Bodies, Cuts, Isometrics - Architecture Mediation IV
UCLA - Architecture and Urban Design - M.Arch 1st year - Winter 2025
In this module, students will investigate the spatial and material qualities of everyday domestic objects by arranging them digitally into a composed still life. These objects, while simple in nature, act as analogs for architectural ele-ments, offering a means to explore relationships between form, materiality, and space. They may be internally ho-mogenous or have varied sections which suppress internal characteristics to the exterior. Through a three-dimen-sional sectional cut rendered in isometric projection, students will uncover both the internal and external characteris-tics of the objects as simultaneous representations of interior and exterior.
The focus of this exercise is the combined use of line and fill as the central tools of representation. Line will deline-ate objects, define spatial boundaries, and articulate edges, while fill will emphasize areas of mass, depth, and con-trast, as well as cast shadows. Shadows, as a form of fill, play a vital role in defining spatial relationships and en-hancing the depth of the image. A well-placed shadow can reinforce the hierarchy of objects, ground elements within the composition, and reveal the interplay between solid and void.
Students must develop a strategic approach to using line and fill, considering variations in line weight, density, and continuity alongside fill opacity, texture, and tone. Heavy lines might articulate sectional cuts and primary edges, while lighter lines or dashes suggest secondary or hidden details. Fill should define the volumes and surfaces of objects, providing clarity and emphasis. Cast shadows, represented through fill techniques, should be used to rein-force spatial logic, enhance the legibility of overlaps, and create subtle transitions between elements.
The spatial, two-axis cut operates as a tool of analysis and representation, dissecting the still life to expose its inter-nal structures and spatial relationships. By carefully choreographing the scene and redistributing objects around a static cut, and leveraging the interplay of line and fill, students will develop a drawing that communicates the com-positional and material logic of their work.
Students work by Anel Alpysbayeva, Pearson Haidar Brown, Ava Gellegani, Hardy Wang, Mengyan Wang, Yihan Wang, Yige Cai, Harry Huh - UCLA - Architecture and Urban Design - M.Arch 1st year - Fall 2024