by George Epaminondas
There’s no doubt that digital design programs have transformed architecture, but it’s impossible to erase the importance of sketching. Schematic sketches are employed to spark creativity, inspire solutions and convey intent when nothing else will do. “Hand sketching is one the tools we use in our office to develop and refine design concepts,” says Silvia Kuhle. “Sketches are produced for every project and referenced throughout the entire process as a visual history.” Sketching enables an architect to work through problems graphically, as these drawings by Jeffrey Allsbrook testify.
The drawings include a bar composed of brass and Nero Marquina marble; a master bed design for a residence; hallway transitions in a minimalist apartment; coffered skylights at the Kayne Griffin Corcoran gallery; and, most elaborate of all, lighting studies for the forthcoming Maccarone Gallery in LA. “Lighting the expansive 10,000-square-foot space is complex,” says Allsbrook. “Almost 300 linear feet of display walls need to be lit evenly, while the color temperature of the daylight filtering through the skylights will need to be balanced with artificial lighting. Sketching enables me to explore different approaches and provide various solutions. It’s essential to the design process.”
