Michael Graves (born July 9, 1934) is an American architect. Identified as one of The New York Five, Graves has become a household name with his designs for domestic products sold at Target stores in the United States.
In ARCHDES101, Design 2, 2012, we are radically focusing on architectural design process that is vastly influenced through computers and technology. Computer transforms every aspect of how we work, from sketching our first impressions of an idea to creating complex construction documentations for upcoming discussions, crits and peer reviews.
“Architecture cannot divorce itself from drawing, no matter how impressive the technology gets. Drawings are not just end products: they are part of the thought process of architectural design. Drawings express the interaction of our minds, eyes and hands. This last statement is absolutely crucial to the difference between those who draw to conceptualize architecture and those who use the computer.” - Michael Graves
I personally agree with this quote. Computers and technologies are mere tools to communicate and investigate the creative design and problem solving. Same applies for other mediums such as pencils, pens, markers, coloured pencils, pastels, paint, etc. Which means that we cannot design properly without being able to draw and render by hands. Sketching is a fundamental part of the architectural process which should never get taken over by computer drawings and technology. This does not mean we're against to the contents we learn in the four workshops such as CNC, laser cutting, 3D printing, ArchiCAD, Rhino, Second Life, 3Ds Max, Photoshop, Illustrator or whatever they are, but I think they should not be the tools that will affect our elaborative thinking, creative thinking, concept ideas which can be successfully achieved with sketching/drawing. The drawing has a real purpose of either to remember something or to study and each one is part of the design process.
Michael Graves claims that:
- Drawing is a reminder of the idea and these sets of drawings, visceral connection, cannot be replicated by a computer.
- Drawing keeps the design process broader. (not as linear as computer-aided design)
- Drawing creates a personal and emotional connection with the work.
- Drawing keeps us in a certain joy of our creation, which comes from the interaction between mind and the hand.
"I find this quite different from today’s “parametric design,” which allows the computer to generate form from a set of instructions, sometimes resulting in so-called blob architecture. The designs are complex and interesting in their own way, but they lack the emotional content of a design derived from hand." - Michael GravesIn my opinion, Parametric design, even though it is calculated and created by computer, it can still be as emotional as drawn/designs derived from hands. Just like in the past workshop, we have started surface designs of the hotels with weaving/knitting which has a lot of association with our hands and it requires some concentration and effort. We can also draw out anything that inspires us or whatever that comes up in our minds that could be related to our hotel designs. Not just because they are simply pretty artifacts but to explore, think and study more about through the drawings. After doing that, we can apply the parametric equations and computer technology onto what we have designed/drawn to keep the parametric designs, blob architecture or computer generated piece to be a lot more emotional or 'humane'.
In conclusion, Design 2, so far, seems to be too reliant on computers and technologies which may be very useful and convenient throughout our architectural life. And we publish posts on the blog in chronological order which may look like "design process". However, we should not forget that this cannot replace the thinking and design process that has been derived from drawing and sketching.
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