Loyda Villate (BArch ‘02)
One of my favorite memories was starting to sketch the coffered ceiling of the Pantheon. Then all of a sudden a service started and people started singing. The voices filled the space and made it so much easier for me to sketch. The end result was the best sketch I’ve ever made in my life.”
—Loyda Villate (BArch ‘02)
Sketch of the Pantheon by Loyda Villate.
Rod Kelly (MArch ‘89)
I was in the 1985-1986 Versailles class. My memories include living with 7 other classmates. They were strangers to me when we were placed together in the home of a French woman but we became close friends over the 9-month school year. Our whole class was close and many of us still keep in touch or cross paths in our careers to this day almost 40 years later. A vivid memory is of the house band, The Facades, that was formed by a handful of classmates. They were entertaining to say the least. Of course, one week stands out from my time there: the last week of January 1986. We were cheering on the Bears during the middle of the night in Super Bowl XX and plummeting to the other emotional extreme two days later upon hearing of the Challenger explosion from our heartbroken landlady. Such great memories from that study abroad year that pit me in a great place to begin my career.”
—Rod Kelly (MArch ‘89)
Emily Posey (BSAS ‘20)
My year abroad in Barcelona was impactful in so many ways – I not only grew in my knowledge of the built environment but also as a person in general. I learned how to see architecture through the lens of different cultures; how to sketch and capture ideas in the moment; how to balance work and play; and most importantly how to build relationships with people from diverse backgrounds.”
—Emily Posey (BSAS ‘20)
Sketches from Emily Posey’s travel journal while studying abroad in Barcelona.
Eric Rowland
During our April break at the Versailles program, we bareboat chartered a sailboat from Athens to explore the Greek islands. The April weather started out cool and rainy, and a squall caused us to anchor below the Temple of Poseidon. The constant cold winds and waves required us to post watch all night to be sure we didn’t lose our anchor. The weather slowly improved as we explored the islands and we finally returned to the same harbor where the Temple was illuminated for the filming of a music video. The experience led to me being the Site Architect of the Kavousi excavation on Crete during my last summer at Illinois.”
—Eric Rowland (MArch ‘90)
Eric Rowland (MArch ’90) and fellow Versailles study abroad students chartered a sailboat from Athens to explore the Greek Islands.
Mark Pearson (BSAS ’97, MArch ’99)
For me, Versailles changed everything, opening my eyes to a world far beyond my experiences. In Versailles I became a serious design student and a citizen of the world. I experienced new cities, cultures and places. I tried new foods, shopped in markets, slept in hostels (and on trains), explored, sketched, and encountered architecture firsthand. There is nothing more important in the education of an Architect than firsthand experience of places and spaces. Memories of places visited become a part of us as designers, and ultimately influence the way we understand the world and respond to it creatively. Simply put, Versailles is where I learned to see, and that has had a profound impact ever since. The longevity of the UIUC architecture study abroad programs is also significant. In my role now as a Professor of Architecture at College of DuPage, I have had the great fortune to have several my former students transfer into the Illinois School of Architecture and have their own transformative study abroad experiences.”
—Mark Pearson (BSAS ’97, MArch ’99)
Sketch by Mark Pearson (BSAS ’97, MArch ’99) during his time studying abroad in Versailles.
Patrick Hill (BArch ’70, MS ’72)
The LaNapoule experience was a major influence on my final career choice. After getting licensed in Illinois as an Architect in 1972, I applied and recieved a teaching appointment at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, CA, where I retired in 2007 as an Emeritus Professor of Architecture. The appreciation I gained for high density, mixed-use living in villages on the Cote de Azure (which Professor George Ramsey had us thoroughly document), as well as reading Jane Jacobs seminal book in an urban sociology class on campus, helped me teach my students in design studio for over 32 years. Their studio projects, and later many of their built projects in practice on the California central coast and beyond, have all been a result of that French experience.”
—Patrick Hill (BArch ’70, MS ’72)
Pierre LaChaue’s new apartment building.
Pierre LaChaue’s new apartment building.
The studio on the top floor with Patrick’s desk in the foreground.
The studio on the top floor with Patrick’s desk in the foreground.
LaNapoule, Place de La Fontaine.
LaNapoule, Place de La Fontaine.
LaNapoule market.
LaNapoule market.
LaNapoule drug store.
LaNapoule drug store.
The LaBelle Augerge and the Chateau.
The LaBelle Augerge and the Chateau.
St. Paul de Vence.
St. Paul de Vence.
St. Paul, Cindy and the fountain.
St. Paul, Cindy and the fountain.
Lucerne, Switzerland – a nearby village.
Lucerne, Switzerland – a nearby village.
Patrick Hill’s sketch of the Ponte Vecchio, Florence, Italy (1969).
Patrick Hill’s sketch of the Ponte Vecchio, Florence, Italy (1969).
Pierre LaChaue’s new apartment building.
Pierre LaChaue’s new apartment building.
The studio on the top floor with Patrick’s desk in the foreground.
The studio on the top floor with Patrick’s desk in the foreground.
LaNapoule, Place de La Fontaine.
LaNapoule, Place de La Fontaine.
LaNapoule market.
LaNapoule market.
LaNapoule drug store.
LaNapoule drug store.
The LaBelle Augerge and the Chateau.
The LaBelle Augerge and the Chateau.
St. Paul de Vence.
St. Paul de Vence.
St. Paul, Cindy and the fountain.
St. Paul, Cindy and the fountain.
Lucerne, Switzerland – a nearby village.
Lucerne, Switzerland – a nearby village.
Patrick Hill’s sketch of the Ponte Vecchio, Florence, Italy (1969).
Patrick Hill’s sketch of the Ponte Vecchio, Florence, Italy (1969).
LaNapoule experience photos
Images by Patrick Hill (BArch ’70, MS ’72) from his LaNapoule experience abroad in 1969
Christine Guest (née Turek) (BArch ’14, MArch ’20)
My favorite part of my Barcelona experience has to have been meeting my husband. We just celebrated our 1st anniversary and have been together since spring of 2018. We are currently in the process of getting his Visa approved so he can move to the US. As much as I will always cherish all the travel I did and the places I went and the memories I made, nothing quite compares to finding the love of your life when you least expected it. Our relationship has been built on and nurtured by our love of travel and the belief that everything happens for a reason. Now, as I pursue licensure, he is by my side, supporting me 100% of the way. I can definitely say if I hadn’t gone to Barcelona, my life would be completely different.”
—Christine Guest (née Turek) (BArch ’14, MArch ’20)
Nico Hsu (BSAS ‘16 / MArch ‘19)
One of the best memories from my study abroad year was the last workshop in Girona, Spain, particularly the last day on May 6th, 2016. The class was accompanied by the legendary Architecture Historian, William J.R. Curtis to tour the pavilions by the RCR Architects in the Olot area of Girona. We started at the Les Cols Pavilions, had lunch at the Bathing Pavilion, and ended up at the Tossols-Basil Athletics Track joined by the architect, Carme Pigem herself. Toward the end of the tour, the class decided to do a race around the track. Fast forward a year later, the RCR architects received the Pritzker Prize, which made the whole experience even more surreal. The influence of the ISoA Barcelona program for me is everlasting, it is not something that fades away, instead, it echoes and amplifies as I live on. All the lessons I learned from that year keep evolving with me as I gain new perspectives, and the exposure to world-class architecture helped establish my design sensibility at a young age. Aside from that, I was able to connect deeper with humanity from all the cultures, music, and cuisines that I experienced that year in Europe. I also learned a lot from both Prof. Alejandro and Magali Lapunzina, their passion and work ethics continue to inspire me as I progress along my architecture career.”
—Nico Hsu (BSAS ‘16 / MArch ‘19)
Nico Hsu’s class raced around the Tossols-Basil Athletics Track after touring the pavilions by the RCR Architects in the Olot area of Girona, Spain.
Michael Masny (left) with Versailles alumnus Thomas Reddy (right) on a recent trip to southern France where they met 50 years ago.
Michael Masny (BArch ’70)
The fall semester in La Napoule 1967 had a greater impact on my life than any other event I have experienced. It was a cultural fascination that opened my heart to the world. Many thanks to Professors Gabriel Guervekian, Harold Young, Ben Harnish, and guest critic Mogens Prip-Buus. After graduation I returned to Europe (first teaching English in a lycée in Rouen France, later herding cows on Swiss alps) and spending 2 years working with former professor Mogens Prip-Buus in southern France. Some of the best years of my life. I have settled in eastern Switzerland near St. Gall with my Swiss wife and run my own one-man architectural office doing mostly renovations (also historical). I have been very fortunate to be able to work with several extraordinarily creative people. At 70, I retired and now enjoy skiing and clambering over the Alps.”
—Michael Masny (BArch ’70)
Michael Masny (left) with Versailles alumnus Thomas Reddy (right) on a recent trip to southern France where they met 50 years ago.
Max Bemberg (BSArch ’09)
My study abroad experience in Versailles, France was an immersive journey that left an indelible mark on my passion for architecture, ultimately motivating me to establish my own architecture firm. The inspiration began with the guidance of my talented professors, whose expertise and dedication fueled my creative drive. We were taught to be critical thinkers and to analyze and learn from our surroundings. We were also encouraged to explore and have fun. One of the unique aspects of my study abroad program was the eccentric and stimulating studio culture – surrounded by students from around the world with diverse backgrounds and perspectives. The collaborative nature of the studio environment fostered a sense of camaraderie and innovation, encouraging me to seek unconventional solutions and embrace the unexpected. It was within this dynamic atmosphere that I realized my desire to create a firm that would embody this spirit of exploration and collaboration. Throughout my time in Versailles, Europe became my playground for architectural discovery. Every new city I visited offered a wealth of inspiration and a chance to deepen my understanding of diverse architectural styles & history. Traveling, sketching, and photographing became an obsession, allowing me the time and varied experience to test & develop my own design language.”
—Max Bemberg (BSArch ’09)
Morning walk in Spain by Max Bemberg (BSArch ’09).
Diana Gedye (Bachelor of Science in Architecture, 2013)
During my junior year at Versailles, France, I lived with a host family, which helped me quickly learn conversational French in ways I would not have had in a traditional classroom setting. My family and I ate meals together, played games, and attended church. They shared their culture and traditions, which made me feel like I had a home away from home. When I initially moved to France, I was scared. I left behind my close friends and family. However, I made new connections and gained valuable experiences that will stay with me for the rest of my life. Participating in the study abroad program was one of the best decisions I made!”
—Diana Gedye (Bachelor of Science in Architecture, 2013)
Diana Gedye (Bachelor of Science in Architecture, 2013) and fellow study abroad students in front of the Eiffel Tower.
Michal Ojrzanowski (BSAS ’12)
I couldn’t possible pick one favorite memory from my time studying abroad in Versailles. The travel, independent study, and camaraderie have resulted in insight, passion, and lasting friendships that I rely on in my career and personal life to this day.”
—Michal Ojrzanowski (BSAS ’12)
Michal Ojrzanowski (BSAS ’12) with fellow study abroad students in Versailles.
Sabas Padilla (BSAS ’20)
Hands down the single best experience of my life. There are so many amazing memories that I will cherish forever. I was a transfer student into FAA and was hesitant to go abroad without really knowing any of my peers. Despite my fears, I decided that I needed to push myself outside of my comfort zone to get the most out of my academic experience. I was nervous at first, but it didn’t take long before friendships emerged. I connected with so many of my peers and we still keep in touch to this day. It really is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be a part of such an immersive program like IASAP-BV. The best part of the experience are the relationships you build with your cohort and the memories you make along the way.”
—Sabas Padilla (BSAS ’20)
Sabas Padilla (BSAS ’20) with friends in Barcelona, Spain.