Tuesday, October 21, 2008

communications reflection
I think overall the workshop structure of the architectural communications course was very interesting and well planned, as it allowed me to choose areas that I felt I needed or wanted to strongly focus on. The three workshops I chose, material modelling, architectural drawing and fluid thoughts to actions I think ultimately allowed me to learn and develop a range of skills but more so gain confidence and dexterity in communicating using different mediums.

In material modelling I learned to appreciate the qualities of different materials, and the model making process. The sense of experimentation with the workshop I thought was very exciting and was a feature that I think was common throughout the course. Models I soon came to realise were invaluable not only in conceptual stages. They offer to communicate in a way that is accessible and tangible. I think there was a lot to learn as this was my first opportunity to create an architectural model. Something I know that I want to improve in the future is precision and quality of construction to achieve something very seamless.

Through the photomontage component of material modelling I also came to learn to translate 3 dimensional to 2 dimensional forms and also to create a landscape or rather ‘mindscape’ an extension of a real space into imaginative environments. Photomontage was something completely new to me and I think was a valuable skill to learn as it allowed expression/communication in a unique and different way.

Both architectural drawing and fluid thoughts also extended this idea of expressing 3 dimensional forms on a 2 dimensional surface though in very different ways. The balance in drawing styles taught through these two workshops I think has offered me areas to expand my knowledge. Fluid thoughts I think could greatly enable communication of concept, the ability to sketch quickly but also achieve a kind of measured drawing that is precise will I think help me in the design process in communicating design ideas. Spatial articulation I think was made a lot easier through the practise of drawing that I gained from this workshop. In conventional architectural drawing of plan, section, elevation and perspective of architectural drawing I picked up how to go beyond depicting form but also adding depth and spatial quality to bring these drawings to life. Using of the different tools and mediums for these workshops was also a learning experience.

I think in the combination of these workshops I’ve developed a kind of confidence in the ability to translate and move through 2dimensional and 3 dimensional articulation i.e. constructing a 3d model from a set of plans, sections and elevations or drawing back what is seen into a 2d surface. But I think I also learned from the workshops I didn’t do through the lectures and that was particularly interesting, notably colour, which I found I used though unintentionally across all 3 of my workshops.

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