This spring, 17 students from UMD’s architecture program swapped the Georgian Revival buildings of their College Park campus for the Medieval and Renaissance palazzi of Florence, Italy, the first class to participate in a new semester-long, study abroad studio program. Developed in partnership with International Studies Institute (ISI), the Florence program pairs a studio-level course with an immersive, cultural experience in one of the most architecturally exciting cities in the world.
With over seven centuries of art, culture and architecture interwoven into the city’s fabric, inspiration is not in short supply; students attend classes in Palazzo Rucellai, a Renaissance palace designed by famed architect Leon Battista Alberti in the 1400s, and their studio course is housed in a newly renovated 19th century palazzo overlooking the banks of the Arno River. The studio focuses on Florence-based design projects that tackle priority challenges within the city. Students benefit from the Italian professors, architects and landscape architects who lead them through the cultural nuances of the discipline while showing them the perspective of working side-by-side with their American and Italian peers. This year, students are designing a community space that reflects the relationship between the city and the river.
In addition to studio, technology and drawing courses, students are required to take Italian—to both facilitate communication and absorb the culture—and are encouraged to put it to use by immersing themselves in the Italian way of life.
“The whole city is their campus,” explains Brian Kelly, director of the architecture program. “Florence is an extraordinary place to learn architecture, but the opportunity to live in a foreign country is a life-changing experience. One of the great things about these programs is that they build self-reliance.”
“The Florence program has been incredible,” said graduate student Lonna Babu. Getting to work with Italian architects, landscape architects and students from other universities in both the U.S. and Florence has been such an eye-opening experience. It has challenged us to think about architecture and the general design process differently and we are excited to use what we've learned when we get back. It’s been an experience of a lifetime.”
UMD’s Florence program will be offered every spring to undergraduate and graduate students. To learn more, visit Maryland-in-Florence education abroad program.