persimmonfrost | Review: Architects' Sketches: Dialogue and Design, by Kendra Schank Smith

My artistic talents don't lie in this direction, but all the same, the art of architecture is endlessly interesting to me. This volume of sketches by architects is a kind of bridge between the nuts-and-bolts of architectural design and fine arts which are far more accessible to most people. The sketches themselves convey not just the physical facts of the structure but the feel of it, the ideas behind the design. These drawings show the physical grace of a structure, and its energy in a way that the architectural drawings can't. They show us what the structure is meant to be.

The stand-out drawing -- for me at least -- is a pastel by Cesar Pelli of the Petronas Towers. It's a simple, atmospheric sketch which trades detail for impression. It helps us understand the greater vision of the towers within a landscape. The text includes a quote from the architect explaining why he chose to image the towers in this way, and helps not only to explain the vision of the towers themselves but the creative process in which they took shape.

In fact, the text is critical to full appreciation of this book. It's a wide-ranging discussion not only of architecture but that very creative process out of which all arts spring. I can't help but feel that this volume is an excellent aid to learning about all manner of design, not just architecture.

Architects Sketches: Dialogue and Design