Observation and Analysis of Place + People + Things
Observation is the foundational skill of the study and practice of architecture. The great complexity of this subject must be made comprehensible through the quiet moments of looking and seeing, of pondering and examining.
Observation is a skill honed through multiple approaches, including photography, sketching, painting and modeling. Sketching stands out as an approach par excellence as it captures first hand experience through a linked effort of the hand, eye, and mind. The act of sketching impregnates the memory beyond what is actually captured on paper.
Observation can be scaled to the available moment, capturing gesture and essence, or digging deeply into the nature of a thing, a person, a place. It is a mode of inquiry driving the analysis of the relationship of the part to the whole.
Observation can be meditative and intimate, building a relationship that will never fade. It is an exercise of mental and physical discipline, always seeking to adjust and correct as greater understanding emerges.
