Understanding Architecture Through Drawing

to be fairly high, and any breaks in the continuity of the
façades filled, unless the breaks lead to further events of
interest such as a secondary square or a public building
set back from the main square.
It is important when drawing squares and courtyards
to allow some of the character of the place to invade the
sketch. For example, if it is a residential square then to
incorporate such details as washing lines or children
playing would not only enliven the sketch, but inform its
content as well. Alternatively, if the subject is a public
square then elements of a civic nature such as statues or
trees planted in formal lines should be included. You may
wish to add people since this gives life to the square, but
be careful to draw people appropriate to the location and
select such details as local costume to bring a touch of
genius loci.

Whatever type of square or courtyard you decide to

draw, ensure that the sketch has a focus. Drawings of

squares tend to be sketches of spaces (not objects) and

hence can have a vacuous quality. The reality may be that

the square itself lacks a focal point, but often you can

overcome the problem by drawing a length of building

façade to provide a point of interest around which to

compose the sketch of the square. The building façade

will probably be the principal frontage facing the square –

perhaps a town church, market building or railway station.

A great deal of effort will have to be devoted to sketching

this properly as it is likely to be the major event within the

space.

Once the focal point has been fixed, the rest of the

sketch should fall into place with railings, fountains,

statues, steps and walls providing useful articulation of

11.3

The relationship between

densely packed private houses,

the castle and topography is the

subject of this study of an Italian

hill town. Here ‘townscape’ is

analogous to ‘landscape’.

92 Understanding architecture through drawing