For many architects, the most instinctive way to put an idea onto paper is through drawing. From quick napkin sketches during a coffee break to elaborate diagrams systematizing architectural solutions, drawings are essential, recurring tools in the design process. Yet, lines alone cannot always convey a concept with the desired clarity.
Sounds, smells, feelings, and sensations are rarely captured through drawing alone. Human figures cannot always convey the scale of certain elements, requiring the aid of more precise numerical dimensions. Annotations and labels are commonly used to define spaces and specify architectural elements, and when a phone or calculator is out of reach, drawings may also share paper space with quick calculations. There are many situations where writing is combined with lines to create a hybrid communication tool, where the subjectivity or abstraction of drawing is grounded by the assertiveness of words and numbers.
