CoDe_Activity 1

Digi-Drawing words and buildings 

While digital tools, techniques, and processes have been widely adopted in processes of design, representation, documentation, and construction, the drawing-hand continues to be revered in architecture. This is particularly reflected in distinguished Finnish Architect Juhani Pallasmaa’s reference to the “thinking hand” (2009). 

It is often presumed that computational design techniques render redundant prior modes and methods of design, yet drawing or sketching remain prominent activities in design offices and can be powerfully complementary to digital modes.

This series of quick drawing exercises on Cockatoo Island aims to flex your drawing-hand muscles, and encourage new ways of perceiving and understanding the built and urban environment. 

Drawing/sketching is an active way of perceiving, interpreting, learning, knowing and communicating.

The intention here is not to produce ‘accurate’ or photo-realistic sketches, but rather to employ drawing as a tool of analysis, interpretation, and importantly, experimentation. Here ‘drawing’ is understood in a broader sense: to draw in, to collect, and to draw together.

Drawing locations:
1. Industrial Precinct ( Interior/Exterior Turbine Hall) – Lower island south east side
2. Docks Precinct – Lower island south side
3. Power House and Crane Precinct – Lower island west side
4. Historic Residence Precinct – Upper island east side
5. Ship Design Precinct – Upper island central
6. Convict Precinct – Upper island west side

Exercise 1

A CoDe staff member will take all students to their first location. 

In pairs, one person is blindfolded while the other leads them (following the Code staff member) to the allocated drawing location. In pairs sit back-to-back. The blindfolded person is the sketcher and is required to face away from the place/building of interest they will be sketching. Person 2 will face the place/building of interest and is then required to describe to person 1 what they see and how they should sketch the scene. 

Person 1 is required to sketch the scene based on the instructions given by Person 2 // 10 minutes. 

Note – once this is done Person 1 can take the blindfold off! 
  
The CoDe staff member will then take all students to the second location with Person 2 blindfolded this time - then repeat the exercise // 10mins

Exercise 2

The CoDe staff member will then take their group to the next allocated location and choose a vantage point for sketching.


Sketch a) Quickly sketch the scene. Focus on outlines, primary details,  such as strong horizontal or vertical lines, repetition, i.e. shape defining elements // 2 minutes.

Sketch b) Sketch the same scene again this time using your non-dominant hand (the hand you do not usually write with)  // 2 minutes

Sketch c) Sketch the scene again, this time as a continuous line drawing – this means you start the sketch and you cannot take the pen/pencil off the page until the end of 2 minutes. You must continue to draw, accepting all your line-work and not attempt to ‘correct’ it // 2 minutes

Sketch d)  Choose a smaller-scale detail from the scene – such as where two forms of materials join and draw this, define the shapes using shade and shadow this could include cross-hatching  // 5 minutes 

Insta-exhibition:

Using your smart phone take photos of each of your sketches and upload to Instagram. You can edit the sketch if you wish using the tools in instagram: crop, rotate, sharpen, filers etc. Use the following hashtags: #campCoDe2017 #instaexhibition