Making Drawings. A Study on The Information Conveyed by Drawings

Transcription

1 Making Drawings A Study on The Information Conveyed by Drawings Module Title: Reflections on Architecural Design Module No: ARC6989 Program: MAAD Name: Zhu Yifeng Registration No:

2 Introduction Drawings play a crucial role in the architecture design process and it is a tool to summaries designer s intention and conceptual ideas immediately. The graphic draw by architects pervades every stage of architectural creation. As Peter Cook mentioned (2008) without utilizing a necessary implement such as a pencil shouting, murmuring, kicking or the wondering of the mind are blocked. In this essay, the topic will emphasis on making a critical study on varied of information conveyed by different types of architectural drawings. Drawing is not just simple artifact however it is a form of two-dimensional representation used by architects. Drawings are not only made based on a common, agreed-upon visual language that convey ideas, deficit existing conditions and create as-of-yet unbuilt environments (Mo Zell, 2008, p.14) but also is a process of observation and expression, receiving and giving at the same time ( Juhani Pallasmaa, 2009, p.90). According to this diagram I analyzed which reveals basic relationship of architectural drawing with hand and digital, could be subdivided into painting, sketching, 2D orthographic projection and 3D perspective axonometric. Sketching Sketching is a technique which is used by majority of architects, as it is a quick and efficient way to document design ideas and intentions. Sketching forms a visual language on the paper, which is a powerful tool to help architects to study space and make progress in their design. For design process sketching with loose lines creates a really crucial quality is uncertainty. Uncertainty contains sparks and opportunities which could be grasped by architects. As Juhnani Pallasmaa stated (2009) uncertainty is a driving force and motivation in creative process. (p.110). Therefore, with the fluidity of a single line or the movement found in a group of thoughtfully composed lines, sketches can reinforce the architectural narrative. Take one Le Corbusier sketch of Jardin suspend project for example. Personally the aim of this sketching is to advocate an important icon he created --- a newly emancipated lifestyle rather than interior space. For Le Corbusier, in my opinion, architecture is not a mere aestheticised object, but a staging and forming of life, which can accommodate more poetic scenarios. Lower Manhattan created by Lebbeus Woods in 1999 shows Woods interest about New York future and personally his sketch is a really romantic conceptual idea. This sketch conveys architect aggressive idea about building a new relationship with underground world and ground world of Manhattan. It is very apparent to grasp Woods intention through his sketching by audience. As East River and the Hudson are both dammed, the scene of lower Manhattan is revealed. Personally the sketch Lower Manhattan conveys crazy thinking and attempt of designer with clarity. It shows the future of Manhattan will inhabitant with that lower region. Image: Le Corbusier, Jardin suspendu, project, Image: Lebbeus Woods, Lower Manhattan,

3 Orthographic projection In terms of orthographic projection, plans, sections and elevations are the most fundamental ways the architects to study and represent their design works. As Mo Zell stated (2008), orthographic projection drawings are two-dimentional abstractions that convey both horizontal and vertical information. As they have strong links with one to anther these drawings can convey clear information of a project. However, plans, sections and elevations are abstracted two- dimentional, so they are not able to show the whole project with only one drawing. Plan As Le Corbusier pointed out (1931) the plan is the generator, which indicates the importance role of plan in design process. Le Corbusier discuss the importance of plan (1931) state that Without plan there can be neither grandeur of aim and expression, nor rhythm, nor mass, nor coherence. Without plan we have the sensation, so insupportable to man, of shapelessness, of poverty, of disorder, of willfulness. Plans show the basic relationship of space arrangement, structure and design intention. A villa at Bordeaux designed by Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret in 1925, personally the plan of this project shows the arrangement of spaces with two masses connected by a corridor and a garden. Image: Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret, 1923, A villa at Bordeaux. Sections and Elevations In this part, drawing of section and elevation will be analyzed together as both of them are related with conveying vertical direction information. Vertical relationships and spatial characteristic of the buildings can be described appropriately by sections and the impression of how one building look like is given by elevation. Compare to traditional section and elevation drawings, personally, I believe it is worth to composite these drawings with meaningful connections between design and site context during the design process, which is more capable to represent and enhance design intentions to architects and other pople. I think Instant City created by Peter Cook is an ideal sample to show the relationship between drawing and project narrative with clarity to audience. He used six comparable drawings which not only contain both section and elevation but also shows the people activities, city changes and events brought by airship. In Instant City project, Peter Cook employed narrative way into his six drawings. Here, six drawings form a process and reflect designer intentions about using airship to investigate the influence it bring to the city. He used a romantic way to narrative the changes the airplane give to the city and it is very easy for audiences to grasp that the architect applied one event to stimulate a series of events in the city in order to activate the city life. -2-

4 Axonometric Axonometric drawing which is a fast and reliable instrument for summarizing the compositional act is an objective three-dimentional representation that combines plan and elevation in one abstract drawing. According to James Stirling opinion, although computer program has its advantages, we can twist, turn, represent and re-present three-dementional information, axonometric still has a solid and perfectly suitable for representing ideas. The axonometric allows us to understand and study form and space between vertical and horizontal elements. According to Mo Zell, through axonometric drawings design iterations that study spatial strategies can be easily constructed and recorded (2009 p.73). Take John Hejduk s isometric drawing for Wall House project of I think this drawing is a way of compositional-procedural isometric drawing which has different color with different rooms rather than make drawing with many details. I think Hejduk tries to make his compositional intention into this drawing with simplicity and contrary. I much more prefer drawings with issue of motive, category, definition and aesthetic at the same time. Another example which is created by Peter Cook, is plug-in city. He employed axonometric drawing in to his project. In my aspect, it is such a clear representation form to show design notion and see the whole city from roof view. This drawing shows the how this city organizes and expands itself. The cranes install housing capsules and green space is defined by each block. Image: John Hejduk, Wall House 2, Image: Peter Cook, Plug-In City,

5 Perspective According to Mo Zell opinion (2008), three-dementional space is translated on to a two-dementional surface. Majority perspective drawings are used to represent design from human view point, which is an excellent method to visualize design ideas. Compare to axonometric drawings I think perspective drawing is subjective representation that mimics through a two-dimentional drawing the experience of space, building, or object. Perspective drawing can represent the space feelings in the real world condition and this can help designer and viewer to get experience with closing to the real. For presenting perspective, according to Mo Zell (2008) there are varied of design interpretations to any given program is what makes architecture such an interesting and rich profession (p. 86). Compare to traditional perspective drawings, more and more creative perspective drawings with stories can be told, are applied by architects This following perspective drawing created by Samual White is an excellent job to present an imperceptible bridge between architecture and the dramatic moment. (p. 134). Through the choice of yellow tone and gradual sunlight dissolution blocked by special device generates a fogy religious atmosphere naturally, which could impress viewers immediately. Overall the color tone, sunlight, device very elements of this image they are organized coordinated, which can evoke the observer respond to this drawing and sustain design intention. Image: Samual White, Chapel to the Corpus, in Manufacture and Worship: An Extension of Wells Cathedral, Wells, Somerset, UK, Collage As British artist Ben Nicholson considers collage as an aggregation of various pieces which create an irresistible spectacle in the eye of the maker. In my opinion, collage drawing is a way of representation which combines existing images with different materials or different images to merge a new one abstractly. Collage is a creative way to help designer to rethink the relationship between existing conditions and intention ideas. Collage is a really crucial tool among architects in 20th-centry and as Peter Cook describes (2009) collage is a way continues way of comprehension, creative trigger of lateral referencing, lateral thinking and morphed physicality (p.22). In addition, with the advent of computer it is quite easy for us to combine, mix or melt the existing physicality with our hybrid ideas and intentional materials. Image: From Website: Image: A rata Isozaki, Re-Ruined Hiroshima, Japan, For instance, this drawing shows the space of reading room envisioned by designer on the 10th floor of Seattle Center Library. In this drawing, the people and the view of Elliot bay are taken by photographer and the space is generated by 3D software. Merge virtual digital drawing and real surrounding context form an intensive contrast which illustrates view relationship between library and Elliot bay. The drawing not only focuses on expressing the contrast of transparent book stack room and opacity of surround buildings but also by the contrast between the neutral white color of the space and the vivacious blue tonality of the bay..overall, the image expresses the building s relationship to that view, in which case the humans appear to be included only to demonstrate scale, or possibly as agents that enact the viewing relationship between the building and the bay. Employ collage technique to deliberate design intentions and get an experience about design and existing context of design project. Another good example which is Re-Runied Hiroshima is done by Arata Isozaki in This image conveys the morph meaning to the audience. Arata Isozaki projected ruined megastructure under construction and these megastructures merged with the ruined environment which was destroyed by atomic bomb before. Ruin provides an impotant metaphor for Isozaki. Peter Cook comments that piece of work contains such skill with the assembled parts that he both architecture and pictorial element, both collapsing and about to go forth (p23). These fragments pitch the mood as positive and negative, through his explanation is that of their being dead architecture. -4-

6 Diagram For architectural diagram, it is possible to quote Lars Spuybroek s saying. 'Architectural diagram is indeed the most important innovation in archietecture of the last 10 to 15 years.' According to Mark Garicia (2009), diagram is the specialization of a selective abstraction and /or reduction of a concept or phenomenon (p.18). In other words, a diagram is the architecture of an idea or entity. Architectural diagram can convey project organization and designer s intentions through texts or simplified images. Take Rem Koolhaas s Seattle Public Library diagram for example. He pays his attention and interests in programming and diagramming and organization of the building. Furthermore, through this diagram computer storage and display information and thinking about potential adaptations to how future generations will socialize and interact. Image: OMA, Seattle Center Library. Image: OMA, Seattle Center Library. Implementing drawing is essential technique in architecture design process and varied of drawings have different superiorities to convey information to architects and other viewers. It is necessary for us to understand representation principles of different drawings. Consequently, according to the aim of this essay, we could utilize those different techniques creatively to composite drawings which have more meaningful relation with design proposal and site context. Words No:

7 References Juhani Pallasmaa. (2009). The Thinking Hand: Existential and Embodied Wisdom in Architecture. Chichester, John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Le corbusier.(1931).towards A New Architecture. London, John Rodker Publisher. Mo Zell. (2008). The Architectural Drawing Course: Understand the principles and master the practices. London, Thames & Hudson Ltd. Mark Garcia. (2010). The Diagrams of Architecture. Chichester, John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Peter Cook. (2008). Drawing: the motive force of architecture. Chichester, John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Architectural Media: Seattle Central Library. Collage/ 3-D wireframe: reading room. [online] Available from com/2008/03/04/3-d-reading-room/ [Accessed 18th April 2011]. BLDG BLOG. Without walls: an interview with Lebbeus Woods. [online] Available from [Accessed 15th April 2011]. -6-