HOW TO BUILD YOUR PORTFOLIO
The images presented here are a collection of drawings where the authors could join effectively contents and representation. The drawings are intended as inspirational in order to develop your own style. Note well: The images mainly come from UEL work produced by UEL students. Drawings and Images can’t be reproduced or circulated without credits.
DRAWING AND CONTENTS / quick tricks to test them
- Ask yourself what is the purpose of each drawing. Ask yourself What do I want to show here? Is this understandable to your 10 years old brother? (test!)
- Select a series of key words and read them in front of your drawings: is the drawing representative of the words, i.e. of your intentions?
- When you build your portfolio ask yourself if you answered to the fundamental questions: WHERE – WHAT – WHO – HOW AND WHY?
- Start producing useful drawings straight away. You will have ready materials at the end.
- Copy. Take inspiration from beautiful drawings! (visit websites and collect the images that you prefer). They will be a reference to develop your own style.
CITY SCALE
WHERE ARE WE? WHAT NEEDS TO BE SHOWED AT THE CITY SCALE? WHAT ELEMENTS WILL BE RELEVANT FOR YOUR NARRATIVE?
1:10000
Use of a selected palette of colors
Drawing by Tom Green
Drawing by Daniela Sigg
Use of textures Accurate but selective
Show the elements that are relevant to the study
Drawing by Unit 2, 2015
Use of textures Accurate but selective
Show the elements that are relevant to the study
All key elements are there Use of colors for highlighting what is important to this very drawing (in this case: paths/transport systems(with stops!) with key buildings and natural elements) (What does work with What in your case?)
key Drawing by Sanaa
SCHEMES AND DIAGRAMS
BE CLEAR ON YOUR INTENTS WHAT ARE THE KEY ACTIONS? WHICH PHYSICAL ELEMENTS ARE INVOLVED?
Building Relationships
Connecting Activating
Spreading
Key actions
Drawings by TSPOON
Physical maps integrated with simple graphics = shows intentions Use of key words = Quick and clear for the reader This can also become one single Logo representative of your project
Key actions
Drawings by TSPOON
Real maps integrated with simple graphics = shows intentions Use of ONE color to show the action = graphic clarity, immediate
ARRONDISSEMENT SCALE
WHICH PHYSICAL ELEMENTS ARE INVOLVED? WHAT ARE THE INFRASTRUCTURES THAT YOU WANT TO SHOW? (natural elements, commerce, transport, communities…) WITH WHAT OTHER ELEMENTS DO THESE INFRASTRUCTURE INTERTWINE?
1:1000/1:1250
Use of different line weights: what does need to stand out? = Hierarchy in the elements that are showed Trees are part of urban landscape and they have a dimension Use of textures and soft colors
Drawing by Daniela Sigg Drawing by David Spah
1:1000/1:1250
Use of different line weights: hierarchy Trees are part of urban landscape and they have a dimension! Use of textures and soft colors
Drawing by Hannah Kuby
Pictures by Kristina Ntetsika
Selection of bits that work together Understanding of the site within a bigger SYSTEM
Necklace and pearls
Drawing by Salottobuono
Axos
Delayering of levels which inform the project Clarifies MATERIALS and QUANTITIES = relationships Accompanied by a zoom in on relevant materials (in this case trees)
Drawings by TSPOON
schemes
Delayering of levels which inform the project Clarifies how each system works independently and how it integrates with the others
NEIGHBOURHOOD SCALE - SITE
HOW DOES THE GROUND FLOOR WORK WITH THE SURRROUNDINGS? (horizontal dimension) HOW DO THE SECTIONS WORK WITH THE SURROUNDINGS? (vertical dimension) WHAT ARE THE USES AND HOW DO THEY INFORM YOUR SPACES? WHO ARE THE USERS?
Drawing by Esther Peyrovi
Use of different line weights Shows relationship between surfaces, interior/exterior..
1:500
Drawing by Beatriz Lins De Oliveira
LONG sections are essential to understand the relationship between your project and the context Shows clearly interiors and exteriors The section is inhabited
1:500
Drawing by Jeanne Wellinger
Ground floor relationship among surfaces Shows trees
Drawing by David Spah
In the case you are using roof plans, shadows help to understand the vertical relationships between buildings and spaces
Drawing by Kingsley Koranteng
BUILDING SCALE
WHAT ARE THE MATERIALS / THE CONNECTIONS…? HOW A DETAIL IS PART OF A STRATEGY?
1:100
Drawing by Aimon Litinas
Use of textures Palette of colors
Interiors are detailed but NOT overcrowded Little numbers relating to a Key…
help understanding what happens in each space
1:100/1:50
Drawing by Julian Trachsel
Use of greyscale for lines and surfaces Essentially inhabited
Drawing by Kristina Fescenko
Use of color and textures for the surfaces Gives the feeling of lively environment related to the programme (what does happen in your buildings?)
Drawing by Jonas Brazis
1:100/1:50
Drawing by Le Prati
Façade and section are placed one after the other Use of shadows and textures: depth of field
Image by Peter Dagger
Drawing by Tom Green
Exploded building and exploded axos help understanding the relationship between floors, inside and outside
Drawing by Jonas Brazis
Drawing by Ken Gin
Drawing by Shinnozuke Hoshikawa
The view uses colors and textures that reflect the materials used
Drawing by Shinnozuke Hoshikawa
Functioning of selected parts of the buildings are explained through little axos Use of colors for highlighting what matters (in this case the flexibility)
VIEWS
WHAT DO I SEE, WHAT OTHERS CAN SEE? WHAT IS THE FEELING THAT YOU GET FROM YOUR KEY SPACES?
Images by Daniela Sigg
Views in / from / towards
View of the same place from different perspectives Who are the users?
Images by Daniela Sigg
Views in / from / towards
Image by Shinnozuke Hoshikawa
Imageby Jonas Brazis
Image by Quadri Uthman
Drawing by Ken Gin Imageby Jonas Brazis
Image by Julian McIntosh
MODELS AND PICTURES OF MODELS
ARE THE MATERIALS OF MY MODEL REPRESENTATIVE OF A CONCEPT (e.g. solidity, transparency)? DO THEY REFLECT DIFFERENT MATERIALS (e.g. light and heavy)? WHAT IS THE BETTER ANGLE FOR SHOWING A MODEL?
Shows that the model was tested… In its form, with light, through views.
Picture by Kristina Frescenco Picture by Zhi Yoong Law
What is the best angle for framing that would celebrate your model? What are the best light conditions? (do you need shadows? Do you want them soft of sharp?) Chose these in relation to the kind of model that you built
Picture by Simen Gurgur
Vanessa Joos / Kirsten Koch Caruso – The Urban Figure
Picture by Baldeen Heer
Keep a clear background!
Pictures by David Spah
Pictures of Models
Interiors: test the light and try to inhabit your model What is the best light condition that your model can benefit from? Do you want shadows? (soft or sharp?)
Pictures by Dido Schumacher
Pictures of Models
Pictures by Alex Wright
Pictures of Models
Models that show that you understood technical issues are always appreciated How does your building work? Pictures by Abdulkadir Murie
REQUESTED MATERIALS
SEE FULL LIST IN PDF FILE
Project 1 Estates Research Length: 4 weeks + 1 week crit (Dec) and exhibition (Jan)
Model 1:500
1 Image of estate (photo)
2 photograph of model
3 Location plan (Hackney) and introduction Introduction text and findings
4 Movement plans 1:500
5 Section 1:50
Project 2 Estates Design - to be discussed with tutors to decide whether or how to present Length: 4 weeks + 1 week crit (Dec)
development drawings all scales
Model 1:500 to insert onto estate model
1 1 or 2 sheets maximum of proposal plan/section/3d view as appropriate
2 Proposed section 1:50
Project 3 Marseille
Length: 16 weeks until final crit
development drawings (includes 1:500 analysis plans)
development massing models - contrasting materials 1:500
Model 1:200
additional sectional model or detail model
1 Marseill introduction map 1:10 000
2 Site location plan 1:1250 or 1:1000
3,4 Precedent analysis 1:200 redrawn and well presented with colours as estates studies
5 Ground floor plan 1:500 of both sites (5th years) or 1:200 of one (4th years)
6,7,8 Ground floor and upper floor plans 1:100 of one building (4th years), two buildings (5th years)
9,10 Elevations 1:200
11 Section 1:100 or 1:50 through one building (4th years), two buildings (5th years)
12 Technical Section 1:20
13 3D street view
14 3D view from a flat into shared space
15 additional views
LAYOUT
LAYOUT / PRINCIPLES
CONTENT - Include all drawings at different scales showing that you understood
what is the purpose of each drawing. Ask yourself What do I want to show here? Is this understandable to your 10 years old brother?
GOOD QUALITY DRAWINGS - Be clear: drawing is about selecting - Use a selection of different line weights - Use a selection of colors CONSISTENCY - A2 format - Good quality paper - Grid (margins columns) - Use of text (uppercase/lowercase/font…) - Use of labels and credits - Position of images and text
NARRATIVE YOUR PORTFOLIO IS LIKE A STORY. USE CHAPTERS, DOTS, COMMAS, BREAKS. GIVE THE READER THE TIME TO UNDERSTAND, PAUSE, ENJOY.
BUILD YOUR NARRATIVE / STORYBOARD
1 2 3
4 5 6
ETC.
7 8
PRESENTATION
PRESENTATION / MAKE IT BEAUTIFUL
A Portfolio can be organized as a collection of books as for example - A2 portfolio with required drawings - Other format work in progress collection of drawings - Other format collection of pictures
Chose carefully the finishing. You can build a box to contain the portfolio. When speaking: - Rehearsal - Use the storyboard to guide your presentation (one slide one concept) - Refer to literature and precedents