What to know before you go

Meet Samantha Nowak, a 5th-year B.Arch student currently participated in the Fall 2024 Rome Program. Samantha has taken full advantage of this incredible opportunity, blending her architectural studies with the rich history and culture of Rome. Through this interview, you’ll get a glimpse into her unique experiences and the lasting impact her time abroad has had on her academic and personal journey.

Can you share a specific project or architectural site in Rome that has had a significant influence on your design thinking?

Visiting Villa Torlonia with my studio partner was so exciting as we did our own independent exploring for our project! Villa Torlonia is a large park with museums spread out throughout the site. This idea, along with one of the museums on site, was so similar to our studio design concept and helped us push our idea forward. It was so much fun to discover on our own and was so inspiring in the end. 

How has living and studying in Rome shaped your understanding of the relationship between history, culture, and architecture?

Without spending the time living and studying in Rome, I would not have been able to understand the importance of history, culture, and architecture acting in relationship. These three aspects of Rome work together to shape everyday life and create a unique city. Site visits that explain historical information, urban drawing, and just walking to class has given me the experience to understand this relationship. 

What has been the most rewarding experience or lesson you've gained from this program so far?

The Rome Program has allowed me to cultivate deeper relationships with my classmates, and I believe we will all cherish this particular group for the rest of our lives. Experiencing this city together, with students we have been close to for years but maybe never even talked to, has brought us all closer together. I am so grateful to have found a tight group of like-minded people passionate about architecture. 

How has the Rome Program enhanced your ability to analyze and engage with the built environment on a global scale?

The Rome Program has given me the ability to think about architecture and the urban landscape on a global scale through learning about the political and historical context that influences design. As we learn about Roman sites we contemplate what might also be occurring during the same time period around the world and how that affected the construction. 

What advice would you give to other architecture students considering studying abroad in Rome?

Absolutely apply. If you're even considering it, you have to apply. It is such an important part of your time in Miami.

Meet Nick Tournour, a 5th-year B.Arch student exploring the intersections of architecture, history, and culture through the Fall 2024 Rome Program. Nick’s journey abroad has offered him a unique perspective, blending academic pursuits with the vibrant rhythms of Roman life. In this interview, he reflects on how this transformative experience has shaped his studies and personal outlook.

Can you share a specific project or architectural site in Rome that has had a significant influence on your design thinking?

I find myself continuously drawn to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore - it almost feels like I go back at least once a week. The interior is illuminated by the use of mosaics and gilded ceilings that creates a sort of interplay between shadow and light, while also merging the sacred religious moments and the architectural spaces. The church has made quite the impression on my understanding of the experiences of spaces that we as architects design.

How has living and studying in Rome shaped your understanding of the relationship between history, culture, and architecture?

Studying in Rome has exposed me to various time periods and histories all at once—from the ancient to the medieval, Baroque, Renaissance, modern, and even to contemporary evolutions of this city. It is often said here that this city is built in layers, and this is not only true, but has enabled me to appreciate the complexities of architectural evolution as it relates to the cultural, social, and political contexts of each era. Experiencing these layers firsthand has deepened my understanding of how architecture reflects the values and priorities of the societies that created them, showcasing a continuous dialogue between the past and present.

What has been the most rewarding experience or lesson you've gained from this program so far?

The most rewarding experience I’ve gained from the Rome Program has been the opportunity to study historic sites firsthand and learn directly from the city’s architectural masterpieces. Standing in places like the Pantheon, Colosseum or Roman Forum, I’ve gained a deep appreciation for the craftsmanship, scale, and intention behind these structures—lessons that no textbook could convey.

How has the Rome Program enhanced your ability to analyze and engage with the built environment on a global scale?

I’ve learned to critically assess how different cultures approach design and urban planning in response to their unique contexts. By studying iconic Roman structures alongside modern interventions, I’ve gained insights into how historical preservation and contemporary innovation can coexist here in the Italian landscape. This has greatly informed my perspective on sustainable practices and adaptive reuse, two important topics in our discipline that transcend geographic boundaries.

What advice would you give to other architecture students considering studying abroad in Rome?

To any architecture students considering studying in Rome, I would recommend to embrace the city as a living classroom, and explore at every chance you can get. I try to find one new place to explore each day! Take every opportunity to seek out Roman life beyond the major tourist sites—Rome’s hidden details and lesser-known neighborhoods are beautiful places with incredible lessons in historical preservation, urban design, and cultural values that can transform your perspective on architecture.

Meet Catalina Cabral-Framiñan, a fifth-year B.Arch student embracing the architectural richness of the Fall 2024 Rome Program. In this interview, she shares insights into how studying in Rome has influenced her design thinking, deepened her appreciation for history and culture, and shaped her approach to the built environment.

What inspired you to participate in the Rome Program?

I hadn’t originally planned on participating due to funding concerns and my goal of attending grad school in Europe. However, hearing past testimonies from friends who studied in Rome—combined with a healthy dose of FOMO—and my positive experience in the Open City Studio in Tokyo convinced me to join the program this fall.

Can you share a specific project or architectural site in Rome that has had a significant influence on your design thinking?

I really loved visiting the different rationalist buildings in Professor Guerrero’s class. It’s a side of Rome (and Italy in general) that isn’t as widely discussed as traditional Roman or Renaissance/Baroque architecture, yet it offers valuable lessons in contextualizing modern design. Outside of Rome, Punta della Dogana deeply inspired me through Ando’s treatment of the centuries-old space. His use of concrete and glass to visually separate old from new, along with the spatial dimensioning, was especially helpful in the final stages of my studio project—repurposing an old military warehouse in Rome, in front of the MAXXI, into a “museum of museums.”

How has living and studying in Rome shaped your understanding of the relationship between history, culture, and architecture?

Rome has shown me how cities can be historically multi-layered, especially through the reuse of spolia over time. Even in contemporary construction, there are traces of history embedded in the materials themselves. Simply by analyzing the evolution of construction materials, you can uncover the human history of the city.

How has the Rome Program enhanced your ability to analyze and engage with the built environment on a global scale?

Studying in Rome has given me another city to explore deeply and understand at a close design scale. Spending an extended period here has allowed me to develop a studio project that directly engages with the city's unique conditions, rather than just studying it from afar.

What advice would you give to other architecture students considering studying abroad in Rome?

Get good walking shoes that you don’t mind getting a little dirty! You’ll be walking everywhere—through the city, on study trips, and up countless stairs during site visits—so comfort is key.

What’s the coolest or most unusual place you’ve sketched or studied architecture while in Rome?

I loved sketching at Piazza del Popolo from the retaining wall lookout above. It’s a place where you can truly see the city’s historical layers, from ancient Rome to more contemporary interventions, all at the junction of major urban axes that have endured for millennia. Sitting there, people-watching at dusk, and sketching the movement of the city is one of my favorite memories.

Meet Hamza Warris, a fifth-year B.Arch student immersing himself in the Fall 2024 Rome Program. In this interview, he reflects on how studying in Rome has deepened his design perspective, challenged his ideas on history and urbanism, and enriched his experience of the built environment.
 

What inspired you to participate in the Rome Program?

I’ve always wanted to be in Europe, and the opportunity to study in Rome was too good to pass up. The city’s history and architectural significance made it the perfect setting to expand my design thinking.

Can you share a specific project or architectural site in Rome that has had a significant influence on your design thinking?

Bernini’s oval is a recurring element in his designs, and it’s something that I find fascinating. The way he manipulates space and movement through these ovals has had a lasting impact on my approach to design.

How has living and studying in Rome shaped your understanding of the relationship between history, culture, and architecture?

Rome has shown me that architecture and urbanism are two entirely different things. The way each has evolved in the city speaks to its unique relationship with history and culture.

What has been the most rewarding experience or lesson you’ve gained from this program so far?

One of the biggest lessons for me has been realizing that simplicity can be more powerful than the complexity of Renaissance and Baroque designs. Sometimes, less is truly more.

How has the Rome Program enhanced your ability to analyze and engage with the built environment on a global scale?

I’ve come to understand that the merit of Ancient Architecture can’t necessarily solve contemporary urbanism problems. This has opened up new ways for me to think about the future of cities.

Have you picked up any Italian phrases that you use in your day-to-day life now? 

“Tutto okay” has become a favorite. It’s simple and perfect for those everyday moments.