The encyclopedic interpretation of the word "clause" is a sketch, a sketch of an idea, the original plan for solving an architectural problem.
Various sources indicate the origin of the term from the Latin clausere - "lock" and Italian klouso - "castle".
How to connect these meanings with the interpretation of the word?
Take a look at the story
The fact is that as early as the sixteenth century, in the first academies of architecture and art in Germany, France, England, Sweden, and later in Russia (St. Petersburg), training in drawing, drawing, painting, sculpture took place according to a program common to all faculties.
At the end of the semester, it was necessary to evaluate the true knowledge of each student. Therefore, a rather unusual system of testing the skills and abilities of students arose. They were seated one by one in separate rooms and locked up (clausere, klouso). They had to complete the task alone. Independent work lasted up to six hours. The result of creativity was a graphic image or layout - a clause.
Meet the modern clause
Clausure is a type of project activity, with the help of which the students’s practical skills are tested when solving an architectural or design problem. Pupils must show their creative abilities and imagination in order to visualize the idea that has arisen in the form of models, graphs, art compositions and sketches.
Clausure is a learning exercise that helps develop the ability to think outside the box.
Objectives may vary:
- search for a common project idea;
- solving a particular problem (for example, searching for facade design options);
- control exercise.
Students may know about upcoming work, but its topic is sometimes unknown in advance. Different tasks are posed, a certain amount of time is allotted to solve each. Depending on the goals, there are clauses of different types. Each teacher has many such exercises of their own design.
Clausura is a method and technology used in teaching creativity and professionalism. It helps to identify the individual capabilities of each student, to develop his independence in solving problems. Pupils must correctly calculate the time allotted to them and apply all their practical skills.
Clausura is a type of work on a project that helps to concentrate creativity and express your vision of a given topic. Here, in the very first drafts, the composition of the architectural and artistic design is determined. In this case, the aim is to present an image, starting from which, it will be possible to create a sketch. For example, the structure of a house clause may include facade drawings, approximate sections, and an indicative layout. And the main thing will be the perspective view of the object or projection, most successfully explaining the idea of the architect.
Execution of architectural clauses
The purpose of the clause is to get a general visual representation of the project, to reveal the composition of the architectural concept. The very first draft contains a selection of material for the design of the idea. It should be as generalized and bright as possible. In the clause of a residential building, for example, its location is determined taking into account the cardinal points and the boundaries of the site. The outline of the silhouette of the building, options for the nearest buildings are outlined.
Themes of clauses are not announced in advance, therefore, simple and effective methods of graphics are required. This is a blend of charcoal, sanguine and sauce; hatching with a pen, charcoal and lead pencil. The time limit forces you to apply mascara and watercolor in one layer, etc. The manner of performance always corresponds to the genre of a given topic.
You need the skill to display the most significant aspects of the project as soon as possible. To gain such experience is possible only by repeatedly performing sketches, drawings and design exercises.
Today, clauses in architecture are becoming a method of systematically applied exercises. This is the most effective teaching method in modern architectural and art schools.
Clause requirements
As a result of improving the methodology for the development of creative abilities, certain requirements for its application were developed.
- Clause must be performed by the student on his own. Consultations with teachers and comrades are not allowed. Do not use any literature. In this work, you need to show an understanding of the essence of the task.
- The exercise is limited by a strict time frame. The scope of the clause must correspond to the task.
- It is necessary to reflect the main aspects of the idea visually. An explanation of the spatial model and its purpose is given.
- The composition of the image should be clearly visible; its center, statics or dynamics, rhythm and construction techniques are determined.
- In the clause, an integrated approach to completing the task is applied. Functional relationships, proposed designs are reflected. The materials for execution are determined.
- The result of the exercise is a graphic or layout. Sketch feed should clearly represent the solution in volume or plane.
Get rid of stereotypes
An interesting example of a group exercise is the clause "How to clear consciousness or breaking a pattern from stereotypes in an hour ."
- It is required to complete a drawing of a residential building in fifteen minutes. The result is usually an image of a picture from life. Such a sketch is just stereotyped, and yet architecture is a reflection of the inner self, soul, individuality.
- Further, students are voluntarily invited to put on their heads pre-prepared cardboard boxes without a bottom. It is required to describe the sensations that have arisen and to understand that boxes are stereotypes. They need to be erased from memory, freeing up space for recording new information.
- In the boxes, you need to cut holes for the mouth, ears, nose, eyes, that is, draw an individual face with its own character, reflecting an individual view of the world.
- Then students are again invited to draw a house in 15 minutes, but already applying the motto “My thinking without stereotypes!”
Thus, the students' consciousness is liberated and freedom of image is achieved.
Creative search in architectural design
When developing a project, they begin to select initial ideas. Reasons - information in the task. Creativity forces the student to show his inherent abilities. It may not fit into the proposed general scheme.
Vital thinking, skills of professional expression of ideas are important. The methodology for the search for a design solution contains a clause, a sketch idea and sketch options. Exercises are held in a cycle. Each time the difficulty of the task increases. The visual image of the object depends on the concept underlying any design project.
Try to start
Here's how it looks on the example of a playground clause.
The task is: To develop a project for a children's playground. It should be safe and have an expressive composition, and the equipment should be convenient and interesting for quiet and active games. Children age - from 2 to 16 years.
For up to 6 hours you need:
- To offer an expressive version of the site in architectural and artistic terms.
- Take into account the surrounding buildings, plantings, pedestrian traffic. Link composition and functionality with them.
- Develop safe gaming equipment.
- Conduct zoning taking into account children's age categories.
- Ensure child safety in the project.
The brightest and most exciting project is Disneyland.
Design clause
It is difficult to predict how the emerging creative idea will translate into an artistic spatial image. In addition to the talent of the designer, the level of his professionalism is important.
It is during a flight of fantasy, when it seems that the main thing is creative uncertainty, the developed technologies can be applied. For this, the clause method is used. The designer performs an exercise on the image.
An idea is created in an objective embodiment. She refines the color range, materials, texture, type of future object. Clausura is in itself a finished work of art. And for the designer, this is also an important step towards translating their ideas into reality.
Final Stage - Discussion
Discussion is an element of clause adjustment. At this stage, its pros and cons are noted. This is an active element of learning and an important point in conducting a consistent series of clauses. The discussion stage helps to take into account the identified shortcomings in the work on the next exercise. In the cycle, each subsequent clause should be better than the previous one.
The student can analyze the result independently. They immediately try to find all kinds of answers to emerging questions.
During the collective discussion, a kind of competition is obtained. With the participation in the analysis of the work of fellow students, the student intensively develops his creative imagination. He can roughly determine his rating.
To create an integral harmonious image on a given topic, taking into account the technical features of the project, is a rather difficult task. The use of clause as an effective systemic technique is interesting and relevant today.