Richness and Selective Texture

 

Interested in Ralph Erskine's sketches after the lecture, I looked him up and researched a bit more about his work. Although I didn't see the connection of his work to the topic of "Architecture for Who" initially, the more I observe and read of his method and works the more I understand why it was included in the lecture. 

The way he draws his architecture is as if it already exists and has been lived in - it isn't a sculpture, monument, or proposal - it is an idea that parallels the lived experience of a user. I believe many techniques make his drawings so convincing (arguable much more convincing than his built works) - but the biggest one is that he sketches his proposed designs in the style of an observation sketch. However, it isn't the realism that gives the richness to his sketches - it's the selectiveness. In many ways, his style is the opposite of a realistic render. Instead of attempting to capture every detail, he masterfully selects specific textures, lines, and densities to capture to guide the eye of the beholder into feeling almost nostalgic about a place that doesn't yet exist.