From Sketches to Projects

March, 12 2013 • 10:00

Posted inArchitecture

"The architect’s eye” is the title of the historical 68th edition of the architectural magazine “Lotus”, published in 1991. The entire publication is a celebration of the beauty of architectural drawings, in its most primitive and at the same time passionate form: the sketch.

 

 Le Corbusier. Pecicle, Northern wall

 

 

As travel notes or simply as a practice exercise, the sketch is commonly performed with charcoal (but also the with first thing found in a pocket at the precise moment that you have the need to crystallize with a mark what is unexpectedly imposed on the sight) and then collected on the pages of a notebook. They are the key to understand the most important works of the past century, revealing to all the intimacy of architectural thought.

 

Alvar Aalto. Morocco, encountering someone, 1951 

 

 

Why is it important to write about a technique that has been almost completely superseded by photography or computer aided design packages?

Well, it is all about going beyond the technique and learning how to use the sketch as an outlet for the designer’s creativity and as an instrument to control the first rush in project planning.

 

Alvar Aalto. Delfi, Theatre 

 

 

To remember the work of Le Corbusier, Aalto, Hejduk, Asplund, Kahn, Krier, Sottsass, Siza, Rossi and others through their "drawings of daily reflection," helps us all, architects and designers, not to ever forget how important it is to know how to draw ... with a simple pencil.

 

Aldo Rossi. Composition with Novara Dome and Modena Cemetery 

 

 

Le Corbusier. Pecicle, Library 

 

 

Gunnar Asplund. Siracusa, San Giovanni stair