Drawings

Drawing

Creation

Communication

Record

Drawing as a way of exploring the world: a personal passion

Drawing as a way of exploring the world: a personal passion

Drawing as a way of exploring the world: a personal passion

Drawing as a way of exploring the world: a personal passion

Drawing as a way of exploring the world: a personal passion

All constructions are designed

• Buildings don’t just happen, they are planned in advance

Fundamentals of building design

• Design is creative, on completion there is something new which did not exist before

• Before anything exists, the architect has to visualise ideas for three reasons– As a creative tool for her/himself– As a communication tool within the design

team– As a communication tool with the client

The building design process

Conception RealisationDevelopment

Imagining an idea

The building design process

Conception RealisationDevelopment

It all starts with a drawing

It all starts with a drawing

The Guggenheim Museum, BilbaoFrank Gehry

Conception: fooling around with drawings

• Sketch proposals– Working to the initial brief, the designer will prepare sketch ideas.

These need to be, at some stage, comprehensible to the client.– The brief will be revisited and revised many times during the

course of design development.

Initial sketches of the IC extension to the RAC Library

Conception: fooling around with drawings

• Sketch proposals– Working to the initial brief, the designer will prepare sketch ideas.

These need to be, at some stage, comprehensible to the client.– The brief will be revisited and revised many times during the

course of design development.

Initial sketches of the IC extension to the RAC Library

Conception: fooling around with drawings

• Sketch proposals– Working to the initial brief, the designer will prepare sketch ideas.

These need to be, at some stage, comprehensible to the client.– The brief will be revisited and revised many times during the

course of design development.

Initial sketches of the IC extension to the RAC Library

Conception: fooling around with drawings

• Sketch proposals– Working to the initial brief, the designer will prepare sketch ideas.

These need to be, at some stage, comprehensible to the client.– The brief will be revisited and revised many times during the

course of design development.

Initial sketches of the IC extension to the RAC Library

Development stage

Conception RealisationDevelopment

Alternative ideas explored to arrive at a fully developed solution

But what will it look like?

But what will it look like?

Developing the proposal

• The initial presentation must be made simple and clear. 3-d sketches often help in clarity

Fully developed proposal

• Most clients do not understand building plans. A model is often essential although 3-d rendering on computers can help.

Full working drawings of proposal

• The designer prepares contract drawings and specifications, which tell the builder what he is to build and the client, what she is to pay for

• These are general arrangement contract drawings for the IC extension

Even the Guggenheim needed working drawings

Detail development

• The designer must tell the builder exactly how the building is to be constructed, through use of detail drawings and written specifications

This is a working drawing through the eaves of a timber framed building

3-dimensional explorations

Specialised detail

• Unusual construction, such as this stone spiral staircase, will have to be drawn in fine, large scale detail if it is to be priced and built as desired.

Realisation stage

Conception RealisationDevelopment

The real building is built. The detailed drawings and documents from the development stage are used to control the whole process.

Realisation: the final reality

• Once the contract drawings have been agreed and the contract placed, the builder can start.

Contract drawings

Working drawings kept secure from point of signing contract as a record of what was agreed

To understand drawings: get a sketchbook!!

To understand drawings: get a sketchbook!!