Beyond the Esquisse

"We continue to do things in a certain way simply because we have neglected to think about them. We have never looked to see if there might be a better way. Why have we neglected to think about the matter? Because the matter was never a problem and never presented any difficulty, so there was no reason to give it thinking time or thinking attention."

Edward de Bono, Serious Creativity.

In the Industrial Age, the Esquisse was dominant.
Sketch plan design.
Got a spare serviette? An envelope?
Designed in an instant.
Designed in France, three centuries ago.
Le Grand Prix de Ecole des Beaux Arts.
Mode de emploi…
Create an initial, small and loosely drawn sketch of the completed building.
Work and rework in increasing levels of detail.
Culminate in construction components.
Particularly suitable when a single method of construction and few different building materials are used.
During the Beaux Arts era, masonry was it.
Multiply materials and divide the effectiveness of the Esquisse model.
Construction suffers.
Style consumes.

In the Information Age, an alternative model is created.
The greatest prize in Architecture will be awarded to those who design the information system that REPLACES Plans, Elevations and Sections.
Re-design your thinking.
Re-design design.
Re-design yourself.


Related Article: The Effects of New Technology: We consider three significant effects of new technology in terms of Formula One Motor Racing and Architectural Design, in particular the role of the esquisse and the architectural sketch.

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