The Use of Computers In Designing Buildings

[newdirection]

All,

 

After receiving a particularly harsh crit in my portfolio review today (I am an architecture student) I am trying to gather evidence, precedent and general support for the use of computers in architecture. Rather than opening up the debate in this thread as to if computers have benefited design, I just really need quotes, interviews and analysis from established architects that support their use. If anyone knows of interviews or other resources please send me the links.

 

My years work was today dismissed by the tutor from the year above purely because it was done on a computer. He did not want to even look at the computer renders. This is ludicrous. They were a communication of the design. He is not just trying to encourage me to do more by hand (which I accept, drawing is an important skill too) he is COMPLETELY dismissing the work, the role of the computer and likely to fail me.

 

I have worked in practice for over 12 years and he is talking nonesense. Offices have a broad skill set and use peoples best talents to sell their schemes.

 

Anyway, if anyone can help me out I would appreciate it. I just need some

quotable advocates of the digital age.

 

Cheers.

ND

[BrianKitts]

Just out of curiousity, are you trying to collect this information so you can go back to the prof and plead your case... make sure you're fighting a case you can win if you are.

 

I pretty much learned presenting in the university all comes down to pleasing the teacher. There are those that teach and those that work a practice on the side while teaching. And those who only teach will never break their ways and it doesn't matter what you say you won't win. Those who work in the real world are open to change and those who don't may have alot to share but are less open to change. (I think I've said this before....but yes some teachers break the mold....but as a majority this is what I saw through college) When you come out in the end you benefit from learning the best of both mindsets.

 

To prove my point, I had a teacher who would only accept submissions drafted on mylar. (this was only 5 years ago) So to pass his critique I designed on trace, built a model on the computer and then printed my sections elevations and perspectives to trace onto mylar. Some minds can't be changed or persuaded, They've been right for so long in their mind that they can't be wrong.

 

That being said there's plenty of articles on the net and cgarchitect that will give you the info you need. Such as the current article on the front page discussing Skidmore Owen Merril uses parametric modeling and computer design. (SOM isn't exactly a tiny company)

 

http://www.cgarchitect.com/news/newsfeed.asp?nid=3708

 

A simple google search could probably fill your plate.

 

So my point is this, I would do what needs to be done to pass the class and disregard this prof's comments since you sound like you know he's a bit off the mark.

[aaron-cds]

Did you come up with the design by sketching on trace paper and building chip-board models or did you do all of the work on computer? Let's see it. The computer is not a substitute for drawings and models in the preliminary design phase. Unless you're doing something that's impossible to draw or model (i.e. Frank Gehry), the computer will hurt you rather than help. If you used the computer just for presentation, then your professor is obviously close minded. Some people just don't like cg, but your professor shouldn't be biased like that. However, it is essential that architecture students learn to draw. If you can't sit across from a client ten years from now and sketch a design idea, you're screwed. I'm not talking about making a drawing that has seven or eight vanishing points like I've seen from a lot of architecture students. You really need to learn how to draw, perhaps that's where your professor is coming from.

[aaron-cds]

ok first,,,ur an architecture student,,,so im sorry but i agree with ur prof.

 

dra3 speaks the truth.

[newdirection]

Agreed on all counts.

 

My drawing/modelmaking skills were patchy when I joined Uni. That's why I've been through the pain barrier this year. I am not disputing their usefullness though I would argue that you can come up with designs in 3D packages that you might not have been able to conceive on paper. I have traced all my plans from the computer, a pointless excersice. But designing with a pencil and a drawing board, agreed. There is something about that process.

 

Still you sit round in a meeting and you don't whip out 3DS Max and model a building then and there for a client. I acknowleded to him that drawing is important and I would develop my skills in this area. But to not even consider the design because the final renders were done on the computer is wrong.

 

I will post some work later today and you can see. I am a 1st year mature student so I don't expect to have all the skills right off the bat.

 

I just want to put together a paper showing that there is a big world out there and being stuck in the past is not what architecture should be about. The world is changing. Computers have an effect. Think British Museum, Foster. Couldn't have been done without the computer. Maybe not to everyones taste.

 

The example I liked is Ed Cullinan Workshop Weald & Downland Open Air Museum. He is a respected, contextual architect (not Zaha or Gehry) but he said they couldn't have built that without the computer.

 

ND

[aaron-cds]

I just want to put together a paper showing that there is a big world out there and being stuck in the past is not what architecture should be about. The world is changing. Computers have an effect. Think British Museum, Foster. Couldn't have been done without the computer. Maybe not to everyones taste.

 

The example I liked is Ed Cullinan Workshop Weald & Downland Open Air Museum. He is a respected, contextual architect (not Zaha or Gehry) but he said they couldn't have built that without the computer.

 

ND

 

I think you're comparing apples and oranges. You're a first year architecture student and the people you're comparing yourself to are masters. I agree, tracing a floor plan from a computer printout is pointless. The time you spend doing that should be spent coming up with a hand drawn perspective (with one vanishing point) I'm afraid you're missing the point of the computer vs. hand drawn debate. You need to learn how to walk before you can run. If I were you, I would pick my battles more carefully. There's no way you're going to win this one with your professor being a 1st year student. You'll just end up looking foolish. You're there to learn architecture. You can't learn architecture by designing with computers. Drawing and designing by hand is fundamental to architecture. You can argue that lettering or drafting by hand is "being stuck in the past", but you're professor has a valid point of requiring you to do the design by hand. Did you not know this about your professor before you started the design?

[newdirection]

I am saying the computer is a valid tool. That is all. Not a substitute, a panacea. But a design should be judged on just that; the design.

 

I am more than happy to draw and model make. I enjoy it. Most of my ideas have come from that process (but not all).

 

It's typical of the education system. It's lazy because it's easy to churn out the same curriculum and judge people. Some great architects couldn't draw. So what. The tutor can't judge computers because he can't use them. Who says some people can't conceive everything on the computer? Do you honestly beleive it or is it an echo of your education. It reminds me that alot of great architects that are revered by the education system now were sneered at for revolutionising design.

 

I am not going to fight any battles I can't win. It makes me think twice about the education though. Which is a shame. And I'm not too downbeat. I have got used to the crit but I don't agree with the method.

[aaron-cds]

I am saying the computer is a valid tool. That is all. Not a substitute, a panacea. But a design should be judged on just that; the design.

 

I am more than happy to draw and model make. I enjoy it. Most of my ideas have come from that process (but not all).

 

It's typical of the education system. It's lazy because it's easy to churn out the same curriculum and judge people. Some great architects couldn't draw. So what. The tutor can't judge computers because he can't use them. Who says some people can't conceive everything on the computer? Do you honestly beleive it or is it an echo of your education. It reminds me that alot of great architects that are revered by the education system now were sneered at for revolutionising design.

 

I am not going to fight any battles I can't win. It makes me think twice about the education though. Which is a shame. And I'm not too downbeat. I have got used to the crit but I don't agree with the method.

 

I think you're looking at this as a black and white issue. It's not about whether someone can or cannot come up with a design completely on the computer. Of course it can be done. Based on my 11 years of experience as a designer (the last 1 1/2 years spent in arch-viz), not counting the 4 years of design experience, I know that almost any architecture student will learn more about architecture from drawing than by using computers. The computer is just a tool. YOU HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO WALK BEFORE YOU CAN RUN. You're getting ahead of yourself. Learn the basics then you can move onto computers. That's what we're trying to say.

[aaron-cds]

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink.

[newdirection]

I knew when I posted this I would have to end up defending myelf. Sheesh, it's been one of those days. All I wanted was some quotes!

 

I take all your points. I am happy to develop my skills. I am not happy if I have to resit the year. I am getting too old and it's a long course. There is a problem at the school if I have to resit after putting all the work in.

[newdirection]

Not true. I did as I was told throughout the year. It's just the 2nd year tutor is old fashioned. I wanted to present my work in the best manner. He would have probably been happier to see poor hand drawn perspectives. But when you have a deadline you have to get the work out and you rely on your best abilities.

[Crazy Homeless Guy]

The computer is just a tool. YOU HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO WALK BEFORE YOU CAN RUN. You're getting ahead of yourself. Learn the basics then you can move onto computers. That's what we're trying to say.

 

I am in this camp. Mr. Miyagi taught the Karate Kid, ...wax on, wax off. ...wax on, wax off.

 

I have not seen your design, but are you sure he is dismissing it just because it is on the computer, or is he dismissing it because he feels you are missing the point of what he is tying to teach. Computer can be great design tools, but they can also be very inhibitive to the design process. If you are a first year student, there is a good chance that he fears the computer will be inhibitive to his and your ability to enhance your intuition about how space works, and is put together.

 

I have yet to see anyone that can churn concept out faster on a computer than they can with a piece of bumwad, with a sign pen. ...also, I have yet to see computer renderings replace the understanding you get for relationship and space with a chipboard model.

 

edit: what i am getting at, it is not about whether you can draw better on the computer, or by hand, but about learning to see space and the art of defining it.

[newdirection]

He would not look at the design. His words "Aahh. Computer stuff. Not interested".

[Tommy L]

Youre a new student, the professor , although you think he is closed minded, is trying to help you. Imagine youre a computer student who wants to do all the programming on paper and test the algarythms in plaster.

Architecture is soooo much about drawing, modelling and sketching. You have to be a master of 3d to develop a coherent and attractive personal style of presentation. Traditional drawing and presentation methods will bring your natural style out and develop it whether you want them to or not.

If you post some AWESOME renders, Ill agree you can do it all in 3d. If not, sharpen that pencil pal, get sketching.

If you are a first year architecture student, you dont even want to know what the second and third year are like. One of the most important things with getting a good grade is having a good relationship with your tutors. LISTEN. LISTEN, LISTEN, YOU ARE NEW AT THIS, THEY HAVE EXPERIENCE. Its like what parents say about their kids "why dont you leave home whilst you still know everything?"

[newdirection]

 

edit: what i am getting at, it is not about whether you can draw better on the computer, or by hand, but about learning to see space and the art of defining it.

 

This is exactly what I am talking about. I have made many card models. They are invaluable at judging space. They don't look good in your portfolio (though I put them in).

 

Just been talking to some students who had the same guy. He dismissed all the computer work, not just mine. I don't profess to be the best visualisation artist but my renderings were more effective than the Sketchup others had to do. I can model and render as quick in Max. I am not trying to be a viz artist (well maybe if if university goes down the pan!).

 

Here's some work I did. I think these communicate my interiors better than any perspective I could have drawn.

[aaron-cds]

He would not look at the design. His words "Aahh. Computer stuff. Not interested".

 

That seems a bit rude on his part. He should be more constructive and at least tell you what we're trying to tell you. Good luck. I hope you found our advice constructive. That's what we're here for.

[newdirection]

That seems a bit rude on his part. He should be more constructive and at least tell you what we're trying to tell you. Good luck. I hope you found our advice constructive. That's what we're here for.

 

Yeah, the crits have been mostly like that. I don't agree with it and I don't agree with this rites of passage crap. Because they went through it. When you walk out of a crit you should have a way forward. Constructive criticism. Rarely has it been that way.

[Crazy Homeless Guy]

This is exactly what I am talking about. I have made many card models. They are invaluable at judging space. They don't look good in your portfolio (though I put them in).

 

Just been talking to some students who had the same guy. He dismissed all the computer work, not just mine. I don't profess to be the best visualisation artist but my renderings were more effective than the Sketchup others had to do. I can model and render as quick in Max. I am not trying to be a viz artist (well maybe if if university goes down the pan!).

 

Here's some work I did. I think these communicate my interiors better than any perspective I could have drawn.

 

i wonder what would happen if you took the images into photoshop, and applied a hybrid, hand technique over the top of them. one of the reasons that computers tend to work against design is because computers are seen as being definitive. there are several reasons for this. some are simply generational gaps, and other have to do with the precision in which computers operate. computers leave little up to your imagination, and whether people realize it or not, they need things to be left up to their imagination. i think it is easier for the mind to do this with a 'looser' feel.

 

we have ran into countless problems with clients who feel the building is designed when they see computer renderings that feel to finished at early stages of the design. ...but yet they demand computer renderings to see what the design is going to look like.

[alexg]

With all respect to Aaron, Dra3, and all others, I will need to stand alongside Adam in this one.

 

Been in your shoes before, got my work slammed down in the first three years of my uni study. Sometimes the professors are not that qualified, and don't have enough knowledge of how to teach and direct students. Those short remarks like 'not interested' and 'not good enough' is not a positive attitude needed to help out students understand architecture. It is simply showing that he knows more than you. A bit of show of force.

 

There's a 'wax on .. wax off' tutor, then there's the 'all too accomodating, you can do anything' ones, but there are plenty out there that 'know nothing just doing teaching for money' kind of tutor.

 

I have been a student, and have been a tutor too. Let me tell you that sometimes there's one or two special students no matter what year they are, that even I can learn a bit from them.

 

Being in first year doesn't mean you are stupid and knows nothing. I've read all the ref books, controversial and mainstream, classic and avant garde to get enough arsenal to debate my tutors.

What do you need to know is in all the books that in your library. Look into your syllabus, seek the ref.books, read them all by heart and use it in favour of your design. (not to win argument)

 

But before you lashed out to your professor, do a bit of presentation to your friends / peers, just to check out if what you design is really good stuff. Public opinion won't lie. Maybe if you post your design and concept, we can try to judge too. Who knows, your professor might be right, he just don't have that right communication skill in being a teacher.

 

If you want me to point out architects that get their ideas from computers, there's a lot of them. Co-op Himmelblau, Zaha, Asymptote uses digital images and digital cad as tools to their design. (But somewhere along the line of their work, there is also a place of a good freehand sketches too)

 

edit :

Whoa... this topic is hot, there's 4 post while I'm composing

[aaron-cds]

I think these communicate my interiors better than any perspective I could have drawn.

 

And that's EXACTLY why you need to learn to draw. Don't let the computer be your crutch.

 

Yeah, the crits have been mostly like that. I don't agree with it and I don't agree with this rites of passage crap. Because they went through it. When you walk out of a crit you should have a way forward. Constructive criticism. Rarely has it been that way.

 

That's too bad. It shouldn't be like that. You also shouldn't be taught by someone a year further in the program I am not a fan of the T.A. approach to education. I'm sure there's good T.A.'s out there, but you should be taught be some 50 year old architect with tons of experience. It's too bad that many architectural educators rarely have real world experience. You need to go to a good school for that.

[newdirection]

i wonder what would happen if you took the images into photoshop, and applied a hybrid, hand technique over the top of them. one of the reasons that computers tend to work against design is because computers are seen as being definitive. there are several reasons for this. some are simply generational gaps, and other have to do with the precision in which computers operate. computers leave little up to your imagination, and whether people realize it or not, they need things to be left up to their imagination. i think it is easier for the mind to do this with a 'looser' feel.

.

 

I agree. My old practice did very simple paint bucket jobs in photoshop from perspectives. It gives you an idea. I could have in fact rendered these, traced and coloured them. I am certainly going to build up more techniques. Practicing perspectives technically makes you sketch in perspective also. I have made some progress and I am going to take some drawing classes.

[Tommy L]

Its difficult to know where your tutor is coming from without knowing him. But my experience was that the tutors were hard on us for 2/3 years to make us question every facet of the design instinctively. I think it worked. I also think that in the first year, the tutors do try to make you analyse your workflow. Pencil and paper IS irreplaceable. You say that the renders show the space better than drawings i the renders you posted. I would totally disagree. Th renders show the space more EASILY, but do not show any indication of your style. Your tutors are trying to nurture you as a designer. Those spaces look dead. They dont convey any design impotus whatsoever. I totally agree with your tutor. You are a first year: They dont want to see product, they want to see CONCEPT and PROCESS. You will not get this from renderings.

[alexg]

After seeing your work, I wonder if you supply enough information of how you get to that 'design' of yours?

In education, unlike the real world, we are more interested in discussing of 'how' the space created, the idea behind your lines, and not in how beautiful they are rendered.

 

Some drawings have the capability to 'speak the design of themselves' but I can't seem to find that in your images. Ok, it's a void and there's some accentuation of the stairs using the light features on the wall. But is there something more?

 

You will need to build up a story to lead up to that image. It can be a text, a diagram, sketch or whatever.

[newdirection]

 

If you want me to point out architects that get their ideas from computers, there's a lot of them. Co-op Himmelblau, Zaha, Asymptote uses digital images and digital cad as tools to their design. (But somewhere along the line of their work, there is also a place of a good freehand sketches too)

 

edit :

Whoa... this topic is hot, there's 4 post while I'm composing

 

Thanks for your support and info. I have been trying to find some interviews with these guys on them talking about the use of the computer.

[Crazy Homeless Guy]

I agree. My old practice did very simple paint bucket jobs in photoshop from perspectives. It gives you an idea. I could have in fact rendered these, traced and coloured them. I am certainly going to build up more techniques. Practicing perspectives technically makes you sketch in perspective also. I have made some progress and I am going to take some drawing classes.

 

spending 5 minutes on each image might have taken away the computer edge on your renderings. beyond just learning architecture, presentation techniques, and other things, you need to learn to communicate your design and ideas, and this is going to be different for every client. some people feel comfortable with certain things, and other people feel comfortable with a wide variety of things.

 

whenever i make hybrid renderings, they tend to bring a different feeling to the space, they communicate the space in a different way. you discover new things about the space yourself.

 

.