Drawings and their media : means of architectural design exploration and expression

Abstract

The nature of architectural design is one of expression, exploration and communication of ideas stemming from the imagination and previous experiences, and are always mediated from the mind to the physical through representational means which include sketches, drawings, three-dimensional models, and verbal explanations. There have been studies of each of these means, and their respective roles to design . The focus of this study falls in the realm of architectural sketching and drawing. This realm has been studied from seeing the drawing as an autonomous entity, to its part as an integral step within a process of thought and exploration, and from analyzing its content to its composition. The aim of this thesis is to investigate the ways our imagination and architectural design explorations are influenced by the our perceptual and physical experiences of different drawing media used in the act of design. The insights gained are of pedagogical significance in the education of architectural design teachers and students alike.