Drawing as Thinking: A Critical Practise

Drawing is integral to the generation of architecture. However, architectural practice and education do not use drawing to its full potential. In reviewing the history of architectural drawing, the connection between drawing innovation and architectural thinking is revealed, the combination of which advances the profession. This connection is explored through a unique intention within the domain of architecture, which is characterized by a deliberate focus on drawing in a way that embraces inspiration and creative transgression. Identified as drawing as thinking, this intention is exemplified through the case studies of three architects who have established critical drawing practices. Drawing as thinking is further investigated through a method of design research and a design project for an architectural archive. This design method is characterized by serendipity, interpretation, abstraction, and a multi-media approach, with the aim of maximizing the imaginative potential of the project.