ARCH 1142 Communications 1 - Fluid thoughts to actions

Portfolio

Opera House

Moving Objects

42 drawings

Verbal directives

Reflection

I struggled slightly with the Opera House drawings as I was not very familiar with the concept of movement and fluidity in drawings. However, I did try to achieve this through the technique of overlapping where I drew two different views on top of one another.

Through the second set of drawings, “moving objects”, I was able to gain a better understanding of the concept. I began being more used to the idea of trying to convey movement in a two dimensional drawing. Through my drawings, I attempted to blur various parts of the objects to highlight the transition from one movement to another.

In the collaborative work, I was able to explore this concept further with group members, but this time, through different techniques such as cutting drawings into tiny square pieces, then sticking them back together to create a space.

Also, the 42 drawings completed in the sketchbook consists of charcoal, crayon and pencil, still-life drawings of interior and exterior spaces. Using the skills developed through the workshop, I was able to exercise and experiment with different drawing techniques, portraying various viewpoints and aspects of an interior and exterior.

I have organised my portfolio in a book-like form which can be opened and standing up. Instead of opened up into a horizontal strip, my work is presented in a circular form which should be viewed from the front, as well as the sides and the back.

Through the “Fluid thoughts to actions” workshop, I have gained more thoughts in two dimensional drawings, realising the various ways to achieve movement on a flat piece of paper. Also, through the use of charcoal every week, I have realised that I am now more confident with the use of it.

ARCH 1142 Communications 1 - Material Modelling

Cardboard cube (folding)

Cardboard cube (scoring)

Cardboard highlighter

Cardboard house

Balsa Model

Reflection

Through the modelling workshop, I was able to improve my skills on dealing with different types of materials other than balsa wood, such as cardboard, wires and shiny materials etc. Hence I struggled a lot in the first lesson with cutting the cardboard to make the cubes. Furthermore, I have learnt the importance of having a sharp blade to maintain cutting clean edges. Through different techniques of bending, scoring and simple cutting and pasting with cardboard, we were able to create models of anything such as a highlighter.

After we developed a better skill in dealing with cardboard, we made a model of our own home. In completing this homework, I had to take a few measurements and struggled a bit with various tasks. For example, small openings in walls were extremely hard to cut with clean edges and the space between the double walls was hard to keep constant throughout the entire house. However, the replica of someone else’s home in balsa was a lot easier to complete. Cutting was a lot easier and as it was an exact replica, I did not have to take the measurements myself.

our final model, I chose the actions: elevation and addition, where I had elevated the roof and added a platform to the house. The roof is elevated and slanting at an angled support by skewers on one side creating a wall. I had experimented with various stick-like materials to hold up the roof such as wires, tooth-picks but chose skewers in the end as the length could be easily adjusted as well as creating a nice wall effect. Also, the platform, created with a soft, shiny silver material supported by silver wires creates a contrast with the rest of the house in the use of materials.

This workshop has provided me with model making skills which I believe would be useful through the following years in studying architecture.

ARCH 1142 Communications 1 - Drawing Workshop

Tea Cup excercise

Perspective drawing - Rose Seidler House

Reflection

In this workshop I was able to gain an understanding of the important aspects and difficulties of technical drawings. Through the tea cup exercise, completed in the first lesson, I was able to see the difficulties in thinking and drawing in several perspectives, such as thinking how the cup will look in section, elevation and plan. Although it was complicated, I was able to gain a better understanding of each perspective.

The second exercise was a perspective drawing. This allowed us to practice thinking and drawing in perspectives with one or two vanishing points. The “quick exercise” reinforced the idea of have vanishing points in perspective drawings as well as the effects on the objects of the drawing. For example, a wall would seem smaller and smaller as it goes towards the vanishing point. Hence I this is the basic aspect of a perspective drawing.

After the exercise, we began dealing with actual building which are more familiar, such as the Rose Seidler house. From a photography, we produced a perspective drawing, then used different rendering skills to enhance the drawing of the building. At first, I did not realise the importance of rendering in achieving an idea of the building and hence it was too soft. Through the observation of various other ones I understood the need for a stronger rendering pattern as it would emphasise the boldness of the Rose Seidler house.

Throughout this workshop, I have achieved an insight into the purposes of technical drawings and the ways and techniques which could be utilised to enhance the portrayal of the buildings. It has also allowed me to gain more familiarity in dealing with materials such as tracing paper and different types of rulers. I believe this new knowledge which I have understood will be beneficial for my future years of studying architecture.