Chapter 21
Using drawing to analyse an urban area
CASE STUDY 1
THE MERCHANT CITY, GLASGOW
The Merchant City area of Glasgow is typical of the kind
of inner city neighbourhood that can be analysed through
drawing. By using a combination of freehand sketching
and mechanical drawing it is possible to describe the
main ingredients of urban form and the key role played by
particular features of architecture or townscape.
Depending upon the nature of the area, the analysis
could deal with the following points:
- the urban structure of the area;
- the role played by public buildings;
- the nature and characteristics of the background
architecture; - key decorative elements such as windows or doors;
- entrances and gateways;
- squares, streets, urban spaces and landscape design;
- proportional systems.
21.1
This axonometric drawing of the
Merchant City area of Glasgow shows
the public buildings in black and the
rest in white. Simple shade has been
employed to show the approximate
height of buildings relative to the
width of streets. The importance of
Ingram Street is highlighted by the
public monuments at either end (only
one survives).178 Understanding architecture through drawing