concentrate your attention upon doors or windows. The
architect often invests a great deal of time in the design
of these elements, which makes them particularly
worthy subjects for freehand sketches. As doors and
windows are openings into a building, they are frequently
framed in a distinctive fashion, and sometimes given
symbolic value by the addition of figurative sculpture or
lettering. Windows are normally dark openings criss-
crossed by glazing bars in an attractive design. With
the addition of blinds, curtains and shutters, the window
provides a good subject for the artist, with its layers
of different materials not normally depicted in
architectural drawing. Although windows allow light
into buildings, they also permit those on the inside to
look out. Hence the world of the interior and exterior
have their interface at the window, making windows
and doors a good subject for a sketch.
In the Merchant City, doors and windows come in
many forms. In the warehouse areas many are plain and
with repetitive forms, yet they establish interesting
rhythms or patterns in the street scene. The subdivision
of larger windows into smaller openings and the grouping
together of these into tall bands give such areas their
distinctive character. In some of the new apartment
buildings circular windows have been used to express
major street corners or to give verve to the design of
rooftops.
When drawing windows and doors, it is often useful to
exploit shadows. The set-back of windows within their
frames allows a shadow line to be established that then
becomes a major element in the composition of the
sketch. The depth of shadow should reflect the distance21.7
This view of George Square shows
the dominating presence of the City
Chambers (Town Hall), built in 1880.
The vanishing point is along George
Street on the left. Notice how statuary
provides a focus to the square, which
in this drawing excludes the trees
and people.Using drawing to analyse an urban area 183