Architects and computer
graphics
Saprykin I.A.,
Puzyreva M.D.
Moscow Architectural Institute (MARCHI) (
Contents
• Abstract.
• Measurement taking and photo fixing.
• Drafting.
• The "project" stage.
• Work documentation.
• Architectural supervision.
• Conclusion.
Abstract
Just a short while ago an architect
could not imagine that computer technologies will come to his aid. Being the
drawing master that he is, he spends an enormous amount of time combining
artistic experience with handdrafting. The instability and fickleness of
various processes in architectural activities further complicate the work on a
project. Much has to be redone, in order to come up with the best combination
of "usefulness, durability, and beauty" in an installation (M.
Vitruvius). It is necessary to keep in mind, however, that the main tools of an
architect were: a paper, a pencil, a ruler, and Indian ink (which cannot be
erased or amended).
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Now everything has changed. Starting in about the 80's or 90's of the past
century, developments in the milieu of computerized 2D sketching for DOS have
been evolving one after another. In 1993 the AutoCad12 software for Windows operating
system has already become more popular and available to all. Impetuous
development and employment of new information technologies enriches the
expression palette of an architect and simplifies routine activities. The pace
of a planner's work increases as the time it requires to alter the composition
of a project and its certain parts is compressed. However, the employment of
computer technologies usually evokes the opposition of "traditionalists",
that do not accept any kind of intrusion, especially technological, in the
design process. This can largely be explained by the fact that unskillful and
unintelligent use of a computer can lead to opposite results. For example, an
architect, being attracted by new means that new graphic software presents for
visualization, often forgets about the core of the project. This also explains
the fact that first-year students at architectural institutes usually complete
their graphic work by hand, thereby perceiving not only the diversity of
project graphics, but the volumetric and spatial composition, the harmony and
unity of an installation. Using the example of a small architectural bureau
typical for
1. Measurement taking and
photo fixing.
The given stage is necessary in the
case when the building or any of its parts already exists, and it is necessary
to reconstruct this building, either to restore, or to make the project of
design of an interior. Earlier, the tools of an architect were the measuring
roulette and a paper on which he by hand created the sketch of a premise and
fixed the sizes. Thus the measurement practice demands very high accuracy.
Further, already in workshop, all measurements were drawn on a paper.
Certainly, such process occupied more than one day, and sometimes even more
than one week. In addition, very many assistants have been involved. Now almost
all of this work is carried out by computer, but with greater clearness, speed
and accuracy corresponding means. The person only operates its actions. As a
result, an architect is capable of giving measurements to the documentation in
2-3 days.
2. Drafting.
One
of the most creative stages of the design process. Many conflicts arise here:
can the creative process be utterly computerized, as it is the conception of an idea. The way that an
architect is more accustomed to is drafting on tracing paper by arranging one
on top of the other and the search of the necessary results.
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Figure 3. A draft of a club. (scanned draft, processed with PhotoShop) |
This process would be hard to perform by any software, although
the possibility has long existed to draw free lines using computer. However,
the search itself is usually a paper process, and the beauty of a hand drawing
has its advantages. For students, it is a necessary stage of learning
that helps them be able to embody their ideas in space, with project
connections and on a harmonious scale. Besides that, at the given stage the
student presents a For-project, which are primary thoughts about a projected
installation, and when done on the computer, the general sense of this idea is
lost. This relates to beginning students mainly because of the lack of knowledge of architectural design and
unqualified use of software. Afterwards, for an aesthetic presentation of the
drafts to the consumer those drawings are processed on a computer: scanned
using convenient graphic software (for example PhotoShop, CorelPhotopaint,
etc.) and are either endowed with color or extra graphics, and stylized
according to the produced album. Sometimes hand drafts are not used at all,
although they look spectacular, but are replaced by those made with ArchiCad,
AutoCAD, PhotoShop, or the CorelDraw software.
3. The "project" stage.
The idea
has been formulated and it is time to begin a more detailed development of the
project. In order to agree on all the nuances with the customer, it is
necessary to provide him with the most detailed description of his project -
layout, facades, sections, main sizes, materials used, costs of the
construction, and of course visualization. In the given situation hand graphics
become secondary and computerized creative work begins, when the main idea is
polished or altered in order to arrive at the greatest harmony in the given
solution. (Earlier, when an architect did not know what computer technologies
were, this process was the most time-consuming because it combined the
technical and artistic parts of the designing simultaneously). AutoCAD - 2D
outline drawing. Everything is drawn as if on paper, lines are on a 1:1 scale,
every blueprint separately, every facade and cross
section - using projective connection. Afterwards, if necessary, compositions
of the sheets and scales of separate details are incorporated in the Layout
page. The 3D model here is done by hand in isometric projection.
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In ArchiCad
the work with actual certified library blocks (for example, the floor plates of
and the window blocks, etc.) The plans are drafted with the area computations,
the walls are assigned necessary building materials, the base, rafters and
roofing. Simultaneously a 3D model is built, pretty simple in its rendering.
One can see the amounts of materials used and their names. This stage of the
work is the most significant in a student's project, and the work with ArchiCad
libraries allows a student to study the certified measurements of typical
construction. The design is three dimensional and covers all aspects of the
future construction on a scale 1:1 or on any other. That is why in the
"project" stage using ArchiCad is much more informative and
productive than AutoCAD. All of the software has utter compatibility with one
another and similar interface, thus in order to construct a 3D model, it is
only necessary to import the 3D file into AutoCad or 3D MAX. It would certainly
be possible to finish constructing a model using this software (with rendering
in Art-lantis for ArchiCad), but experience shows that the highest quality
rendering which approaches a real photograph can only be achieved through
3DMAX, Maya or SmuthMash. 3DMAX is considered to be the easiest to use and
provide the highest quality, and it is becoming ever more popular in the
architectural milieu. Thus after importing an object into 3D software it is
assigned materials, colors, light, texture, and entourage and a natural
environment. After being rendered the picture is saved in a convenient format
(for example JPG or TIF) and is given the necessary contrasts and forms in
Adobe Photoshop or Corel Photo-Paint
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Figure 7. Academic year project
(the general project is stitch in AutoCad) |
At the given stage the ability to
systematically distribute the work with different software, as well as the
skill to work with the software are of great importance. Because this is the
final stage of a student's work on a project, the ability to combine all of the
prepared materials and introduce it on drawing tablet is very important. The
easiest means for combination are in AutoCad, where it is most convenient to
work with a given scale and there's the ability to use pixel image. Of course
the whole object can be combined in CorelDraw, but it can be quite difficult to
keep an eye on the scales of separate plans, facades, and cross sections. And
probably the hardest way to combine is using QuarkXPress (Software for
imposition of print pictures).
4. Work documentation.
Now AutoCad
takes the lead. All of the files created previously are imported and combined
into a single whole. Because of the strict requirements for the work and
project documentation according to the set construction norms, creating
blueprints in ArchiCad is not very convenient, although many perform the work
documentation using ArchiCad. The reason is that in the work documentation
there appears a need for detailed work with individual elements that are not
included into typology and certifications of construction. Some cross sections,
details, a huge amount of connecting labels and the formulating of album sheets
is done faster and more conveniently using ArchiCad.
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Figure 9. Day care center
(CorelPhotopaint) |
Besides that, it is necessary to provide a
colorist passport which cannot be done in AutoCad, although the AutoCad 2004
version has been updated with a wider colorist panel and gradation of color,
because for a colorist image of the facades, for example, it is necessary to
show falling shades to underline three-dimensionality
and outline shapes. That's why a liner file is imported into Photoshop or
CorelPaint and given the necessary colorist solution which most closely
approaches reality (color, light, falling shadow, half shadow, closer,
further). And in order to incorporate it into an album sheet of work
documentation the saved colored file in the JPG or TIF format is fed back to
AutoCad.
5. Architectural
supervision.
At the actual construction stage of
the building the follow-on is introduced. Computer archives of the acts of
acceptance of works are created, pictures of the object and accounting are
taken. Here an architect cannot do without
computer technologies.
Conclusion.
The
development of technology continues today. Convenient plotters with high end
printing have appeared, as well as xeroxes of any format which are important
for an architectural bureau, as well as 3D plotters that prepare a model
according to a computer 3D model. The work of an architect becomes faster, more
easier, and interesting, and that is why every architect keeps up with the
appearance of new computer technologies and incorporates them into his work.
The level of graphic presentation to the consumer is heightened because of the
smaller amount of time that is spent on working documentation and an increase
in time for an artistic process performed on the computer. Presentations can be
added to this process, which can be included as slide shows or 3D films, more
often used by students in course and degree designing. Hand graphics, perfected
using software enliven the presentations and make them more artistic. That is
why utter computerization of the design process should not be done, although
many western academies have abandoned hand graphics, which can be considered an
aesthetic mistake in a presentation of an architectural project. Projects with
hand graphics treated on a computer look better next to them. Such graphics
demonstrate not only the classic school of architecture, which proves the
competency of the architect, but also the soul of the architect, bringing him
thus closer to the consumer.