DESIGN VISUALISATION:

Sketching
Expression skills in sketching
Objectives of this lecture
• To understand the visualisation of space
through observation and perception
• To understand the concept of space (what
to sketch?)
• To sketch 5 sketches expressing your
visualisation of space
 Sketching

Sketching versus
photography
Sketching have the
ability to reveal
perception, thus giving
more importance to
certain parts, where
else a photo shows
everything with equal
emphasis.

(Ng, Nov 2004)

 Sketching

• Sketching is one of the means of visualisation

and expression of space and spatial ideas.
• How well your sketches are depends on:
– Visualisation skills: Observation and perception
(What to communicate?)
– Expression Skills: Skills of communication (How to
communicate?)
Visualisation skills: Observation and perception
Sketching

Observation
• One of the best ways to learn about architectural design
is to look closely at existing buildings and spaces.

• The eye, the mind and the hand are involved;

perception becomes fine-tuned, and we begin to sort
out our visual experiences.

• A sketch reveals what we have seen and how we have

perceived it.
Visualisation skills: Observation and perception
Sketching

Perception
• Each subject may reveal new ways of seeing if
we remain open to its special characteristics.

• Selective seeing.

• Visual thought process which depend on the

ability to visualize.
 Sketching 2

How to sketch?
• Select the subject and choose the viewpoint for
your sketch (What is your understanding of space?
What is your perception of space?)
Visualization
• Decide how to place it on the paper (composition)
(e.g. Will it fit portrait or landscape format? Do you
want to include an area of foreground? Do you
want to draw the whole building or only part of it?)

• Draw the structure: make sure parts of the drawing

are in the proper place and the proportions are
Expression correct.

• Add the tones: These represent defining elements

of light and shadow, color, textures.

• Add Details
Select the subject, choose the viewpoint and decide the composition

(Laseau 2001, p. 24)

Make sure drawing’s Structure, Proportion and Perspective are correct

(Woods 2002, p. 18)

•Add tones: define elements of light and shadow, color, textures.

(Laseau 2001, p. 25)

•Add tones: define elements of light and shadow, color, textures.

(Ching 1990, p. 169)

•Add Details
•Add title, annotation and date/time

(Laseau 2001, p. 31)

•Add Scale, Space Function by adding Figures in action

(Ching 1996, p. 130)

 Sketching 2

• Sketching as visualization and expression of

space (the eye-hand synthesis):
– Visualization skills: Communicate your observation
and perception (What to communicate?)
• Observe, analyze and evaluate architecture and the built
environment while recording

– Expression Skills: Skills of communication (How to

communicate?)
• Drawing technique: structure, tone, and detail
• Expression: style and creativity (added oomph!)
 Sketching 2

Sketching is supported by thinking and emotion,

and the sketches reflect these experiences.

(Laseau 2001, p. 73)

 Sketching 2

Expression of sketches
• Identity
• Style and selectivity
• Creativity
• Character and mood

(Laseau 2001, pp. 67-77)

Lines and tone

(Ching 1996, p. 95)

Lines and tone
Sketching 2

(Ching 1996, p. 92)

Toning with lines

(Laseau 2001, p. 25) (Ching 1996, p. 97)

Toning with lines

(Laseau 2001, p. 25)

Shape &
Surface Tones

(Ching 1990, p. 78)

Texture and Tones

(Ching 1990, p. 79)

Depth thru’ shadow

(Ching 1990, p. 172)

Toning with watercolor Sketching 2

(Holl, El Croquis #78, p. 11)

Examples

http://www.greggsimpson.com/DC_Simpson_
Sketches_1.html
Creativity Sketching 2

www.imageanationspacecamp.com/illustration1.html
 Pencil

www.tinmangallery.com/Flood/Drawings.html
 Charcoal

www.tinmangallery.com/Flood/Drawings.html
 Water Colour

www.southern.net/sue/archives6.html
Visualisation skills: Observation and perception
Sketching

Understanding of space
1. Scale, proportion and perspective (Perspective projection &
Relation to human scale + relation between parts and whole)
2. Opening/Aperture; openness/enclosure; inside/outside;
light/shadow
3. Solids and voids: Form, Skin, Structure
4. Rhythm in architecture (external/internal space)
5. Details
6. Textural effects/Materials
7. Landscape/Setting (Relation to surrounding built environment

(Excerpted and adapted from Steen Eiler Rasmussen’s Experiencing Architecture 1959)
Visualisation skills: Observation and perception
Sketching
Opening/Aperture; openness/enclosure; inside/outside?

Rhythm in architecture: Façade?

Landscape/Setting?

Sketches requirements:

• Title (+ date, time taken, signature)

• Annotations
• Perspective Composition
• Context
• Subject Proportion
• Materials
• Texture
• Tones, Light & Shadow
• 3D details

Eg. Thermal Baths, Switzerland 1996 http://www.therme-vals.ch/?__locale=en

(Peter Zumthor)
Visualisation skills: Observation and perception Sketching
Sketch Exercise 1: (<5 mins Quick Sketch)
Scale, proportion and perspective
(Perspective projection & Relation to human scale + relation
between parts and whole)
eg. Thermal Baths,
Switzerland 1996 by
Peter Zumthor

http://www.therme-vals.ch/?__locale=en
Visualisation skills: Observation and perception
Sketch Exercise 2: Setting- Opening/Aperture; openness/enclosure;
inside/outside; light/shadow.
Eg. Internal Views of Thermal
Baths, Switzerland 1996
(Peter Zumthor)

http://www.therme-vals.ch/?__locale=en
Visualisation skills: Observation and perception Sketching
Sketch Exercise 3: Details
Textural effects/Materials, light/shadow
 Visualisation skills: Observation and perception
Sketching
Sketch Exercise 4: Close-up details, Textural effects/Materials, light/shadow
Visualisation skills: Observation and perception

Sketch Exercise 5: People activities (Interesting Perspective Architecture

& Relation to human scale + relation between parts and whole)

Kiasma Museum, Helsinki (Steven Holl) http://www.arch.mcgill.ca/prof/mellin/arc

h671/winter2000/rmellin/holl/p04/4.htm
 Visualisation skills: Observation and perception
Sketching
More Examples of Observation and perceptions:
Circulation, Communication, Structure, Form, In/Out, Opening, Light
Reflections

http://www.arch.mcgill.ca/prof/mellin/arc
Kiasma Museum, Helsinki (Steven Holl) h671/winter2000/rmellin/holl/p04/4.htm
Visualisation skills: Observation and perception Sketching

Form, Scale and proportion, Detail

Visualisation skills: Observation and perception
Sketching

Openings

• Opaque
•Translucent
•Transparent
Visualisation skills: Observation and perception
Sketching

Opening/Aperture: light/shadow, outside/inside