You can, of course, record contrast through a
discerning sketch. If your sketches are concerned with
contrast and discontinuity, then do not hesitate to
underline the point with a well-selected viewpoint. For
example, if you find that the scale of the town changes at
a particular point, then this is where to draw. By placing
the large and small buildings side by side their full impact
may be felt, and if the change of scale occurs at a change
of direction (which is often the case), then the sketch
has additional value. Sequential sketches should
therefore seek out differences and contrasts in order to
enliven the drawings and increase your own awareness of
design issues.
Sequential sketches can also be employed to explore
the line of continuity referred to above and found in many
urban situations. Such lines often unite a row of
warehouses facing a harbourside or the frontage of
buildings along a high street. It is often important to
maintain such continuity (for reasons of civic design) in
order to provide a firm edge to the urban scene. A straight
line tends to be visually less satisfactory than one that
curves slightly or absorbs some irregularity with ease. A
sketch of such a line, whether straight or curving, can be
quite delightful and informative, especially if it is part of a
sequence of related views that deal also with questions
of punctuation – in other words, how the line is stopped
and defined along its route.
It is important for the observer to ‘read’ the line and its
punctuation, otherwise the point of the sketch may be
lost. Therefore try to highlight the elements that make up
the line of continuity, and draw attention to the elements
that define points along its length. You are trying to make
‘informed’ sketches – sketches that tell you about the
nature of urban design – so a measure of selectivity and
focus in your drawing is important.
If the line of continuity links together the façades of a
group of buildings facing a river, then use a particular tone
or wash to unite them in your sketch. Add contrast or
complexity by drawing attention to certain ingredients
within the view, such as decorated doorways, special9.4
This sequence of sketches
of the Guggenheim Museum in
Bilbao designed by Frank
Gehry explores the relationship
between art, space and
architecture.78 Understanding architecture through drawing