Walk in Boston # 4, sculpture, art and architecture at MIT, is a self-guided tour not exactly in Boston but in Cambridge, on the other side of the Charles River. You’ll walk on the MIT campus and go inside some of its most famous buildings to get a feel of the life there.
It is now only available on Payhip in pdf format with a clickable map and updated descriptions.
In this pdf you will also find:
- the list of Highlights.
- the Metro stops to get there and back and infos for Buses.
- tips about restrooms, places to sit and eat.
- details about a particular place you will find on your route.
You can download it (or just the map of the walk) to your phone to help you in your discoveries.
This will then allow you to live a unique experience of the city far from what you might find elsewhere.
If you purchased the Boston NYC book, this download will be free for you, just send me a note for an access code for this walk if you don’t have it already.
The description below, incomplete and with cropped photos, gives you an idea of this walk before you decide to buy it.
A to B: Your tour starts a… but as there are more than one exit, find the one on …
The… will then be on your right.
There and for a fee, you’ll learn everything about robots and computers; you’ll also see temporary exhibitions related to science, and art exhibitions related to technology.
It’s a small … and you don’t need to have an extended knowledge in science to appreciate what’s on display.
In front of it, you’ll see … if you want a guide. Otherwise, grab a “public art & architecture campus map” that will help you navigate this tour.
Next, find …. slightly on your right when you are on the plaza with …
Go through the hall and you’ll emerge on another plaza with …in front of you, on your left.
The… has three galleries with provoking contemporary art exhibits, and they will give you an idea of the level of thinking at MIT.
C: Once your visit is over, cross …; turn sightly left to walk in front of …, a large metallic sculpture by…
You’ll then get to a raised building designed by … It’s the tallest building in …, and it hosts the department of Planetary Sciences. In front of it, on your left, …
Go through two glass doors situated on your right: behind them, a large… all the buildings around you have … concrete and glass, very utilitarian; except the one on the left.
Designed …, a good example of Deconstructivity architecture. Colorful, informal, it hosts the …
Right now, though, go to the right, along the building in front of you; it’s …. Find it’s street entrance. There’s on the 1st floor a gallery with strangely beautiful photos of …. The building itself is in a very modernist style.
Go out on the other side of the gallery; you’ll be in the middle of another large sculpture, just in front of …. Turn left and go and …a bit further on your right. You’ll reach …; it’ll be the occasion of unique photos with your reflections on the façade.
Then find a door …. On the 1st floor of … you’ll see some of the best hacks made by MIT students. They also use the green boards here and there to write their ideas and talk about them.
D: Once out of the S…; this time, go right; after a while, you’ll see a long and straight pathway in front of you. On its left,… Follow it and turn left under a porch.
You’ll find there the entrance to two galleries, one on the 1st floor, one on the 2nd floor. They are open everyday form 9am to 6pm and a good chance to see again some unusual art.
Then, once under the porch again and on your left, find the stairway at the end of the pathway and on its right. Take it to end up …. Turn right and you’ll end up on t…
On your way, you’ll have a peek at some laboratories; encounter students that could be part of the next technological revolution; see the notices posted for them (parties, seminars, jobs offers, concerts…).
As soon as you see some lifts on your right,… then go and see …
E: Cros…will be on your right, a … made of mathematical algorithms.
On your left, you’ll see… the architect responsible for the auditorium in front of you. Go inside, it’s beautiful, then go out on the other side. In front of you, ….
F: Turn left, cross …
A small stair will lead you to a hallway a little bit on your right. Follow it. Once at some elevators, stay on the right; there are some stairways and a door opening…
… it’s the place for pictures of …. It’s also where some of the graduation ceremonies take place every year in June.
G: Once you have explored the…, cross the avenue: the … offers pretty views of …
On your left in the distance, the famous … -nicknamed after the shape of its four towers, linking …; on your right the … the only …measured in smoots. Smoot, a MIT student, once laid 364 times on …
Walk on your left. You’ll see …, the oldest in the nation; when you reach the .. it will be time to cross …
I : At the end of …. that you’ll then take, you’ll arrive to a plaza with benches and a sculpture-fountain. The …. will be a bit further along…
If you now want to compare the MIT campus and the Harvard campus, take the …. You’ll be at the starting point of Walk in Boston # 18, venerable Harvard.
Convinced that this walk will be exceptional? Find it on Payhip.