Introduction

Plan, section and elevation drawings are the most typically used two-dimensional ways of representing space. In drawing plans and sections designers delineate walls, columns and other objects in order to express the form of space. Two other methods used to perceive the form of space are: 1) to build a model representing the space as a sculpted solid, and 2) to draw paraline drawings.

Objectives

• To promote the conception of space as a palpable entity and understand its definition
• To introduce basic paraline drawing and model building conventions
• To continue the development of abstract thinking

Project

In this exercise you will complete a well-crafted model of the study space -- an achromatic solid model that delineates the void, and paraline drawings that represent the three-dimensional form of the space. The recommended paraline drawing is a plan oblique.

Procedure

Building a well-crafted model of the assigned space requires a coordinated and "accurate" set of plan and section drawings. Make any necessary additions and other modifications to your earlier freehand drawings, such as lining up openings and structural elements across space, and draw the plan and sections employing your drafting tools. Follow the drawing conventions delineated in Chapter 3 in Architectural Graphics.

Beginning with the plan, lightly lay out the overall dimensions of the space on a white horizontal sheet of paper. Measuring from the freehand drawings and producing very light lines only, transfer information into the new drawing in a hierarchical fashion: the largest dimensions are laid out first and layers of detail are gradually added. After having laid out the plan in this fashion, develop the sections in a similar way, recognizing that certain information shown in plan will reappear in section and can, therefore, be projected from the plan.

Once the three drawings are completely laid out begin hard-lining your work. Apply line hierarchy by carefully crafting the pencil lines to increase the legibility of the drawings: use a minimum of three line weights, the thickest for cut walls, the intermediate one for elevation lines, and the thinnest one for surface textures and cuts through walls. Use your best judgement in making appropriate decisions. All lines should be crisp and black. You can keep the paper reasonably clean by lifting the tools rather than pushing them across the paper.

After completing the plan and sections, xerox-reduce each drawing equally so that no dimension exceeds 12". The xerox copies will become the basis for the dimensions of the model, which will be made of two-ply museum board. Before you begin cutting, visualize what this model will look like: what is the form of main volume of the space? Are there secondary volumes and, if so, how to they relate to the main volume? Build the model by representing the main volume first and adding smaller volumes to it. Remember, you are representing space as mass and you will observe the model from the outside only. Pay particular attention to producing seamless joints. Follow your professor's instructions and, using your instruments, construct a plan oblique drawing of the space on a white sheet of paper.

Requirements

• Plan, transverse section/elevation and longitudinal section/elevation, plan oblique
• All drawings will be drafted using pencil on white paper
• Model made of two-ply white museum board, not to exceed 12" in any dimension

Evaluation Criteria

• Accuracy of representation of space in plan, sections and plan oblique
• Quality of drawings (line hierarchy, line quality)
• Accuracy of representation of space in model
• Quality of model craft

Reading

• Ching, Frank. Architecture: Form, Space, and Order, second ed.. Ch. 4 Organization, pages 177 - 225, especially pages 179 - 187 (spatial relationships), and Ch. 5 Circulation, pages 264 - 275 (path-space relationships and form of the circulation space).
• Ching, Frank. Architectural Graphics, third ed. Ch. 3, esp. pages 45 - 53, and Ch. 4, pg. 93.

Schedule

To be announced by your instructor.