There seems to be nothing (save for physical models) more compelling to our clients than hand drawings and sketches. Many of our clients see finished renderings, but few see the initial sketches and dialogue that occur on the preceding drafts. The modern process of architecture is (as one of my mentors described) non-linear. We don't focus solely on plans, then elevations, computer drawings in a prescribed order. Nor do we stick with one medium for exploration. Rather, the most effective tool at hand is utilized to solve the problem. In the drawing below, you can see a rather crisp finished hand drawn elevation (above), and compare to another (below)that is at any earlier stage, containing notes, arrows and diagrams to solve some massing issues. In the course of this exploration materials are shown to a degree, decisions are made and a sketch that clients don't see shows it's true value. This sketch will likely remain 'unfinished' as we have solved enough of the design question to go back to the computer. In fact, we printed the underlay for this drawing out of a computer model, because it was not feeling quite resolved. What I teach those who work for me is that the end goal should not be to produce a beautiful drawing, but to draw to solve an architectural problem.
Visit The River House on the boards page here.
