Drawing and Presentation Skills //Concern A, Armament - Workshop 13/03/2015
// Introduction We are in the second decade of the 21st century and, as with most things, the distinction between digital and analogue has become tired and inappropriate. This is also true in the world of architectectural drawing, which paradoxically is enjoying a renaissance supported by the graphic dexterity of the computer. This new fecundity has produced a contemporary glut of stunning architectural drawings and representations that could rival the most recent outpouring of architectural vison in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Indeed, there is much to learn by comparing then and the now. The contemporary drawing is often about its ability to describe the change, fluctuations and mutability of architecture in relation to the virtual/real 21st century continuum of architectural space. Times have changed, and the status of the architectural drawing must change with them. Neil Spiller, 2013
// Lebbeus Woods Lebbeus Woods dreamed up innovative creations unbound by the rules of nature or society. He envisoned underground cities and floating buildings that go far beyond the idea of form and shelter. His architecture deals with the moral, technoligical, and ecological impact that humans have on this planet. His highly theoretical and explorarotry practice was captured in hundreds of sketchbooks. Woods was a visual thinker whose idea could only be expressed through the medium of drawing. Instead of architectural plans intended to serve as the basis for completed structures, Woods drawings are projections that convey radical ideas as their end result.
// Bjarke Ingels / BIG
Yes is More, An Archicomic on Architectural Evolution "Historically, architecture has been dominated by two opposing extremes: an avant-garde full of crazy ideas, originating from philosophy or mysticism; and the well organized corporate consultants that build predictable and boring boxes of high standard. Architecture seems entrenched: naively utopian or petrifyingly pragmatic. We believe there is a third way between these diametric opposites: a pragmatic utopian architecture that creates socially, economically and environmentally perfect places as a practical objective. At BIG we are devoted to investing in the overlap between radical and reality. In all our actions we try to move the focus from the little details to the BIG picture."
// Bryan Cantley/ Form:uLA For Bryan Cantley technology has introduced new possibilities for drawing with the ability to render conditions of transformation, phase shifting, entropy and revolution. It has also prompted a rethink of the phenomenological relationship of architectural draeing with the world; between the page and objects; between the antifact and the artefact. He makes an analogy between the legal status of the unborn child and nascent, unbuilt drawn architecture.
// CJ Lim / Studio 8 Current forms of architectural representation reveal a dichotomy of purpose. The primary form of architectural drawing, produced by the majority of proffesionals in practice, still follows the triadic system of plan, section and elevation. The codification of construction drawings is designed to prevent ambiguity or multiple interpretations by using a strict and abstract system of notation. In contrast, the works in London Short Stories attempt to reintroduce conjecture to architectural representation. Collage has been chosen for this work to take advantge of the mediums inherent plurality - pieces of a collage or assemblage are only ever half-assumedinto their new context, bringing with them a wealth of connoted meaning from their orginal time and place.
// Atelier BOW-WOW Graphic Anatomy Atelier Bow-Wow use detailed sectional perspectives to convey their ideas. Line textures also add a further materiality to the drawings.
// A4 Studio “We prepare mock-ups and model on the computer simultaneously, this way we plan the outside mass and the inside spaces of the building at the same time. And then, based on these simple ideas, we take photos and sketch hand drawings that we then clothe with collages.�
// Information is Beautiful David McCandless Information is Beautiful is book by David McCandless which shows a multitude of ways of graphically depicting information and data. The output is aesthetically pleasing and the information is easy to understand.
// Alex Hogreefe Visualising Architecture.com www.visualisngarchitecture.com is a blog run by Alex Hogreefe, it features a large number of different visualisation tutorials mainly utilising photoshop and 3d modelling software such as sketchup. The tutorials feature step by step instructions and videos which help you easily follow the workflows.
// Online Resources
http://www.presidentsmedals.com
http://futureproofdesigns.tumblr.com
https://www.pinterest.com
http://drawingarchitecture.tumblr.com
// Reading
How to Create a Portfolio & Get Hired, Fig Tayor, (2010) Laurence King
Architectural Modelmaking, Nick Dunn, (2010) Laurence King
Drawing for Urban Design, Lorraine Farrelly, (2011) Laurence King
The Architectural Drawing Course, Mo Zell, (2008) Thames & Hudson