For the artist to become comfortable with using
drawing as a creative tool, the sketchbook must be
employed as a means of recording and analysing existing
buildings. The sense of a ‘sketchbook culture’ needs to
underpin the creative design process.
Arup Associates, whose designs have received many
recent awards, operate in much this fashion. Here design
proposals are explored around the central focus of
the sketch. The concept for the whole building, and its
various parts, is explained to mixed teams of architects
and engineers using the sketch of a plan, section or
detail as the starting point for debate. The lack of
distinction in Arup Associates office between architects
and engineers has resulted in a climate where most
designers, irrespective of their backgrounds, have
become skilful communicators through the medium of
the freehand sketch.23.6 a, b and c
In these sketches (of 1992) Arup
Associates seek to establish the
development framework for a
business park. The sketches try to
integrate the needs of urban,
landscape and engineering design.222 Understanding architecture through drawing