Architecture Student Chronicles

Materials and tools used in Architectural Drawing

February 4, 2011 by Architect

Introduction of Materials and Tools in Architectural Drawing

This article is to introduce the beginner to the range of and quality of materials that may be used depending upon the nature of the work, and the supplies you will use during and after this program of study.

Lines, values and Colors are produced by media stroked on a surface. Paper – the customary medium also varies depending upon Tooth, Quality, Color, Size and type.

Tooth refers to the roughness of the surface by different finishes. Cold Press and papers not pressed are more coarse in texture than the Hot pressed ones.

Quality refers to the Rag content in the paper which helps prevent absorption after rendering making it more durable.

Heavier/rougher papers are used for water based media.

Type or Character of the paper depends on the fiber, Linen, Flax, Cotton etc. Type also refers to the process Machine made – Hand made or combination of those methods.

Drawing Paper	Drawing/Drafting	Pencil/Ink
Tracing Paper	Drawing/Drafting	Pencil/Ink
Tracing (Vellum)	Drawing/Drafting	Pencil/Ink
Tracing Cloth	Municipal Drawings	Ink
WaterColor Paper	Watercolor rendering	Water colors
Hanmade Paper
Mount Board	Renderings/Models Presentations, Framing	Multimedia
Ammonia Prints	Rendering, Presentations	Multimedia
Sepia	Drawing/Drafting	Pencil/Ink
Newsprint	Drawing	Charcoal Soft Pencil
Ivory/Bristol	Drawing	Ink Soft Pencil

We will discuss various drawing tools in our succeeding articles…

Design of Spas | New Generation Health Mantra

January 29, 2011 by Architect

Spas – The New Health Mantra

Slowly but surely the wellness industry in India is looking up as evidenced by gradual transformation of beauty shops into excellent spaces like salons, day spas and amazing spa retreats.

Spas have evolved based on the services they offer. New trends are fast evolving like day spas, destination spas, medical spas, detox spas etc.

The Indian spas use organic products and traditional processes and soon spas will soon become a way of life when they become pragmatic and affordable with a booming industry.

Spas will soon metaphorise into the ‘New health destination’ for the modern urban middle class.

Spas provide holistic wellness and pamper the basic need – relaxation. Spas have become a popular retreat for one to stay connected with his inner self and achieve a healthy and balanced lifecycle.

Kerala is a well known destination for ayurvedic therapy centres and spas of the highest order. Traditional Indian remedies like ayurvedic treatments and yoga are very popular and when these trendy spa treatments lack authenticity, they trivialize the traditional healing solutions.

People around the world are looking for one stop shop. When we go to a health or fitness centre, we want a place where we can ‘get it all’ which includes having a spa treatment. Spas are the need of the hour. The customer today is lot more aware and conscious of his health and wellbeing and the spas go beyond massages and provide a complete wellness experience.

Guide to Casestudy of Commercial Hubs for Redesign | Urban Design

January 13, 2011 by Architect

Study of Master Plan in relation to commercial hubs

Study all commercial hubs
Number of Commercial hubs (existing, declined), where they are located?
Their development pattern
Analyze the road pattern and the roads linked to it

Study of the development from 19th century to 21st century
Study the hierarchy of the commercial hubs
Histogram, why they have declined? What? How?
Pick the successful commercial hubs right from the olden days existing uptill today, which have not been changed.
Analyze it, study the density, population, traffic, volume of traffic… traffic count
Classify different types of traffic (School Traffic, Office Traffic etc)
Commercial traffic – estimation in terms of percentage
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Visualization of Architecture by Architects

January 10, 2011 by Architect

How Architects Visualise Architecture to be?

As part of a routine exercise in Architectural education, students are normally taught to put forth their ideas on paper. The representation on paper/drawing sheet does not relate to any experience of space but rather we produce drawings through an artificial language of spatial coding, of standard rules and terminology of a system of notation devoid of spatial experience.

This particular method of presentation, though it is a norm, is a superficial formula which is easily imitated by the gullible student and this method of teaching also short-circuits any profound spatial experience.

Student Architecture | Geometrical form (Square in plan)

The main concern of Architects is the physical Articulation of space, the solids and voids, the negative and the positive. In addition, he has to include the effects of light, surface, shape and form as part of the design synthesis, and has evolved a mainly graphic language of design which is more concerned with technique rather than the experiential understanding of space.

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