Heading to Rome

As some of you may have heard, I will be taking a four week sabbatical from Ayers Saint Gross this Fall from September 23^rd to October 18^th,  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