S. Maria Maggiore

The Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore; 'Basilica of Saint Mary Major, or church of Santa Maria Maggiore, is a Papal major basilica and the largest Catholic church in Rome, Italy, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, from which size it receives the appellation "major". The Basilica is located at 34 Piazza del Esquilino, some five blocks southwest of Stazione Termini. The original structure was constructed in the 12th century then later renovated in 1743.

S. Maria Maggiore Basilica has undergone many renovations throughout its long history of use, and is still in use today as it frequently hosts catholic mass. Its original design, by Ferdinando Fuga was classical and traditionally Roman. Margret R. Miles states in her work, “Santa Maria Maggiore's Fifth-Century Mosaics: Triumphal Christianity and the Jews:” ‘Santa Maria Maggiore so closely resembles a second-century imperial basilica that it has sometimes been thought to have been adapted from a basilica for use as a Christian church. Its plan was based on Hellenistic principles stated by Vitruvius at the time of Augustus.
The design of the basilica was a typical one during this time in Rome: a tall and wide nave; an aisle on either side; and a semicircular apse at the end of the nave. What could be noted as slightly out of the norm, but certainly not unusual, is the basilica’s immense area. The original site was home to a previous Basilica. It is uncertain which aspects of the foundation were reused in the design and construction of S. Maria Maggiore.
The interior Athenian marble columns supporting the nave likely come from the first basilica, or from various other Roman building. Fun-fact: when materials of older buildings are salvaged and reused in new buildings(of this time) the salvaged materials can be referred to as spolia.  Of the forty columns, thirty-six are marble and four granite. Many of the columns were pared shortened to make them all identical, and although the interior has undergone many renovations, each appeasing the new styles of each century, the columns along with the entire structural system remains true to the original design. The haphazardly placed campanile is the highest in Rome, at 240 feet, and constructed in the fourteenth century. The campanile’s design is typical example of a Roman Bell tower, and it has not seen any reconstruction in its lifetime. 

At the time of construction, S. Maria Maggiore was nearly at the edge of the populated area of Rome. Yet, today the basilica has surfaced the consequence of a modern city functioning and keeping up with the advances of human progress while living on top of thousand of years of history; the construction of Stazione Termini only a few blocks away has turned the area into a heavily trafficked area and the base of the basilica has become a host to an enormous roundabout

On a final note, Bernini lived very near S. Maria Maggiore, during a portion of his life, and he desired to be buried there. Visitors are told that a staircase inside the bell tower was designed by him, however most art historians do not include it among Bernini's works.

Miles, Margaret Ruth. Rereading Historical Theology Before, During, and after Augustine. Eugene, Or.: Cascade, 2008. Print.Romeartlover. "Rome in the Footsteps of an XVIIIth Century Traveller." S. Maria Maggiore. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Dec. 2016.

TurnStyle

TurnStyle, New York

“Who would have known, a person like me would love walking underground near the subway station again?”
-Says Pathara C. New York, NY

“Oh my god, I simply could not believe my eyes when I got off at the wrong station and accidentally discovered this fantastic new food court inside the subway station.”
-Exclaims Elaine H. New York, NY

“Fantastic, Convenient, Fast, Highly-recommended”
Are all adjectives taken from New York “Yelpers” on their average 3.5 Star review out of 5 on yelp.com describing their newfound love for the new underground food court and shopping center in Columbus Circle, “Turnstyle.”

Turnstyle, a new underground convenience shopping and food court located near Columbus Circle, Manhattan, New York, stretching between 57th and 60th Street underneath 8th Avenue. It recently opened its doors on April 19th, 2016.
On paper, it sounds like a wretched architectural proposition: shoving a bunch of shops, vendors, and fast food underground to maximize the square footage of selling potential New York has to offer -because a Starbucks on every corner does not cover the demand, so let’s stick some underground as well. Yet, in truth, the Turnstyle mall handles itself rather tastefully, and converts a former sketchy, squatter’s tunnel into an innovative and pleasant public space -but I may be giving it too much credit. Let us see whether or not it is abandoned within a few years due to inactivity.
Formerly, the 59th Street Station near Columbus Circle had long, unkept, unnerving tunnel stretching from 57th street to 60th. It was frequently occupied by edgy suspects, littered with trash, flickering lights (or no light at all), and always accompanied by an array of aromas one could easily imagine in such a space. Not surprisingly, in off-hours, the tunnel hosted its fair share of crime. For instance, two years ago, the “New York City Box-Slasher” debuted his attacks here as he would approach unsuspecting strangers in the station or along the C-Train route and without warning slash their face with a standard “box-cutter” razor blade and then would flee the scene.
So, when New York City’s Oases handed the project over to the firm Architecture Outfit to retrofit and renovate the tunnel it was hard to imagine a scenario where they could do more harm than good; however, this fact should not belittle the achievements of the firm as they truly did tactfully redefine and revitalize a space in misuse and disrepair. The firm describes its goals and achievements of the project as follows:

“The project aims to appreciate occupying the infrastructure under the city as a special experience by first stripping away the familiar MTA paraphernalia and then showing off the remaining raw condition of the beams and vaults with the most basic interventions: white paint and light. New functional elements intentionally defer to existing infrastructure and reference classic subway elements. Storefronts have glass transoms to allow the vaults to carry through making the low concourse more spacious feeling. The new spine enclosure, with laser cut pattern openings derived from subway tile patterns and sizes, organizes but does not attempt to hide pipes, conduits, and devices along central column line. Large black floor tile arranged in a herringbone pattern makes a durable walking surface which loosely references the Gustavino tiles in Grand Central Station. New custom "light pipes" at entry ceilings are perforated tubes around LED strips which are slyly integrated with the tangle of existing station conduits to further blur the line between architecture and infrastructure.

Perhaps, taking inspiration from Manhattan’s Lowline or the many urban centers in Hong Kong the Turnstyle does make innovative use out a previously derelict tunnel. It provides New Yorkers a myriad of stores and quick eats that are always changing as businesses only lease the spaces for short term periods. For further information about these vendors you can access that information here, but yes it does have a Starbucks too.

Works Cited:
Kral, Georgia. "Inside TurnStyle, the Food and Retail Hub under Columbus Circle." Am New York. N.p., 19 Apr. 2016. Web. 29 Oct. 2016.
Professor Korsandi