What is Resiliency?
Interior Architecture + Design undergraduate program
This course examines the development and impact of resiliency as it relates to a community’s ability to predict, react and adapt to unanticipated factors.  Students gain factual knowledge about the strategies and tools required for implementing resiliency with a focus on historical built environments and business continuity planning.  Students analyze and observe various resilient approaches used across the globe and explore these important cultural and geographical differences through international travel. 

For the spring 2016 semester we are focusing on Boston and Barcelona.  Mount Ida College is located in Newton MA and travel to Barcelona will occur in May 2016.


RESILIENCY:
What is it and why is it important?
noun re·sil·ience \ri-ˈzil-yən(t)s\
: the ability to become strong, healthy, or successful again after something bad happens

Montserrat: Leah Truesdell-May 22, 2016

Montserrat is a multi-peaked mountain located south of the city of Barcelona in Spain. Tucked inside the mountain is the benedictine a...



Montserrat is a multi-peaked mountain located south of the city of Barcelona in Spain. Tucked inside the mountain is the benedictine abbey and the surrounding town. Because of the beautiful views from the 4,055 ft elevation, the figure-like mesmerizing shaped of the mountain, and the impressive architecture located impossibly just below the summit, Montserrat was Spain's first national park.


What is most impressive about the architecture at the summit is that it dates back to the 12th century. The architecture alone is impressive for it's time but then one has to consider the transportation of building tools and materials at such a time; it is almost impossible to imagine and the reality of it is extraordinary to say the least. The monastery, shops, and museums at the summit are also a beautiful illustration of resiliency; the town was strategically located in a crevice in the mountain to avoid falling rocks and to not be effected by possible strong weather. 


I was particularly looking forward to this visit as I had found and researched the site before our departure. Although I was able to capture some beautiful pictures of both the views and the architecture, none of these photos truly portrays the nobility of the site; visiting was surely an amazing experience that exceeded all expectations and left the entire group in awe. 

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