Architectural Renderings as an Artistic Production for Blockchain / 블록체인에서의 건축 드로잉

Rendering an image is a part of the final production of an architectural design. As the last step prior to a construction stage, a designer has to show what the space that he/she created is going to look like. It is an exciting part of a whole design practice that you get to render a black and white skeleton into a colorful scenery.

© Ayers Saint Gross Architects

Since the design practice is being done with 3D softwares theses days, it has became much convenient to take a view and render with preset tools and options. There are palettes of materiality, color, light and factors that one can use from a software then let the computer to the job for you. Photoshop and Illustrator are fun ones too. It is definitely easier to just drag and drop what you need from your digital library instead of drawing, coloring everything one by one.

© mintvilla

이론적으로 건축 렌더링은 설계 과정의 마지막 부분에 있습니다. 3D 소프트웨어나 트레이싱지 위에서 그린 설계 뼈대에 공간에 현실의 색을 입힙니다. 예술적 스킬을 요구하지만 정확한 정보를 상대방에게 전달해야 하기 때문에 realistic 하게 그려야 하는 책임이 따릅니다.

스트럭쳐만 그리다가 렌더링을 하면 예술적 욕심이 생깁니다. 하지만 실용적이고 현실적인 관점에서 바라보시는 클라이언트가 대부분이기에, 드로잉에 상상력을 넣었다가 대화가 삼천포로 빠지는 경우가 생길 수 있어 자제를 합니다 ㅎㅎ

Drawing a perspective, especially, is to show what is going to happen in a space, a designer is able to pursue artistic sensibility to the fullest. Personally, I consider rendering practice as an artistic production. However, there is not a great deal of space for imagination or freedom in drawing since a designer has to draw to represent a proposed reality with particular information regarding materiality, dimension, etc.

© mintvilla

실용적인 드로잉이지만 예술성을 발휘할 수 있는 부분이 있습니다. 정보와 사실을 전달하는 한 드로잉 테크닉이나 스타일에는 제한 없는 다양한 시도를 할 수 있습니다. 렌더링은 여느 아트 작업과 마찬가지로 시간, 에너지와 정성이 정말 많이 들어갑니다. 클라이언트 마음을 훅 빼앗을 만큼 아름다운 공간을 보여줘야 한다는 압박감도 작용을 합니다.

Since a drawing still has to represents accurate information, one has to be really careful with what is being shown. Drawing an element that is based on one’s imagination can be very misleading and lead a confusion. However there is an opportunity to be creative in pursuing different styles in rendering: we do not have to be bounded by consistency in rendering style. Of course, when you are working for a firm, there is certain standard that you must follow but the firms do encourage trying new style and representation technique that would sell to the client.

© Retallack Thompson Architects

사실 이런 드로잉들은 건물이 지어지기까지 아무런 가치를 지니고 있지 않습니다. 투자하는 시간과 에너지에 비해 클라이언트에게 보여주고 나면 "끝" 인 경우가 대부분입니다. 회사 서랍, 컴퓨터 폴더에 들어가 세상에 나오지 않습니다. 간혹가다가 프로젝트가 중단되는 경우가 생기면, 투자한 시간과 드로잉 세트들은 특히나 공중에서 사라집니다.

정성을 쏟아 애착이 가는 그림들을 버리기도 어렵습니다. 그런 것들을 정말 몇백장씩 가지고 사는 건축가들이 대부분입니다. 그런 이유에서 건축 분야에 있는 동료들에게 블록체인 작업을 권장하고 있습니다. 현실에서 클라이언트 같은 특정 대상을 위해, 정보 전달을 위한 표현으로 그리는 그림의 삶은 끝이 있습니다. 블록체인에서는 건축 드로잉을 창작물로써 그에 맞는 가치를 만들어낼 수 있습니다.

I personally like to try different styles and techniques every time. I do get influenced by the rendering trends that I see on magazine or sometimes a movie or paintings that I like. I recently watched Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel and it had an influence on me.

© mintvilla

One has to be realistic and grounded yet artistic when rendering a perspective drawing. It takes a lot of time and creative energy but it does not get much appreciation as an art work due to the nature of practice itself. The set of drawings are not going to pertain much value once it is shown to a client or a stake holder. Once it is being presented for use, it goes straight into an archive, in one's office drawer or one’s portfolio, that is it. I often see a beautiful rendering as an art work and takes on a life on its own but that is very rare case.

© b720 Fermín Vázquez Arquitectos

This is where I see an opportunity in blockchain, as an archive to store your rendering as artistic products to share with the public. I know so many architects who have thousands of drawings that can become valuable contents for blockchain. I am really excited to see what journey this will unfold in our profession.

Thanks for reading & Stay tuned for the next story!
@Mintvilla, an ever-learning landscape architect