I had a book called Heroic: Concrete Architecture and the New Boston. I very much enjoyed perusing this book and reading up on concrete buildings. I figured out that the building featured on the cover is the Boston University law school. Then, I decided to sketch it.  On the bridge, I sat, perhaps, for two hours to accurately capture the correct proportions of the building. After, I illustrated it further at home. It was a productive time to discover Boston’s heroic buildings!

One of my friends from English school said to me that he was going to miss his favorite grilled chicken when he goes back to his country. I am the one who turned him on to it. This is Flat Patties in Harvard Square. They have delicious food, particularly, their hand-cut fries. I sketched it from a picture I took. This place is really tasty and the service is fast.

The building Starbucks is in is quite quaint. I am of course referring to the 31 Church St. location. As it is small, it is crowded and it is impossible to find a place to take a seat. I always wonder who lives upstairs because it is a great brick apartment and also he or she has a parking lot next to building. That time, I was stopping by Harvard Square and I took a photo of this small Starbucks and sketched it at home.

The more I see buildings, the more I wonder about them! This is not only a library, but also a workplace. The original name of the building is “The William Morris Hunt Memorial Library,” and is located in the Back Bay, across Symphony Hall. I should say that, before I dug up information on it, I very much enjoyed sketching this building! Richard Morris Hunt was an American architect of the nineteenth century. Most importantly, He helped sculpt the face of New York City, including designs for the façade and Great Hall of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, in addition to the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty. I did not realize that the architect of the building could help to shape the city’s appearance!

This shoe repair store boasts the only untouched piece of Art Nouveau architecture is in Harvard Square! You would be hard pressed to find it elsewhere. The Harvard student newspaper produced a video on it, which you can enjoy here:https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2010/03/felixsshoerepair/ I did a rough sketch in 20 minutes from across the street. It is worth stopping by to see it!

This 19th century building on the corner of JFK Street and Brattle Street in Harvard Square   is reminiscent of the Flatiron building in the city, albeit on a much smaller scale. One third-floor corner office has a supposed law firm’s name etched into the window “Dewey, Cheetham & Howe.” The sign is a joke asking the question we presume lawyers ask themselves, that is, “Do we cheat them and how?” This sketch is from a picture I took.

It is not surprising that the Public Garden has a sculpture by Daniel Chester French, who is best known for his design of the monumental work Abraham Lincoln (1920) at the Lincoln Memorial, in Washington, D.C., when you have money! This is Angel of the Water. This memorial was funded by George Robert White, a prominent Boston philanthropist. This sketch is from the park. You should see it if you stop by Boston!

Does someone think about why the Public Garden is so beautiful and has various plants, trees and flowers, however, the Boston Common has only grass? Yes, she or he does. At least, I do! After my little research, I found that both gardens have different municipal organizations. The Public Garden has the Back Bay backing it? And Boston Common has what? This sketch is from the Public Garden. Sitting on the grass, drawing the landscape, thinking about how they make money to keep this garden so captivating, I could not help thinking that, perhaps, they paid the bills by charging for swan boat rides. Then, I realized that the tickets were only $4.00, and even less for kids.

I should have entered to see amazing Tiffany stained glass windows! In fact, I should have listen to their org sound! This is Arlington Street Church. It is close to Public Garden. It has really good history about the building windows and their org and what they believe on their website. I, this time, sketch at home from a picture I took

“Kayaking for all” is their motto! They are Community Boating, Inc. (CBI), located on the Charles River Esplanade between the Hatch Shell and the Longfellow Bridge. Most importantly, they are the nation's oldest. If you live in the Back Bay or Beacon Hill, it is a great opportunity to kayak whatever your skills are. This sketch is right front of the building. I was sitting on the bank to breath from my usual walk.

I always walk the edge of the Charles River to relax. In the summer, it is a great path to run and, in the autumn, there is a great opportunity to see the color of Fall. Thanks to the Charles River, people can sail and kayak. At the same time, you can row if you trust your shoulder! I capture this view while walking to MGH. This very quick sketch reminds me very old days in my language school. My friends and I come here and drink -lemonade!

New Icon for the City from the Santiago Calatrava attracts a lot of people in the World Trade Center location. This typical Calatrava art piece serves  a terminal station on the PATH. Over all, it is quite expensive -we are talking about 2 billions budget. But, it is certainly precious to see. This quick sketch from inside. At that time, I was with my sister, thanks to her, she kept all my stuff while I was sketching.

I very much like to observe building and always glimpse my neighborhood. This fire escape has pink color, originally. The building has green color. They match actually very smooth. Everytime, I pass by the building and thinking what if it is burned what color fire escape would be. Of course, I hope nothing happens…

The cityscape is going to be altered in Boston. The prudential is one of the the highest buildings- almost 900 feet-, but not anymore, as the one is coming to destroy his fame -I suppose. The one dalton is going to be 700 feet what I heard about. I hope it stands only 700 feet. This sketch is from the Charles River Esplanade at MGH walk bridge looking at the cityscape. It is about calling old bridge as the new one is under construction.

Life is a long series of movies. The beauty of these movies is that you can select the people with whom you want to be and watch the whole scenario that makes you live. You’ll watch a lot of movies. Some of them, not many, are happy-go-lucky American movies, other, more common, are dramatic, unfortunately. But, the theatre has limited spaces. You can not fit everyone into the theater. You have to select them to share your popcorn, right?  However, these people could be your friends, besties, dudes, brothers and sisters, and pathetic outsiders. Of course, sometimes, you can fall for impersonal people. But, you can spot them with the usher’s light at the beginning of the movies or during intermission. This is my Cape Cod break, where I saw the light to remove people whom I should not want to be with, even if they do not want be deleted. Sorry, babe, there are no reruns. This was a picture. Later, I sketched it. This is from an airport located on Cape Cod, which really I do not remember, neither the name of the airport nor the people.

Although I sketched their new building on the Mass ave., I figured out that I should draw their corner building. This is the Berklee. Arif Mardin was a student at the school in 1958. Who is he? He is a multiple Grammy-winning producer. Okay, you did not recognize him! He is the man who discover Norah Jones. I think that is enough information to have an idea. Anyway, Berklee College of music trained and is training a great deal of talented people. The sketch is cross the street. Of course, it is from a picture.

I have never seen a Starbucks which is crowded, every fuckin time! Yes, I am talking about Harvard square Starbucks, and yet do not be confused because there are 3 Starbucks in that location. This is the corner one, next to Red Line entrance. A lot people use this Red line in weekdays as it has a connection to Downtown area and Green Line through Park street. The sketch was from where inbound and outbound separates. The underground of Harvard Square homes to busses, too. You can take 5 or 6 bus line. I sketched at home from a picture as you cannot stand 30 minutes in rush area.

We were lucky! My aunt, my cousins, my sister and I met in NYC in this January. It was a lot of fun. The good news is that I learned a pizza place under the Brooklyn Bridge. It is called Grimaldi’s Pizzeria. The important information about this place is that they do not sell slices, only whole pies. The owner at ten age learned how to make pizza then decided to publish a place. Because of regulation, which is not using coal fire in Manhattan, he opened up his place in Brooklyn. He believes coil-fired better to make good pizza. The sketch from there.

When you are an architectural student, you must know where you can buy your model stuff, unfortunately, their prices are an arm and a leg. Because of this, I usually stop by central square. Not only getting my stuff from art stores, but also looking at used records and books is the reason why I always pass by. One day I saw a brick church, gothic style, on the square. It is very interesting to me as this is the First Baptist Church of Cambridge Massachusetts. So I decided to sketch, then, I researched on it. What interesting I found is this is the third one was built by the Baptist Congregation, other two buildings were destroyed by fire.

Thanks to one of my best friends, DODO, I can eat more patlican kebabs, now. While visiting my country, we went to a sketchy restaurant, called Harram Sofrasi in Aksaray, Istanbul. Usually, The place, Aksaray,  is known a bad reputation, but this time, the place is niche to me. I very much the patlican kebab. The sketch is from inside.

My Boston Bro, Musta, wanted to go to the car exhibition in Boston. There was a bevy of new cars I could not take my eyes off. I had already been to the ICA several times, so I was familiar with the general seaport location. This was my first time at the exhibition center, however. It is a giant steel piece which came in at $850 million. It was truly a pleasure to discover steel connections after taking the Structure 2 course. The sketch was from in front of the building. I did not have time to sketch, so I took a photo and worked from it later.

There are two large fish under this dome! Directly underneath is the “Holy Mackerel” of the Massachusetts Senate. Nearby is its more famous cousin, the “Sacred Cod.”  This good luck symbol was donated to the House of Representative by the fishing industry to remind lawakers of the importance of seafood for the local economy. Hilariously, the editors of  the Harvard Lampoon  “codnapped” this sculpture. They later relented and told the authorities where they could find it. After that, UMASS students tried to do the same thing. Second acts usually fall flat. This is the Massachusetts State House.

After discovering Santiago Calatrava’s art pieces in Valencia, Spain, I try to capture the America's Cup building by British architect David Chipperfield. I was, again, visiting these place while I was studying interior architecture, so I more paid attention to interior spaces at that time. Now, I can see more details of facades and exteriors spaces. The sketch was done looking through the building. The architect has garnered a great deal of awards, as has the building. Especially, the Royal Institute of British Architects awarded the highly coveted European prize in 2007. It was an enriching experience to see these buildings at that time, thanks to my aunt.

Another icon from Italy, the tower of Pisa . Really, it is going to fall, someday. But  people say the tower will be stable for the next 200 years. 200 years, my ass. -if there are no wars. Everyone does the requisite pose trying to prop up the tower. I must confess, gentle reader, that I, too, participated in this idiocy. The sketch was from a picture on a grand tour of Italy. Your turn. Take the camera!

While taking Citylab at the BAC, we had to do some sketches. This is of Government Service Center, by Paul Rudolph. I had previously done an interior sketch of its well-known chapel. This time I sketched from a picture which I had to sneak because photography is not permitted. This view, actually, is very famous as can be seen from Instagram pots and other social platforms.

Thanks to MLS, I met a great deal of nice international people, such, from Hungary, Sabrina;  from Korea, Phil, and Jeongku and his wife; from Japan, Taka and on and on. We hung out a lot while learning English. We went so many places and one of them was Sabrina’s boss’s house somewhere in Mass, which I do not remember exactly. We were lucky that this house was empty in the summer. Also, I remember that we were going to stay 1 night, but we bought enough food for a week. At the end of the day, Phil kept the leftovers. Anyway, the sketch was from a picture of the front of the house while preparing to head back to the Hub.   

It was good to see Rockport again. This small sea town is wonderful for art adorers. There are great deal of painters living in it. Their works hang in small galleries throughout this seaside community. The sketch was from the main drag, which is taken over by pedestrians in the summer. My attention was drawn to these mailboxes and their shadows. I wish I could color this, but I need to keep consistency.

OMG, finals are coming… I should hurry to catch up with everyone. Shit, I have a list to go through for the final review. This is getting crazy. I am not gonna be able to get these assignments out in just a few weeks. Unlike everyone in this college, I do not work -but I should. So, what I am gonna do is TRY my best! Toiling many nights, I gotta get an A -this is what nerds think! HAHA, no dude, I just want to put my works into my portfolio, of which I proud, and reflect on my design ability. Hold on, I am getting emails from TAs who think that they know everything better than everyone. Time for a reality check. Whoops, my poor computer would like to sleep, with your permission. NO, it is not going to happen. I need to finish everything before the review -scaled plans, sections, elevations and exterior-interior perspectives. Add details, please! I do not even know what my concept is -sure I know. Oh, no, the due date is looming. I have to pull some stuff out of my ass to fill my pin-up board, which nobody reads or cares about. There is no time, but I should see my tutor, too, to edit my writings, even this writing is edited - no shame I am an international student- and prepare my talk for review. The day has come. I am ready to present, but not to see unscaled projets and blank walls, I am sorry. For the BAC, which is a great architectural college without private draft tables for students or a studio culture (Come on! Twice a week for a total of 3 hours is not enough!)  I think that working and having experience is definitely important in the architectural field, BUT it is more important to internalize your projects and to reflect on your thoughts in your design. However, creativity can not be taught, but, at least, the way to it can be shown. They do pretty good, though, but not students -I try to do, BTW. I do not criticize, my friend, I just say what I have felt so far in this adventure. So tell me, my friend, what are up to and what are you doing?

When I was an undergrad, I traveled around Europe. Italy was most surprising to me as the architecture was incredible, of course. This is when I fell in love with this cruel mistress. I have already posted some sketches from that time in the blog. This one is from a picture I took. Arcades played a central role in society in the old days, just as shopping malls do in this era. In fact, they are the predecessors of today’s shopping malls. It was very exciting to discover its steel and glass roof system then and is exciting to learn how to make it now.

Some of my relatives used to live in Ankara, the capital of Turkey. My family and I, at times, visited them and they would point out us to local favorites which tourists don’t have the opportunity to discover. This sketch was from a picture taken during one of these visits. I was an undergraduate student at the time and curious of old Turkish home construction. I had never thought that I could sketch this in the U.S. later. Here, it is.  

Near Harvard Square, there are some lovely buildings with equally lovely landscaping. These transcendent spaces are welcomed escapes from the hustle and bustle of the square. Lesley University’s Brattle Street campus is one of these. Showing my mother around, I also discovered a great deal of old architectural details. Additionally, the Longfellow House is next to this campus. It is a prominent piece of American history and a good example of Georgian architecture. The sketch was done looking across the campus.

Not kidding, I really miss them. Although I tried to visit the Erlats during my trips to Turkey, I did not have any chance to see them. They are like a second family to me. I have passed many a fun hour at their home. This sketch was from a picture which I took on my last visit. Of course, I couldn’t see them in time. I met the family through one of their sons, who was my classmate. We decided to start a garage band. I found myself playing and recording many demos from our music  studio in Kuzguncuk, Istanbul. Ridiculously, we have not met almost 5 years since I say my bro, Tuna, off to England, and another to Tibet. I wish I could go back to that place and time.  

One of my friends showed me the Red Hat one day after our finals. It is a very old establishment in Boston, over 100 years old. We ate like kings, but drank like beggars -just water. The Red Hat has a pretty interesting interior space from the old days. The ceiling is very low, and the prices, too, when you compare with other costs in Boston. The sketch is from a picture I took that night.

Boston is a great city, and it has a great deal of crowded streets. One of them is Newbury Street, which is quite expensive for not only businesses, but also individuals who want to catch a whiff of “dirty, old Boston.” In a city of brick, the Bonwit Teller building stands out on Newbury Street for its stone. It is a stunning building which originally served as the Historic Museum of Natural History. Today, it is a retail space for those who would like to purchase high-end furniture. The building has passed through a great number of renovations. The most recent renovation was done by Bergmeyer, a local architectural firm. It is definitely worth seeing at night, as well. This sketch was from across from the building.

The Harvard Art Museums emerged from its construction cocoon  after a five-year slumber and has been transformed into a mix of the old and the modern. Renzo Piano’s lines, of course, grace the building. Visitors appreciate his thoughtful steel details in the design of the building. The new skylight design is captivating. This sketch is from a street corner. I can not say that the Harvard collection is as good as Yale’s, and yet there are some pieces that visitors should see. If you visit the museum, you can also see the sole Le Corbusier building in the U.S., nextdoor.

I could not take my eyes off of Le Corbusier’s building, as if it were the only building on the entire continent. He paid attention to his “five point principles” just in the same way he approached the Villa Savoye. This sketch is from the ramp where it connects Quincy Street to Prescott Street. This is a must-see for architecture students.

The only piece in the U.S. of Le Corbusier is located in Cambridge, next to the Harvard Art Museums. The architect accepted the design, despite a delay due to budgetary and schedule conflicts. The comic, perhaps, tragic situation is Le Corbusier visited twice the U.S during that period and yet he never saw the actual building through to its finish due to his poor health. Now, this building is used by Harvard University for the department of Visual and Environmental Studies and a theater, the Harvard Film Archive. The building serves as a venue for a great deal of events, especially films.