ArchitecturalGraphics
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Instructor ..Julio Bermudez

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Description.

The class premise is that the best way to learn a language is by guided immersion. As a result the class (1) teaches the architectural language of representations (vocabulary, syntax); while (2) teaching how to see, feel, make, and think architecturally (semantics); in the context of (3) concrete design-representation problems (pragmatics)

Arch. 301 is thus not just a "drawing or graphics" class but rather an introduction to architectural thought and making through drawings. The overall class strategy is to approach drawing as an act of (1) making (building, construction) and (2) exploration and inquiry (study, ideation, criticism).

The course is organized in three learning units and a final test:

Unit 1: The Orthographic System. This unit studies the objectiverepresentation, construction, analysis, and communication of architectural orders and information. (Conventions of Plan, Sections, Elevations, Axons, and Obliques). There are two 1.5 week long exercises.

Unit 2: The Perspective System. This unit covers the formal methods for depicting the experience of architectural orders. There are three one week long exercises.

Unit 3: Language Utilization. This unit emphasizes the intentional use of representations to record, convey, and/or explore architectural ideas, observations, knowledge, etc. There are two one week long exercises.

Final Work. This two week long project requires the student to make a critical depiction of a local building or place using the graphic palette and thinking skills learned in the class.

A parallel track runs throughout the quarter. This 'track' focuses on graphic work on areas of not covered by the longer, week-long assignments (e.g., sketches, notations, gesture and contour drawings, visualization, etc.). The class functions very much like a studio with weekly lectures, personal desk crits, group pin-ups, interim reviews and final juries.

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The aim is to teach students the fundamentals of architectural graphics, that is (1) the conventions, rules, and techniques of architectural drawings (the syntax and vocabulary of the language); (2) the type of content that architectural graphics allow to represent (i.e. the denoted world of meaning, knowledge, and ideas: the semantics of the language); and (3) how to employ and develop architectural graphics (i.e. the pragmatics of the language).
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There are four types of required work: (1) final 'exam'; (2) "major exercises": long drawing assignments covering several architectural/graphics issues; (3) "minor exercises": short drawing assignments covering a particular graphics issue; and (4) sketchbook including drawings done in addition to those requested by the class

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Go to Julio Bermudez Home Page

E-Mail: bermudez@arch.utah.edu

Go to the Graduate School of Architecture Home Page

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