I have also noticed differences between myself and the Norwich students who I am abroad with. It is interesting to note how small changes such as schools can inform larger decisions you make. Most notably, our approach to problems within our studio class. The architecture studio ...