Architecture Visualization 2015: September 2015

Friday, September 18, 2015

The Rise of Form - SHAPE & PLATONIC SOLIDS

Week 3

Introduction to Architectural Form – Shapes, Solids, Regular and Irregular Forms, Additive Forms, and Articulation

Slides of Architecture and Modeling.
An Appreciation for the works of Hugh Ferriss

Students will explore mass modeling as a fast method of architectural visualization

Materials – Digital Renders of 3D Mass Modeling

Conceptual

This week’s lecture covers the basics of Architectural Form. Starting with the fundamental shapes of circle, square and triangle, we will examine the base plutonic forms of sphere, cylinder, cube, pyramid and cone. Architecture begins at this most rudimentary level but transforms quickly through additive or subtractive means to create centralized, linear, clustered, radial and grid organized regular or irregular forms.

ASSIGNMENT

Forms

Practical

PART I

· Create 15 examples of form using a 3D rendering package.

o 5 Additive or Subtractive examples of the plutonic forms.

o 4 linear forms

§ 2 horizontal (bridges?)

§ 2 vertical (towers?)

o 1 centralized form

§ Using any of the plutonic forms

o 1 clustered form

§ Using any of the plutonic forms

o 1 radial form

§ Using any of the plutonic forms

o 1 grid based form

§ Using any of the plutonic forms

o 1 space (Plaza)

§ Celebrated as you choose, using form....explore scale, depth, height and a muse if you wish
§ Try an enclosed space or one that is in the open and only defined by architectural elements in the landscape

o 1 scene

§ Assemble forms to create a place, path, hierarchy or a sense of space of importance
§ Tell a STORY! Propose a City or a Palace Complex or a Metropolis

Please Print these to ordinary printer paper and prepare to display for crits next class

PART II

Create a single drawing in the style of Hugh Ferriss

   o    Use your 3D forms to compose a scene that features a structure as a focal point.
o  Choose a dramatic angle to covey a sense of scale and epic proportion (consider Background )
o    Use your skills as an artist to render your image with shading and light on a 18 x 24 sheet
o  You may use pencil, charcoal or conte to give your image a romantic quality

Homework

Complete: Assignment “The Rise of Forms” 15 Examples of Form in 3D – Digital Renders
+ 1 single rendered drawing in the style of Hugh Ferriss

Read: Architecture: Form, Space and Order Chapter 3 (pp. 110-192)

Saturday, September 12, 2015

The Architect’s Garden - PLAN & SECTION

Week 2

Introduction to Architectural Language, Drafting Methods, and The role of the Architect

Slides of Architecture and Drawings

Students will be given a PLAN and a SECTION from a famous structure for analysis.

Student will draw architecture in Plan, Section, and Elevation to understand basic notions of “path” and “place”.

Materials - 18" x 24" white paper, HB, 2B, 4B graphite pencils, kneaded eraser. Ink Marker Optional

Conceptual

This week’s lecture will explore the fundamental visual representation of Plan and Section. Architects depict space and structure through drawings of “Plan” and “Section”. By imagining a cut or slice through a building to reveal the organization or sizes of space (rooms and halls) as well as the system or assembly of structure (floors and walls), the students will explore both plan and section to better understand the appropriateness and power of each. How are they similar and how they are unique will surface during this exploration.

ASSIGNMENT

Plan and Section: Garden

Practical

· Choose one plan from the list of plans provided.

· Choose one section from the list of sections provided. Yes, these are separate steps.

· Research and analyze the plan and the section to better understand what you are drawing.

· Create a series of 5 Drawings that starts with the PLAN and ends with the SECTION

o Drawing 1 – 90% PLAN with 10% SECTION

o Drawing 2 – 75% PLAN with 25% SECTION

o Drawing 3 – 50% PLAN with 50% SECTION – This will be your GARDEN

o Drawing 4 – 25% PLAN with 75% SECTION

o Drawing 5 – 10% PLAN with 90% SECTION

· OPTIONAL - Create a single drawing that is a “transformation” from plan to section. (using the same approach)

· Position the plan on one side of the drawing and the section on the opposite of the drawing, leaving a space at the center of the drawing depicting an architectural expression of “garden”.

· Research the term “garden” - choose elements of space or form to help communicate the focus of your drawing, which is “garden”.

· Be as faithful to the original plan and section as possible when recreating them in your drawing.

· When transforming from plan, introduce elements of the section, and when drawing the section, begin to introduce elements of the plan.

· Explore ideas of structure, opening, enclosure, shelter, water and gravity.

· Use clear examples of line weight or shading to help identify the boundaries of form and space within your drawing. (A heavy line weight generally depicts the cut of plan or section).

Homework

Complete: Assignment “The Architect’s Garden” 1 Drawing

Read: Architecture: Form, Space and Order Chapter 2 (pp. 50-105)

Sunday, September 6, 2015

The Muses - TRANSCENDENCE

Week 1

Review of syllabus and material list.

Introduction to Architecture and Historical Periods

Slides of Architecture and Drawing that examine timeline and epochs.

Student will draw architecture of various periods

Materials - 18" x 24" white paper, HB, 2B, 4B graphite pencils, kneaded eraser. Ink Marker Optional

Conceptual

This introductory lecture begins with the question: “What is Architecture?” Along with examining this simple question, students will be exposed to masterful works of architecture from around the world, spanning decades, centuries, and millennia.

Architecture from its prehistoric beginnings through Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome, evolved technologically to give the world obelisks, columns, and then arches. Continuing with Medieval Gothic architecture of the dark ages, students should take in examples of churches and fortifications. Of course no class of architecture would be complete without mention of the Renaissance and the city of Florence or the beautiful and sculptural forms of the Baroque era.

The Industrial Age of steam power and ironworks will draw the class closer to the modern era, which presents itself shortly after the invention of the elevator to bring about the epoch of the skyscraper. Present day architecture continues in ways that would have truly baffled the early builders of the pyramids. Now it lives in bold expressions in Vegas hotels, Disneyland castles and Dubai towers. New materials and technology have brought about structures that astonish civilization and only the space of virtual architecture in film, video games or motion based simulators can transport us any further.

Students should be invited to look and analyze architecture and talk freely about its history, beauty, style, technology, cultural significance or simply as an act of storytelling.

ASSIGNMENT

The Three Muses – Three Structures + Sketch Studies

Architecture is often born of inspiration that is specific to an idea, a person, a method or a style. The purpose of this exercise is to explore and examine architecture as an expression of technology, style and/or ritual through the creation of three structures.

Practical

· Review the history of architecture and examine more deeply the various architectural eras.

· Select your three (3) muses. Please identify one (1) for each category:

o Scientist Category

Ø What does your scientist research?

Ø Be creative.... chose a cause.
· Astronomy, Electricity, Genetics, Medicine, Alchemy?

Ø  What does your scientist need?
·   Telescopes?, Coils?, Bodies?...Darkness?, Light?,etc.

o Artist Category

Ø What does your artist create?

Ø Be creative.... chose a theme.
· Paintings?, Sculptures?, Film? Giant Puppets?, Machines?

Ø What does your artist need?
· Plants?, Stones?, Bones?, Carcasses?, Auto Parts? ,etc.

o Poet Category

Ø What Inspires the Poet?

Ø Be creative.... chose an idea.
· Nature? Animals? (Dragons?) Elements? (Snow, Sand?)

Ø What does your poet need?
· Solitude? (a tower?), A View?, A Drink? Hard Drugs? ,etc.

· Examine or identify the traits, needs or rituals of your three chosen muses

· Create a set of drawings (three in total), each depicting architecture born of and for each muse

· Identify three styles or historical periods (one per architecture -structure/muse)

· Research and depict three different building materials or technology for each of your structures

· Evidence of your research should be found within the drawings of your architecture and oral presentation

· Craft you set of 3 drawings onto one panel 18"x 24" or use three separate panels (one for each muse) totaling 18"x 24"

· Include rough sketch studies to help communicate your design process –(these can be on loose pages)

· DO NOT DRAW THE MUSE! (But thoroughly understand the muse as a source of inspiration for the architecture)

· AVOID creating "sculpture" .......use the language of architecture as you know it and be creative.

Your MUSE does not need to be a real person or even a human...it could be an alien, a spirit or even inanimate.

· Just draw the architecture…and have fun.

Homework

Review History of Architecture:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architecture

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_architecture

Google

Complete: Assignment “Three Muses” 3 Drawings + Sketches

Read: Architecture: Form, Space and Order Chapter 1 (pp. 18-48)

Architectural Graphics Chapters 1, 2, & 3 (pp. 4-45)

Architecture and Awe - INSPIRATION

Architecture inspires as places of wonder, worship, power, knowledge, drama, work and industry. Buildings can astonish the eye or simply offer a place of dwelling. They can house one or thousands. Architecture tells a story and often exists because of a story. Exploring architecture will enrich your perspective on structure, site, and give meaning to terms like place, path, monument and city.

Behold the world of Architecture