Design, Craft, Culture: Coursework in Volterra
Our time in Volterra has been filled with hands-on learning, local traditions, and creative challenges that have pushed us as students and designers. Through our studio work, alabaster sculpting, and Italian language and culture classes, we’ve had the chance to connect deeply with the historical city of Volterra, its materials, its people, and its rhythms of everyday life. Here’s a look at what we’ve been working on so far this semester.
During the first half of the semester in our studio class, we conducted public life studies throughout Volterra to inform our final project: designing proposals to transform the parking lot just outside Porta San Francesca into a welcoming public gateway. The goal was to create a space that not only invites visitors but also supports community interaction and connects the outside of Volterra’s walls to the inside.
Our design proposals were required to include both indoor and outdoor spaces, thoughtfully integrate with the site and the surrounding city, and present a clear vision for l’incontro, a space for gathering and meeting. Through our public life studies, we observed that the area is currently not very pedestrian-friendly. As a result, our designs had to prioritize safe pedestrian access while still accommodating vehicles and parking near the nearby pharmacy. Additional requirements included thoughtful material and spatial composition, a commerce-free atmosphere, and the inclusion of essential amenities like restrooms and storage.
To celebrate the culmination of our work, we hosted an exhibition showcasing our final design proposals, which were printed into beautifully crafted books. Each student also created a postcard to accompany their project, capturing the essence of their design in a compact, creative format. We had a great time bringing these ideas to life and reflecting on how much we’ve grown as designers through the process.
A huge thank you to our studio professor, Ceara, for her dedication, guidance, and for bringing our exhibition to life. We’re so grateful for all the support she provided throughout this journey
This semester, we’ve had the unique opportunity to work hands-on with alabaster, a soft, translucent stone that holds deep significance for the city of Volterra, Italy. Alabaster has been an important part of Volterra’s art and culture for over two thousand years. Dating back to the Etruscans, artisans in Volterra have used alabaster to create intricate urns, sculptures, and decorative objects. Today, alabaster is still closely tied to Volterra’s identity. By working with it ourselves, we get to experience a tradition that has been passed down for generations and better understand why this material means so much to the people here.
In our class, we began by designing small sculptures in clay to explore form, texture, and composition. These clay models serve as references for carving our final pieces. Each of us received a block of alabaster, and we’re currently in the exciting (and challenging!) process of bringing our designs to life. It’s been a rewarding experience to translate our initial sketches and clay forms into carved stone, especially with a material so connected to the place we’re studying in.
Stay tuned—our finished alabaster pieces will be revealed in a later post!
As part of our Italian Language and Culture class, we had the chance to dive deeper into Italian culture through wine tasting! Although this wasn’t just about sipping wine, it was about learning how to truly experience it.
We were taught how to taste wine the proper way, which includes more than just drinking it. First, we looked at the wine to observe its colour and clarity. Then came the swirling, which helps release the wine’s aromas. After that, we practiced smelling, trying to pick up on different scents like fruit, or flowers, before finally tasting it and noticing its flavours.
We sampled three different types of wine, some sweet and some dry, and it was a fun way to discover what kinds of wine we each liked or didn’t like! For many of us, it was our first time really thinking about wine in this way, and it gave us a new appreciation for how much care and culture is behind every bottle.
It was a memorable and very Italian experience that brought the class together in a relaxed, engaging way, and now we all know a little more about what’s in our glass!
Each class has offered a different way to experience Volterra: through design, craft, and culture. Whether carving stone, redesigning a public space, or learning how to swirl and sniff a glass of wine, we’ve gained skills and insights we’ll carry with us long after we leave. We’re excited to keep learning, creating, and sharing more of our journey with you in the weeks to come!
Until next time!
Daria Facchinato