SPOR When approaching a site,frequent and valid questions Knowing the difference and having the ability to reduce include"What do I draw?","How do I convey so much in a that number or raise it according to the intention or place sketch?"or "Where do I begin?".Some answers to these is a key skill.Rather than reductive,it is to understand that questions begin with the admission that there is no single if needed,something can be succinct by omitting the thing to draw and that things will be overlooked.Specific superfluous exercises,diagrams,lenses or topics help suggest a direction,but there will always be other things to draw or Precisely:The drawing should be well-proportioned, to be saved for another visit.Another way to help answer clear and accurate so that it corresponds with the subject. these questions is to simply"start drawing".Drawing itself Rather than focusing on verisimilitude,capture the develops focus and an ability to discern what might be arrangement and structure in which there is a clear and important to sketch and what might be better suited for a accurate relationship among scale,parts-to-whole and photograph or another time.To help develop site drawing dimension.Develop an ability to sketch ideas and designs there are several site habits that might be summed up as for a client or craftsperson so as to manifest a drawing's Succinctly-Precisely-Quickly-Rigorously,with the acronym intention.There is a place for imprecision-it is inherent developed in the Rome study abroad program:SPOR. in the medium-but a goal is the dexterity to toggle from imprecision to precision. Succinctly:Tell the story of a site with optimum lines,tones and textures by using the appropriate number of lines Quickly:Often it is impossible to sketch a place without "Appropriate"may be 5,000 lines or one brush stroke. time limits.Buildings close,the sun goes down,trains 4w% 34
34 When approaching a site, frequent and valid questions include “What do I draw?”, “How do I convey so much in a sketch?” or “Where do I begin?”. Some answers to these questions begin with the admission that there is no single thing to draw and that things will be overlooked. Specific exercises, diagrams, lenses or topics help suggest a direction, but there will always be other things to draw or to be saved for another visit. Another way to help answer these questions is to simply “start drawing”. Drawing itself develops focus and an ability to discern what might be important to sketch and what might be better suited for a photograph or another time. To help develop site drawing there are several site habits that might be summed up as Succinctly-Precisely-Quickly-Rigorously, with the acronym developed in the Rome study abroad program: SPQR. Succinctly: Tell the story of a site with optimum lines, tones and textures by using the appropriate number of lines. “Appropriate” may be 5,000 lines or one brush stroke. Knowing the difference and having the ability to reduce that number or raise it according to the intention or place is a key skill. Rather than reductive, it is to understand that if needed, something can be succinct by omitting the superfluous. Precisely: The drawing should be well-proportioned, clear and accurate so that it corresponds with the subject. Rather than focusing on verisimilitude, capture the arrangement and structure in which there is a clear and accurate relationship among scale, parts-to-whole and dimension. Develop an ability to sketch ideas and designs for a client or craftsperson so as to manifest a drawing’s intention. There is a place for imprecision – it is inherent in the medium – but a goal is the dexterity to toggle from imprecision to precision. Quickly: Often it is impossible to sketch a place without time limits. Buildings close, the sun goes down, trains SPQR 008-057_DD_part_0-1_final.indd 34 24.09.12 16:13
HABITS TO HELP DEVELOPMENT OF TOOL USE depart or companions want to eat.A key issue is knowing what can be done at the site and what can be done elsewhere.For example,toning or additional line weights might be noted at the site but completed elsewhere. Rigorously:Lastly,there is a need to develop and maintain rigorous drawing skills.Those who play the piano,kick a ball or balance on a skateboard and make it look effortless and adjust or improvise in unpredictable situations practice their craft for hours a day.Like playing a musical instrument or sport,drawing is a craft nurtured through practice. Top:Section through the archery range,20 minutes(drawing by Opposite page: Fred Scharmen) Sketches made during a guided Bottom left:Study of extrusions tour: and subtractions,20 minutes Bouleuterion,60 minutes (drawings by Mark Mclnturff) (drawing by Monica Perez) Bottom right:Elements within the The Robie House,15 seconds Jubilee Church,45 minutes 35
35 depart or companions want to eat. A key issue is knowing what can be done at the site and what can be done elsewhere. For example, toning or additional line weights might be noted at the site but completed elsewhere. Rigorously: Lastly, there is a need to develop and maintain rigorous drawing skills. Those who play the piano, kick a ball or balance on a skateboard and make it look effortless and adjust or improvise in unpredictable situations practice their craft for hours a day. Like playing a musical instrument or sport, drawing is a craft nurtured through practice. HABITS TO HELP DEVELOPMENT of TOOL USE Opposite page: Sketches made during a guided tour: Bouleuterion, 60 minutes (drawing by Monica Perez) The Robie House, 15 seconds Top: Section through the archery range, 20 minutes (drawing by Fred Scharmen). Bottom left: Study of extrusions and subtractions, 20 minutes (drawings by Mark McInturff) Bottom right: Elements within the Jubilee Church, 45 minutes 008-057_DD_part_0-1_final.indd 35 24.09.12 16:13
Line and Time Budgets While traveling to distant cities or simply visiting familiar editing decisions.Discernment is knowing when something buildings,there is usually limited time to sit,ponder and cannot be accomplished through a particular medium or sketch.What is required is an ability to grasp and convey process.Quick,accurate and succinct observation and as much as possible of the essence of a place-from an encapsulation is a skill that can be nurtured through varied overall urban situation to a door handle-within a limited exercises.Two exercises that are helpful are "Line Budget' time.In a greater sense,however,line or time budgets can and "Timed Sketching" help develop editing skills.Essential for design,film, writing and other creative endeavors,editing is removing, Line Budget reorganizing or even adding to seemingly complete pieces Use a line budget or a limited number of lines to help or processes.Iterative in nature,editing is learned primarily discern and convey the essence of the place,facade, through the editing process as we compare subtractions space,plan or section.The lines,usually few in number and and additions.As a refined discernment,editing involves chosen arbitrarily (you can use one of the 12 months in a understanding,ability and,sometimes,courage to decide year or seven days in a week),are single strokes.Variations what,when,where and how much remains or goes away.In might be single strokes that change direction only once or design especially,there is often immeasurable information lines of only a limited length.To begin,you may want to that must be synthesized into a unified and complex start with a larger number(say,12)and then slowly whole.Resolving site forces,materials,program needs, decrease that number to the point where it may be budget allocations and social traditions into a unified impossible to convey the building.Can you convey a place whole is more than balance and often involves difficult using only one line? 试 至I5. 05, 2 频绣1 1了 慧阴塑鲜界 山邃"红 36
36 Line and Time Budgets While traveling to distant cities or simply visiting familiar buildings, there is usually limited time to sit, ponder and sketch. What is required is an ability to grasp and convey as much as possible of the essence of a place – from an overall urban situation to a door handle – within a limited time. In a greater sense, however, line or time budgets can help develop editing skills. Essential for design, film, writing and other creative endeavors, editing is removing, reorganizing or even adding to seemingly complete pieces or processes. Iterative in nature, editing is learned primarily through the editing process as we compare subtractions and additions. As a refined discernment, editing involves understanding, ability and, sometimes, courage to decide what, when, where and how much remains or goes away. In design especially, there is often immeasurable information that must be synthesized into a unified and complex whole. Resolving site forces, materials, program needs, budget allocations and social traditions into a unified whole is more than balance and often involves difficult editing decisions. Discernment is knowing when something cannot be accomplished through a particular medium or process. Quick, accurate and succinct observation and encapsulation is a skill that can be nurtured through varied exercises. Two exercises that are helpful are “Line Budget” and “Timed Sketching”. Line Budget Use a line budget or a limited number of lines to help discern and convey the essence of the place, façade, space, plan or section. The lines, usually few in number and chosen arbitrarily (you can use one of the 12 months in a year or seven days in a week), are single strokes. Variations might be single strokes that change direction only once or lines of only a limited length. To begin, you may want to start with a larger number (say, 12) and then slowly decrease that number to the point where it may be impossible to convey the building. Can you convey a place using only one line? 008-057_DD_part_0-1_final.indd 36 24.09.12 16:13
HABITS TO HELP DEVELOPMENT OF TOOL USE Timed Sketching With the help of a friend or a portable alarm,repeatedly sketch the same subject within a series of timed intervals. Before you begin,prepare your drawing equipment so that you can focus on the sketching rather than sharpening the pencil or opening a new page.Once set,begin sketching the subject in 30 minutes and then draw four subsequent sketches for ten minutes,two minutes,30 seconds and, finally,five seconds.The timed intervals can vary but should decrease substantially over the course of the Opposite page: exercise.When finished,think about how the intervals Top:Ca'd'Oro,Venice,Italy,1430: required different drawing techniques and discernment. Sketches with line budgets These exercises are simply that:exercises.They are brief (9 and 3 lines)and timed sketches Top:Temple of Hadrian,Ephesus. workouts that help nurture thinking and drawing processes (2 minutes,30 seconds and Turkey,2 century AD:Timed 20 seconds)(drawings by Dylan sketches(6 minutes,2 minutes that may or may not have a direct link to more extended King) 30 seconds and 10 seconds) sketching methods or design processes.Like playing scales Bottom:Erechtheion,Athens, (drawings by John Lang) on a keyboard,practicing fire drills or kicking a ball among Greece,430 BCE:Timed sketches Bottom:The Tower of the Winds (5 minutes,2 minutes,30 seconds, Athens,Greece,2 century BCE teammates,sketch exercises are not an end but a means to 15 seconds)and line budget (8 and Line budget(8,6,4 and 3 lines) developing tacit physical and thinking skills. 4 lines)(drawings by Jeff Gipson) (drawings by Fajer Alqattan) 37
37 Timed Sketching With the help of a friend or a portable alarm, repeatedly sketch the same subject within a series of timed intervals. Before you begin, prepare your drawing equipment so that you can focus on the sketching rather than sharpening the pencil or opening a new page. Once set, begin sketching the subject in 30 minutes and then draw four subsequent sketches for ten minutes, two minutes, 30 seconds and, finally, five seconds. The timed intervals can vary but should decrease substantially over the course of the exercise. When finished, think about how the intervals required different drawing techniques and discernment. These exercises are simply that: exercises. They are brief workouts that help nurture thinking and drawing processes that may or may not have a direct link to more extended sketching methods or design processes. Like playing scales on a keyboard, practicing fire drills or kicking a ball among teammates, sketch exercises are not an end but a means to developing tacit physical and thinking skills. HABITS TO HELP DEVELOPMENT of TOOL USE Opposite page: Top: Ca’ d’Oro, Venice, Italy, 1430: Sketches with line budgets (9 and 3 lines) and timed sketches (2 minutes, 30 seconds and 20 seconds) (drawings by Dylan King) Bottom: Erechtheion, Athens, Greece, 430 BCE: Timed sketches (5 minutes, 2 minutes, 30 seconds, 15 seconds) and line budget (8 and 4 lines) (drawings by Jeff Gipson) Top: Temple of Hadrian, Ephesus, Turkey, 2nd century AD: Timed sketches (6 minutes, 2 minutes, 30 seconds and 10 seconds) (drawings by John Lang) Bottom: The Tower of the Winds, Athens, Greece, 2nd century BCE: Line budget (8, 6, 4 and 3 lines) (drawings by Fajer Alqattan) 008-057_DD_part_0-1_final.indd 37 24.09.12 16:13
Sketching and Thinking When one travels and works with visual things-archi- Once we pick up and learn to use a tool what do we do tecture,painting or sculpture-one uses one's eyes and with it?What is the role of sketching in helping develop draws,so as to fix deep down in one's experience what is thinking processes?Simply put,sketching helps understand seen.Once the impression has been recorded by the the world so that we can better work with or,for that matter, pencil,it stays for good,entered,registered,inscribed.The against it.Understanding requires that we look beneath camera is a tool for idlers,who use a machine to do their the surface of a thing to uncover its essential nature,to seeing for them.To draw oneself,to trace the lines,handle make the complex comprehensible and to see that the the volumes,organize the surface...all this means first to apparently simple may be more complex.Deliberate and look and then to observe and finally perhaps to discover... critical sketching can offer a clarifying process in which we and it is then that inspiration may come.Inventing, translate the complex into the simple and the seemingly creating one's whole being is drawn into action and it is infinite into the more finite.A sketch can do that because this action which counts.Others stand indifferent-but of its dual nature of clarity and ambiguity and through the you saw! notative interaction between sketch and sketcher.Freehand sketching of"what is"is both a tool and process of continu- Le Corbusier,Creation is a Patient Search25 ous transformation and,as such,has an essential role in conceptualizing "what may be" When we sketch,we digest through enzymatic analysis: With questions and lenses and through different drawings or diagrams,a sketch helps disentangle a building or other design system into fundamental components and,as such links that which is observed to the design act.Digestion is vital:as bodily enzymes transform proteins,carbohydrates, fats and other compounds into nutrients or discard them as waste,we thrive due in large part to the body's food analysis.Essentially,sketching is eating architecture.The sketch(the act and the artifact)transforms what is seen so that a greater design awareness and,possibly,greater understanding of both the world in which we work and of the design process itself may occur.Without digestion,the architectural artifact remains inert.The digestion begins with analysis. What is Analysis？ Analysis is a process through which we can develop some understanding of complex situations,objects or systems by disassembling them into simpler,fundamental components Rather than merely separating,compiling or describing individual components or subsets,analysis is an active, exploratory critique of what is observed.Essentially,analysis is asking questions that expose hidden patterns:are there elements-types,categories or taxonomies-within the system?Why are the elements important?How do they contribute to or detract from the whole?In which way are these constituent elements part of a larger narrative?What do the elements mean?What was discovered during the disassembly process itself? Analyis is essential for fundamental decision making.While we must constantly analyze in daily life-making decisions at the grocery store,choosing what we wear or how to budget time and money-analysis or being analytical is often misinterpreted or sometimes seen as a destructive process that impedes vitality.There is a certain apprehen- sion,perhaps even a fear,that analysis is a kind of vivisec- tion that eradicates meaning,spontaneity or even the object itself.The question:"Must you always analyze everything?"is usually not a compliment.Christopher Alexander's comment in Notes on the Synthesis of Form 38
38 Sketching and Thinking When one travels and works with visual things – architecture, painting or sculpture – one uses one’s eyes and draws, so as to fix deep down in one’s experience what is seen. Once the impression has been recorded by the pencil, it stays for good, entered, registered, inscribed. The camera is a tool for idlers, who use a machine to do their seeing for them. To draw oneself, to trace the lines, handle the volumes, organize the surface … all this means first to look and then to observe and finally perhaps to discover … and it is then that inspiration may come. Inventing, creating one’s whole being is drawn into action and it is this action which counts. Others stand indifferent – but you saw! Le Corbusier, Creation is a Patient Search25 Once we pick up and learn to use a tool what do we do with it? What is the role of sketching in helping develop thinking processes? Simply put, sketching helps understand the world so that we can better work with or, for that matter, against it. Understanding requires that we look beneath the surface of a thing to uncover its essential nature, to make the complex comprehensible and to see that the apparently simple may be more complex. Deliberate and critical sketching can offer a clarifying process in which we translate the complex into the simple and the seemingly infinite into the more finite. A sketch can do that because of its dual nature of clarity and ambiguity and through the notative interaction between sketch and sketcher. Freehand sketching of “what is” is both a tool and process of continuous transformation and, as such, has an essential role in conceptualizing “what may be”. When we sketch, we digest through enzymatic analysis: With questions and lenses and through different drawings or diagrams, a sketch helps disentangle a building or other design system into fundamental components and, as such, links that which is observed to the design act. Digestion is vital: as bodily enzymes transform proteins, carbohydrates, fats and other compounds into nutrients or discard them as waste, we thrive due in large part to the body’s food analysis. Essentially, sketching is eating architecture. The sketch (the act and the artifact) transforms what is seen so that a greater design awareness and, possibly, greater understanding of both the world in which we work and of the design process itself may occur. Without digestion, the architectural artifact remains inert. The digestion begins with analysis. What is Analysis? Analysis is a process through which we can develop some understanding of complex situations, objects or systems by disassembling them into simpler, fundamental components. Rather than merely separating, compiling or describing individual components or subsets, analysis is an active, exploratory critique of what is observed. Essentially, analysis is asking questions that expose hidden patterns: are there elements – types, categories or taxonomies – within the system? Why are the elements important? How do they contribute to or detract from the whole? In which way are these constituent elements part of a larger narrative? What do the elements mean? What was discovered during the disassembly process itself? Analyis is essential for fundamental decision making. While we must constantly analyze in daily life – making decisions at the grocery store, choosing what we wear or how to budget time and money – analysis or being analytical is often misinterpreted or sometimes seen as a destructive process that impedes vitality. There is a certain apprehension, perhaps even a fear, that analysis is a kind of vivisection that eradicates meaning, spontaneity or even the object itself. The question: “Must you always analyze everything?” is usually not a compliment. Christopher Alexander’s comment in Notes on the Synthesis of Form 008-057_DD_part_0-1_final.indd 38 24.09.12 16:13