During my last day in Rome, my friends and I woke up at the crack of dawn and made our way to the Vatican City to see the pope. Upon reaching the Vatican City, I immediately was impressed by the regality of St. Peter’s Basilica. The church was absolutely massive, and in extremely good condition. Upon entering the church, I was amazed at the gold trimmed walls and other artwork that was prominently displayed. Although we were all extremely tired from waking up early, being able to watch the sunrise in front of St. Peter’s Basilica made the journey worth it. A few hours later, we were able to see the pope as he was driven around kissing babies. St. Peter’s Basilica is special to me because I associate the beautiful church with fond memories of my last day in Rome.

As a freshman studying abroad, the Roman Colosseum was one of the few buildings that took my breath away when I first saw it. When my group first walked up to the Colosseum, I was initially unimpressed, as the building was worn down and in a dilapidated state. However, upon walking inside, I was amazed at the sheer scale of the main facade, and I was also impressed by the many gift shops that had been inserted into the Colosseum. The Colosseum is special to me because I remember walking literally 50 miles around the city of Rome before arriving at the Colosseum. The colosseum itself was quite the treat at the end of our long journey walking around the city, and pictures of me and friends at the Colosseum still bring a smile to my face.

I grew up in a small town right outside of a college city in South Carolina. During my time at OU, so many things have really felt like home. During my trip to San Antonio, on the other hand, I experienced a bit of a culture shock. I remember this building in particular sticking out to me. When I saw it from the outside, it looked nice. But when I walked inside, the interior design is what made me say “wow.” There was a huge lobby area that made me feel like I was about to party rather than dine. Colorful, arched walls separated the huge lobby from the dining areas. This was unlike any restaurant that I’d been too in South Carolina. I really enjoyed the festive atmosphere, and getting to experience the different culture of San Antonio through food and architecture.

Ahhh, the freshman dorms……
This is one building that I both love and hate. Although the building and its surroundings may look magnificent from the outside in this particular picture, when I see it, I cannot help but think of the cubicle sized room that had to be shared with my 6 foot tall self and my 6 foot tall roommate. Whoever designed those must have known the disservice that they would be doing to generation after generation of college students. Nevertheless, being in such a tight space did allow me to become very close with many people whom I still see and talk to everyday, years later, and I’m grateful for that.

The Ulm Staudthaus Exhibition and Assembly building is an event venue located in the center of the German city of Ulm. Designed by Richard Meier, the building itself rests in front of the classical gothic-style Minister of Ulm, and provides the city skyline with a stark juxtaposition of distinct architectural styles separated only by time. The venue is the center point of an effort by the local government to redevelop the city center.

The Staudthaus contains an open staircase that connects all four levels with the goal of providing panoramic views of the city and of the interior of the venue. The geometry of the main building is based on a nine-square structural bay system that is augmented by concentric peripheral walls adorned with alternating axes and lines. Furthermore, the construction of the building contains reinforced concrete and blockwork, ensuring that the venue holds a structural integrity.

I found this building’s location to be extremely odd, as it is situated right in front of a classical cathedral. However, I still find the building to be very architecturally appealing.

Located in New Harmony, Indiana, New Harmony’s Atheneum serves as the visitor’s center the city and was designed by Richard Meier. The building is named after the Greek Athenaion, a temple dedicated to Athena. The structure was funded in 1976 by the Indianapolis Lilly Endowment, and opened to the public in 1979. The building itself is actually quite famous, and boasts many awards including the Progressive Architecture Award, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Honor Award, and the AIA’s Twenty-Five Year Award.

This building is intended to serve as a center for visitor and cultural orientation. On the third floor exhibition space, visitors can gaze back and reflect on the route full of jagged windows and orthogonal grids. Finally, on the roof terrace, visitors are awarded with a panoramic view of the town of New Harmony.

I found the design of this building to be captivating, as it really allows visitors to immerse themselves with the unique cultural features of New Harmony, Indiana.

The Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world at 2,722 ft. It is one of the most impressive buildings ever, in my opinion. Both in terms of height and appearance. Its presence is so commanding and attractive at the same time. The whole city of Dubai seems to compliment its figure. I have never been to Dubai to witness it in person but I definitely want to one day. The glass structure is so elegant and artful, yet so simple. The simple modern style is at its peak with this building and is truly a piece of art.