Alessandro Zoppini, adjunct lecturer at the Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning (CAUP) during winter term, challenged students in his class on lightness and integration in architecture to design a walking bridge over the Huron River. The above result, titled ‘Foot Bridge in Ann Arbor Over the Huron River,’ was CAUP graduate student Michael Risselada’s fanciful answer to the challenge. During the three-week design time, Zoppini encouraged his students to consider materials, structure and environmental performance. He told students to envision placement of the footbridge near the Huron Towers.
Zoppini has a working architectural practice in Italy and also teaches at the Polytechnic in Milan. He has designed several sports facilities and a bridge. Photo by Bill Wood, U-M Photo Services
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One good turn gets the U going
The arrival of warmer weather will give campus walkers more opportunities to enjoy the many outdoor sculptures. ‘The Cube’ (above), by alumnus Bernard (Tony) Rosenthal, was acquired in 1968, a gift of the Class of 1965 and the artist. Seemingly massive (it weighs 2,400 pounds), ‘The Cube’ will rotate on its axis with just a gentle push. Campus legend says that the president of the University gives it a ceremonial push each morning on the way to his office to get the University under way.
‘The Cube’ stands 15 feet high and each side is an 8-foot square. It is constructed of Cor-Ten steel painted black. Rosenthal created another cube titled ‘Alamo,’ and had originally planned to install it at the Ann Arbor location, but students from Cooper Union near his New York display site petitioned to keep it there permanently. It became one of the first abstract sculptures to be permanently installed in New York City.
Rosenthal noted that he preferred ‘The Cube’ to the ‘Alamo’ because he was able to revise and resolve the later design.
‘The Cube’s’ eight-foot dimension was determined by the size of the truck available to transport the sculpture to Ann Arbor. Transportation and the installation of the piece on Regents’ Plaza were paid for by the Class of 1965.
For a look at more outdoor sculptures, visit the Web at www.fpd.bf.umich.edu/planner/sculpture/main.htm.
Photo by Bob Kalmbach
Cooking classes teach nutrition
Nutritionists Sharon Sheldon (left) and Kathy Goldberg, registered dietician, at the East Ann Arbor Health Center show workshop participants how to prepare meals that are low in sodium. The low sodium cooking demonstration is one of a series of demonstrations that teach healthy ways to prepare food. Photo by Bob Kalmbach
