Paul Ostergaard

This book has been a pleasure to put together. I have been an architect and urban designer for my entire career. I was born in Idaho and grew up in Pittsburgh, PA. I received my BArch degree at Carnegie Mellon University and then travelled through Europe on the Stewardson Fellowship. During my trip I took many photos, sketched when I could, collected post cards, and wrote a summary of my daily activities. Little did I know that someday I would turn my travel notes and images into a book, “Two Months in Italy, An Architect’s Diary”.

After my trip I worked in San Francisco for two years, then returned to Pittsburgh to work at Urban Design Associates. I eventually became a principal in the firm and designed many buildings and planned many urban districts over 40 years of practice. These include the Cincinnati Central Riverfront, Pittsburgh Northshore, Toronto’s West Don Lands, Tampa’s Water Street District, Seattle’s Southlake Union, and residential neighborhoods in Baltimore, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and Charlotte. I worked on exciting projects in Europe and the Middle East although the most rewarding work was in the United States and Canada.

I traveled extensively during my career and found it rewarding and enriching. My first big trip was my two-month exploration of Italy in 1978. I plotted a course through Italy based on my architectural history studies and was able visit many remarkable buildings and urban places. This book is based on a simple idea; combine my notes with my photos and drawings. Provide historical data in the captions. With my book designer, Susann Reiman, the result is a little work of art. For those who wish to find great buildings and urban centers in Italy, this book is a useful travel resource. I hope you enjoy it!