Drawing plan views, sections and facades is a standard form of working with, representing and presenting architecture. It is historically a format that presents an abstraction of architecture, which can be easily presented and discussed. Communication in the form of these drawings require that both the designer and the interpreter have the same underlying knowledge to be able to read and communicate using the drawings. While working as an intern, I experienced that there was sometimes a lack of skill in understanding plan view drawings, sections and facades in the AEC industry. The communicative skill of presenting architecture using these drawings also fluctuated. This might be because more and more information in society is being conveyed visually through photographs and architectural renders, rather than drawings. 

 

The change from analogue work to digital work has become a clear divider in the field of architecture. You have those who draw with pen and paper, and quite elegantly manage to communicate through different perspectival techniques and two dimensional drawings. On the other hand you have the "new school" who might not be as skilled with the pencil, but manage a digital model far better. This divide allows room for development in the younger generation, as they may adapt to change easier, due to more exposure to technology, however the older generation is usually the one who has the most experience with architecture. With this being the case, it becomes increasingly important that both generations find common ground to be able to communicate effectively through their BIM models internally but also externally with clients. 

 

As seen in architecture by Zaha Hadid Architects, much of the work is nearly impossible to achieve without the use of computers. The Heydar Aliyec Centre, for example, becomes a building that showcases how parametric design can drive new design forward (Hadid, 2012). Zaha Hadid embodies “the transformation from the analogue to the digital, where the values of both technological models were appreciated and explored” (Fontana-Giusti, 2016, p.97). Only the ability of the designer stops the progress of the way we can design and think. Parametric design thinking becomes a way for architects to design in terms of an incremental progression (Oxman, 2017).  Regardless of the initial design process whether it be analogue or digital, what happens if one were to make changes to buildings in the future, assuming that existing drawings are neglected?

 

If we look at Norman Foster and partner's ICD Brookfield Place, the mere scale of the work begs for computational forces as the thought of drawing 107,542 square meters (Foster, 2020) by hand would simply be unthinkable within the timeframe given. In addition, to be able to repurpose the building in the future for a new intended use in 20, 30 or 50 years from now, architects would require a method of working that is efficient, accurate and different. The existing design will have to be made a part of a larger parametric world, where the parameters of the original buildings can be changed to meet newer requirements. 

 

With the rise in technology, we are in need of discovering a way to use the technology to our advantage. In Oslo, Arcasa Arkitekter together with Seltor and Multiconsult will rehabilitate Kristian Augusts gate 23 from a previously protected building to a new office building (Byggfakta, 2020). The goal is to look at the existing building mass and be able to renovate and rehabilitate the building using 50% of its original resources. Kristian Augusts gate 23 aims to be an example of how repurposing can be done through technological advances. The underlying driving force is that the building sector was responsible for 25% of the 11.7 million tonnes of waste disposed in Norway in 2017 (Byggfakta, 2020). Through a pilot project, they will be able to test and evaluate new ways of working. 

 

To be able to repurpose and redesign buildings designed by previous architectural generations, architects benefit from making use of new techniques and technology that will allow them to efficiently understand the ideas implemented when the building was originally built. Many existing buildings have good qualities that are worth incorporating in a new design, even though the apparent building envelope needs development. Through working with the older architectural generation, who have experience from building some of the buildings in question, the new generation of architects can get a cutting advantage in understanding what makes a specific building great and prolong the life of the building. By adopting to change, for example through BIM models together with scanning, architects have the potential to create an efficient and accurate way of working. However, in order for there to be a new way of working, the framework for redesign needs to evolve.

 

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Hadid, Z., 2012. Zaha Hadid Architects. Available at: https://www.zaha-hadid.com/architecture/heydar-aliyev-centre/ [Accessed April 21, 2021]. 

 

Fontana-Giusti, Gordana, 2016. Zaha Hadid: 1950–2016. Arq (London, England), 20(2), pp.95–98.

 

Oxman, Rivka, 2017. Thinking difference: Theories and models of parametric design thinking. Design studies, 52, pp.4–39.

 

Foster, N. 2020. ICD Brookfield Place: Foster + Partners. Available at: https://www.fosterandpartners.com/projects/icd-brookfield-place/#drawings [Accessed April 21, 2021]

 

Byggfakta, 2020. Skal gjenbruke 50 prosent. ByggFakta. Available at: https://www.byggfakta.no/skal-gjenbruke-50-prosent-162183/nyhet.html [Accessed April 21, 2021].