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The Sketchbook – A Tool For Exploration + Discovery:

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Sketchbook Tool For Exploration + Discovery

Engaging in developing a hand drawing may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you attempt to start a project or seek to resolve a problem. Somehow in this advanced digital age, hand drawings have fallen out of favor.  However, in this blog I would like to show that the sketchbook is actually a powerful tool for exploration and discovery. In fact, there is a profound process that occurs when a simple sketch is engaged. The human mind seems to process this act as a deliberate attempt to engage it, and often responds with ideas. Also, the sketch is a flexible tool, that can be easily incorporated into any project. Let’s briefly examine this tool, and understand how it can be better utilized.

Simple is often the best approach:

I remember my professor in my structures class who always started off the class with the “KISS” principle. “Keep it simple stupid” Although I found myself at odds with this approach, I did learn very quickly that the principle was valid and important for me to apply. 

The idea of using a sketchbook as a tool for exploration and discovery is foreign to some. However, in this blog, I want to shed light on the fascinating way that this simple tool is utilized in my practice. In addition, to convey that it can be utilized outside the strict boundaries of architecture. In fact, any discipline or endeavor can benefit formalizing this tool.    

Let me start with an example of an existing residential project that I was commissioned to redesign. The project entailed a complete renovation of a two story home, built in the 1950’s. The house was nestled on a beautiful one acre lot. The client wanted to improve its functionality and meet new energy codes. In addition, the home would benefit from an aesthetic refresh. 

As you might have guessed, a quick sketch began in earnest to record the existing floor plan, elevations, and a small sketch of the site plan. The documented information gained from the site reconnaissance was beneficial not in just documenting what is there, but when you sketch a drawing, you engage your mind through your eyes and hand. The sketch in this case was not about designing anything, but wanting to become ‘aware’ of what was there. In addition, the drawing served to create order and begin to organize existing data in a way that provided valuable information to build upon and proceed to next stage. 

Sketch and Seek to Understand:

The above noted project could have also been a commercial building, place of entertainment, commercial venue, anything. The process is the same; engage your mind through your hand sketches. Science has revealed that there is this extraordinary connection between mind and hand. There are some institutions that even have it as their moto, see MIT article on their approach to learning. 

The sketch book is however only as good as how you use it. However, the value of the sketch can quickly become apparent when it is applied in real life scenarios such as the noted project above. The sketch serves as a gradual step in helping the human mind to analyze (creative pursuits) and eventually to design itself. 

In addition, building understanding through utilizing this flexible hand sketch tool creates a basis by which ideas can come to light. It builds a meaningful framework. As the mind is investing in whats before you, it invisibly processes and provides a deeper understanding – this is never an arbitrary process.

Ideas and Application:

As the sketchbook can be found to engage our thinking and ability to work through a rational and ordered process. i.,e develop ideas. It also does something else. The hand can apply our thinking to develop specific applications and solutions. It becomes a tool to develop meaningful applications that utilize our observations and ideas that are processed so quickly by the human brain that we may even take it for granted. Sketching encourages exploration and discovery because of the ease in which sweeping changes can be made and analyzed. Perhaps most intriguing, it can create substantial value driven by the sketch process utilizing the mind and hand.

An Powerful Tool of Exploration and Discovery 

Remember, the goal of many projects in architecture and other disciples too, is primarily about understanding and finding ways to make improvement or solve problems. The sketch book begins this extraordinary process of discovery and understanding in ways that even modern high tech computing simply cannot do. In fact, I think the 

Its astonishing how this simple tool of hand sketching can be sidelined for various reasons. Perhaps the lure of other tools becomes too great. It should also be said, various digital tools are not necessarily bad, or cant be used, rather it becomes an issue of how do we best engage our minds in a physical way, so as properly guide our technology.       

The sketch book provides a simple but thoughtful process to begin any project. It is a powerful tool that captures what you observe, and it engages the mind to create meaningful solutions. Hopefully we can all appreciate the value of this tool and next time you seek to start a project, know you can begin it with a sketch.

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A Planning Process

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A Planning Process:

I use the term “Planning” here to delineate a process that engages the mind intellectually. As an exercise that requires some course of action or goal to be achieved. Additionally, any one approach may not be universally applied. However, it is interesting how an architectural approach to planning actually can be applied to just about any approach that requires a solution or course of action.  

An Architectural Approach to Planning:

As architects, we plan many things, building design, site planning, even a process of developing a project to name a few. Of coarse, there many aspects to planning. However, I would like to focus on how an architect would approach the planning process.

Unfortunately so many of our initial ideas don’t always turn out so great, and we need a way to work through it.  Steven Spielberg said “all good ideas start out as bad ideas; thats why it takes so long.” That about sums up why planning can be so challenging to start but oh so necessary. 

A great way to begin, includes developing the building program and functional requirements. This engages a thoughtful process and exposes some challenges along the way. Working through the program, will establish the preliminaries. Unfortunately, many homes that are mass produced will by-pass this planning process. Sometimes, it may be because of some predisposed idea that developing a plan is too costly! However, its not uncommon that a homeowner who does not plan for every facet of their new home or even a room addition, will learn that decision not to plan is a very costly one and may even lead to disaster. There are other ideas floating around that somehow thinks that Cinderellas slipper can be forced on. I think we can all see the hunor in that, but its astonishing how many homeowners will just have their project built through a contractor with little or no planning.   

It is said that understanding is worth its weight in gold. When it comes to planning a new home project achieving an understanding of the desired building program, schedule, budget, and other such requirements, are certainly part of this process. However a planning process can and should go deeper into other areas of the project, such as challenges or perceived problem(s) to be solved. Often the recognition that the status quo is not working for you can lead to substantial solutions that would otherwise not even be broached. 

The planning process should lead to clarity and add value to the project by way of thoughtful development that comes out of the planning. This planning process provides the initial steps, but also  develops and organizes the building objectives and goals for later stages; providing clarity at each step. Through this planning process, the project starts a dialogue, and may even create a story of whats important. ( BTW, this planning process alone, can and does add substantial value to the home and it mitigates the risk early in the process. The savings alone can exceed the design professionals fee for planning a new home project.)

Hiring an architect for your residential project may not be possible for everyone. However, it can be beneficial on many levels, to seek a consultation, and perhaps engage in an initial planning stage to help you develop ideas and recognize problem areas before you start. The architect’s experience and ability to provide guidance through what can be a complicated endeavor, helps the client achieve greater efficiencies and aesthetic value that are simply hard to put a price on. This planning process simply provides the client with site specific solutions that are infinity more valuable than an arbitrary process or worse no planning that only serves the factory or assembly line worker! 

A Case Study:

By way of a simple example, If the architect can design a residential plan operate more efficiently, even by 100sf, that can represent a major cost savings. i.e., for a building cost of say $250/sf, that can be a $25,000 savings! (using a very conservative building cost for SF value.) This is a tiny example, however it provides a clear advantage for the case of at minimum to have a planning process in place. In addition, aligning all  the diverse functions, budget and aesthetic preference provides solutions that are well thought out, and minimize risk. The value of the way we design our homes or places of work can be substantial. Winston Churchill said, “We shape our buildings and thereafter they shape us.”  Our building infrastructure has an effect on our emotional and physical needs as humans. It can determine the quality of our physical lives. Indeed the hight, the width and the depth all come to play a vital part in our physical world.   

When a schematic plan is developed, it establishes a process in which you are able to order your goals and objective. As ideas are developed, and greater levels of information can be established this can serve as a preliminary cost estimation tool. A building contractor can review these documents and provide preliminary cost estimates, based on specific square footage and design parameters. It’s a great way to gauge your budget and the cost implications at an early stage. This can also facilitate effective revisions long before the project is built.  

Utilizing an Architect:

Like soo many things in life, success can only begin to develop by having a plan or vision of what you want to achieve. Having a planning process in place can greatly help in clarify objectives and create clear and meaningful goals. It’s a framework, and provides guidance. However, having gone through many of these planning processes it still astonishes me that some insist that can proceed without one.   

As you set out on your journey to create something, before you engage the trip, be sure to plan and have a process in place that you can build upon. I find it helpful to be able to tweak and revise the plan as I grow in my understanding. 

This process of planning as an architect does can be quite foreign to some, however the process does work across all disciplines. As an architect, I can help many clients to begin the process and help them envision the project. In short, with no guide, chaos may rule the day and even undermine the project. The process that leads to bringing ideas and concepts to fruition, can make your dreams a reality. Even if you don’t hire an architect, look at the planning process as a friend. 

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