Over(p)layers,
The next interim on the schedule is called ‘Vision’. The schedule and diagram in the outline suggest that the 3rd interim should incorporate the final resolved group vision, responding to the feedback received. Generally, this will require you all to build on the resolution of your proposals and also address some broader issues that have arisen.
Your individual projects should eventually aim to be resolved at every scale that you are going to employ. It will very clearly fit within the context of your group vision. The next 5/6 weeks is not about going away into your own projects and completing them in isolation, it is still about working in a team. You are all designing individually within your group vision so you have become a bit like a small office, each of you designing a different proposal under the same banner. It is important you work together.
We are both open to changing the third interim to Thursday 6th October and are discussing with guests the best date and would like to know what you prefer. Ammon and I are not going to enforce any rules regarding what you have to present other than to say that by the 4th/6th October we expect to see the a developed extent of what you are proposing at varying scales and from a range of viewpoints.
We thought it might be helpful to give you a few more of our thoughts on scale and thus the level of resolution you should all be aiming towards this semester. The following is an indication of what we would expect to see at the different scales, it is certainly not definitive and is only intended to help you look forward:
1:1000/1:500 – Usually a bird’s eye view in plan showing a precinct and neighbourhood, it facilitates a conversation about urban relationships and morphology. Include all existing and proposed buildings, basic surface treatments, steps and ramps, road markings, tram tracks, vegetation, tree canopies, topography and urban infrastructure such as seating. Crowds of people and vehicles could also be indicated. Sections can be insufficient at this scale unless you have a strong overall sectional idea. It is sometimes a good idea to draw 1:500 at 1:200 then scale.
1:200 – can be drawn as a bird's eye plan or a section at 1m high. This is an important scale for layout, overall form, streetscape, public/private relationships, transparency and opacity and light penetration/shadow lines. Include door openings, windows, basic materials, and minimal representation of the important elements in 1:100, such as stairs, major joinery/furniture, toilet layouts, kitchen layouts, storage layouts, water tanks, solar panels, eaves. Some basic shadows can be shown. Definitely show context, vegetation, surrounding buildings. Oh yes, and people.
1:100 – This is always drawn as a section (horizontal or vertical) usually at 1m high. This is an excellent scale to explore interior atmospheres, specific relationships between spaces, basic materiality and colours, lighting effects, interior occupation, ceiling heights, basic window details and types of doors, floor surfaces and levels and any fancy stairs. Include accurate wall thicknesses, shapes of columns and openings. Try to represent everything minimally - secondary structure, wall linings, fittings etc are not usually important. Remember to include furniture/joinery and service ducts. Only include people in section and elevation. You can also display a surprising amount of tactile and light qualities at this scale. Many projects draw at 1:50 and scale to 1:100 for presentation quality.
1:50 – Similar to 1:100, only allows greater concentration on a particular architectural solution/quality. This scale allows you to start really designing accurately with thicknesses and texture to really study tactile occupation. Indicate all structure if this is important to your project, or draw minimally and only show primary structure, making certain to indicate a realistic depth of structural joints, assembly and mechanical services. This scale will start to really think about constructability, fabrication and waterproofing. And yes, include handrails.
1:20/1:10 – This is the scale of reality. Show everything, except for nuts and bolts unless the patterning is important. A great scale to work on detailed architectural design resolution. It provides real opportunity to show the human scale of a hand, leg, back, bum, sitting, standing, eye level – you are describing clear atmospheres, detailed tactile experiences and resolved tectonics. At this scale you should resolve waterproofing, construction tolerances such as articulation or indicate rigid joints, and know the real lengths of materials available. This might be as big as you need to go! Oh yes, and people are often helpful when it is getting very ergonomic.
1:5/1:1 – Go here only if you are serious about the smallest details and getting conceptual fluency through your entire project. Not for everyone. If you do this scale well then your architecture will begin to make steps you didn’t think were possible. It might be worth dabbling in now to see if it has an effect on your design at other scales. Often this is presented as a prototype in the form of a physical model. Don’t be afraid of the detail!
We hope this helps a little. Every project demands slightly different scales. All projects should have a selection of scales from 1:1000 to 1:20. You need to decide on the best combination of scales to use.
Finally, we propose to have an optional session on Thursday 29th September from 3pm to 6pm. We are still available by email.
Tim and Ammon.