By Matisse Van Ballegooyen – Architecture summer course student.

Every student of architecture in the world learns about Florence and dreams of visiting it. I was fortunate to come and take an Architecture summer course for five weeks. To walk its streets, see its historic buildings, and learn about its architecture at the STAR Florence Design School.

In fact, during the last Australia winter break, I took a short Architecture course at the STAR Florence Design School. There I also studied Interior Design, and Furniture. During my time studying in Florence, I had many enjoyable moments which I will remember for the rest of my life.

I had visited Florence as a young child but had little memory of it. This time around I was determined to make the most of living in such a vibrant, cultural, and historic city.

During the Architecture summer course, I lived in an apartment with my friend and fellow student who also traveled from Canberra to Florence. We were located within walking distance of public transport which allowed us to easily explore the city.

When we were not studying, we spent our time walking the streets, admiring the buildings, and visiting iconic places. We also enjoyed the wonderful Italian food at the many cafes and restaurants.

Even everyday tasks such as shopping for groceries became mini adventures. With limited Italian (and the assistance from Google translate), we were able to navigate our way – even if we didn’t always get what we thought we were ordering!

As a young aspiring architect, the Architecture Summer course was an incredible experience. Attending classes for two hours a day allowed me to gain a deeper knowledge of architecture as a whole, while also permitting time during the day to explore the wonderful city and all it has to offer.

The classes in the course were anthropology, street furniture, urban interior design, Italian culture, photography lab, and recording observation.

Each of these classes explored architecture, culture, and history in their own different ways.

Many of the classes were held outside the studio, allowing us students to see the city while learning. I remember visiting the Piazza del Duomo, and learning the history of the iconic buildings. I also remember eating a traditional Florentine dish with my classmates, prepared by Professor Giovanni Voto.

The staff at the design school did a fantastic job of combining fun and excitement into our learning, resulting in a wonderful time.

A subject that I really enjoyed was the photography lab. As an architecture student, photography is an important skill, especially when capturing hand-made models. However, I had never taken a photography subject. During this class, I was able to learn about this in an architectural setting. The teacher taught us photography language, styes, camera settings, and composition.

We explored different places each week, and we could capture both the natural and built environment. This class also helped me to see and understand the differences between Florence, and my hometown, Canberra, the old verse the new.

Being given the opportunity to photograph the old city was an amazing experience, opening my eyes to its smaller details.

The journey in Florence was very positive. It allowed me to live a different culture, live independently, and reinforced my love for architecture. I was able to bring back many skills which I have applied to my current study. Also, I grew close with my peers during this time, making lovely friends who I still keep in contact with.

I would highly recommend anyone who is considering studying abroad to take that leap and do it!