The Book Place studio (3+4 years)

Some general feedback from crits today.

We were very fortunate to have such great critics today, so thanks to Anet Kuhla and Bill McKay for joining us and being so generous with their attention and comments. (Those of you who chose not to attend these crits very much missed out!) Those who were there for the whole session saw the value in actively participating in a crit. I very much appreciated the sustained attention of the 4th year group that I was with.

Here are some very general comments that may apply to many of you, especially in terms of thinking about communicating your projects in effective and thoughtful ways.

• Remember to communicate the site, this helps to locate the project and its context. So, show the roads, the connection to the rest of the building, the school across the road etc
• Many of the plans and sections were very abstract. Remember that all drawings can show material and atmospheric qualities such as light etc. Alternately, you might use colour in plans as a symbolic element, using colour as a code to identify key aspects.
  
• Also, use notation, writing, a key or a legend to help orientate viewers in your drawings.
• We tend to read left to right. Use this fact to structure the presentation of your project.
• Use thickness and weight of line appropriately in drawings. For example, concrete should read as thicker and heavier than glass! Using variations of line weight also makes for a punchier and more interesting drawing.
• Read the "communication" assessment criteria!
• Remember that the library is also a workspace, consider how the workers are accommodated in your design.
• Have you forgotten about signage and lighting?
• Are you effectively communicating the experience of being in the space?
• Do your sections reveal a lack of consideration as to what is above?
• Where are services (cabling, air con etc) accommodated?
• Have you forgotten to address interior linings, that is, what do the interior walls look like?
• What is it like to look out of this building?
• What is the experience of looking into this building?
• Is it important to communicate aspects of TIME in your particular project?
  

I will be available for brief tutorials about your projects on Monday from 9:30am. I will put a sign up sheet on my office door, book in and I will come and find you in studio. In these tutorials you should come prepared to ask me specific questions about your project and/or the communication of your project, I don't intend to ask you how you are going!
Good luck!
Kathy