Don and Carols Abode: Civita

Buonesera,

Two mondays ago the class went on a trip to see the out skirts of Orvieto, as well as, visit our client for our project, and then visited the home of our beloved professors Don and Carol. The views outside Orvieto were spectaular with buildings designed to frame views of Orveito, especially the Duomo when it was possible. The weather was clear, after a rainy day and the brisk, northwind clearing the skies. Don was certian to make sure everyone had enough time to get the perfect photo as he is a huge supporter of lighing and framing in photogarphy although he was never a profesional photographer himself.

Later we made it out to Cinzia's place after waling up the step sloped drive way, the "mini" bus could not make it up. She has little house with original stone out front and timber beam stucture inside. Its a lovely little cottage for two and adjacent to it is the remnants of an old stable. Our project is to redesign the space into a Bed & Breakfast for a few people to stay durring the warm months. The design process has been interesting as everything gets recycled here. The stone last forever as well as terracotta roofing tiles. The rules seem to be constantly changing as far as maintining original design vs. a new imprint of a building it the same location. After several pictures finding an old cave for wine storage, realizing she has a whole walls worth of bay leaves, and walking thru what might have been the leach field, we bumbled back down the hill to head to Civita where Don and Carol live.

A little bit about Don and Carol before I continue. Don and Carol are both architects and professors who teach at K-State. Carol was our history of architeture teacher for three semesters and usually filled the class time with interesting stories and little Carol-like comments about the architecture that casued many of us to become regualr attenders. Don also teaches but does mostly studio. The two are an addorable older couple, with children married off. Carol is definately full of knowledge and always has an extra tid bit of information for you about the site, she very energetic and probably holds up better on some of these trips than my mother would. She is a trooper. Don on the other hand is the other half of Carol, he is very relaxed about things and sees the other side of things, he is ususally the one who heads up the back and enjoys spending individual time with his students and always full of witty comments and enjoys our class's humor. The two of them together is wonderful, Don always has a comment and Carol finishes it before he probably even thinks it, lol. Truely they have been a complete joy to have as professores. And now we were getting to see their house here in Civita!

Carol bought the little two stort cottage when she was in college, she was studying archiological ruins and her professor lived in Civita. Her professor encouraged her too look into the real estatate there and a few months later she bought a run-down old cottage, no electric, no plumming. Civita is a hilltop town that is actually called "The Dead City", right now Don and Carol are 2 of 10 residents in Civita, I don't even think the priest of the local church lives in the town. One of the reasons it is so unoccupied is becasue of the cliff edges falling off, but also the only way to get to Civita is by taking a huge steap bridge across the valley, and not by car, it is pedestrian only. The area is starting to grow now as it is becoming a popular destination for tourists.

So after we missed the bus we walked thru the town next to Civita to reach the bridge. We were all ready for a break when we finaly reached the bridge. The view is amazing. After the 15 min hike and I do mean HIKE across the foot bridge we enterd the gate into the little city. The place was mostly inhabited by cats an the only other people we saw were at the resturaunt we ate at for lunch. Carol showed us the house. It has a small little entry with an old working fireplace. Rounding the corner you climed some steap stairs to enter the main space. There was a little eat in kitchen with a pitched roof with two adjacent bedrooms. One door was so short that only 5' 1" Carol to enter the room without ducking. Both rooms had small windows and a slanted ceiling. The few steps up lead to a little outdoor patio, just big enough for two chairs and a gril. Forchunately, across the street Don and Carol had another space which was just recently turned into their living room. They put $10,000 worth of windows in to allow for amazing views off the cliff edge. The bathroom had a view to kill for. Right outside the little living space was a terraced garden and caves from the medieval age that they are using. They have a lovely little trelace with vines growing on it and flowers and trees fully green. The place was amazing. Not too bad to have a town to your self with spectacular views out over the hillside, especially when you compare it to my loud, thin floored apartment with 10,000 other occupants in town to keep you up at night.

As a whole the trip was great, we got to know a little bit more about Don and Carol when we vistied Civita and got some great views of Orvieto as well.