As some of you may have heard, I will be taking a four week
sabbatical from Ayers Saint Gross this Fall from September 23rd to
October 18th, to study and do research at the American Academy
in Rome. The Academy is a research and arts institution founded in 1893
by a group of American architects, painters and sculptors who met while
planning the fine arts section of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. The
group discussed the idea of forming an American school for artists in Europe as
a place for American artists to study and further their skills. Led by Charles
K. McKim, they decided that Rome, a city of masterpieces of painting, sculpture,
and architecture throughout the ages, would be the best location for the
school. The program began with institutions such as Columbia University and the
University of Pennsylvania providing scholarships to artists to fund their Rome
studies. Other original founders included Harvard College, The Carnegie
Foundation, J.P. Morgan, John D. Rockefeller, William K. Vanderbilt, and
Baltimore’s own Henry Walters.
Today, The America Academy in Rome serves as a
"home" to visiting U.S. scholars, and artists who have been awarded
the Rome Prize, or a mid-career visiting artist or scholar appointment in
fields such as classical studies, medieval studies, architecture, design,
landscape architecture, musical composition, visual art, and literature.
In addition to Rome Prize Fellows, visiting scholars and artists live and/or
work at the Academy for varying periods. I consider myself most fortunate
to have been admitted as a visiting scholar, and while I am personally funding
my expenses, I appreciate the endorsement of the Ayers Saint Gross
partnership.
This sabbatical fulfills a long standing dream of mine to
devote time to critically think about design issues that we face as one of the
leading firms in the world focused on creating environments for the
dissemination of knowledge and culture. Having worked with many of you in
this arena for over 30 years, my time at the American Academy will afford me
the chance to devote some concentrated time in thinking about what it means to
create spaces and places which encourage the sharing of knowledge. I am
sure that the resources of the American Academy, as well as the city of Rome,
will provide a compelling setting to allow me to focus on a detailed study of
how urban design and architecture can create the best spaces for civic life,
teaching and learning. While technology is changing how we share
knowledge, I continue to believe that the campus as forum, the public realm of
cities, and civic buildings provide the best platform for the allocation of
information and culture.
I intend to study and document the best paradigms Rome
offers of these types of environments, while also examining how these models of
antiquity can be reinterpreted into modern solutions. I hope to spend
these four weeks in research and study of the city of Rome to uncover links
between how the city and its buildings created a place of such great civic
life. I would also hope to share my experience as an established urban
designer and architect with others who will be at the Academy during my stay,
and with all of my colleagues at Ayers Saint Gross when I return.
With thanks,
Adam
