Summer Studio in Classical Architecture 2019 | Week One

Follow the ICAA’s 2019 Summer Studio in Classical Architecture program, from June 17th through July 13th, as students from across the country spend four weeks in New York City and the surrounding region exploring the ideas, methods, and issues related to classical architectural design.

You can also read updates from weeks two, three, and four.

Monday, June 17th, by Jordan Bryant

What an exciting start to the Summer Studio! The day began with introductions, and we spent the morning getting to know our instructors and coordinators. After lunch, we jumped right into practicing the classical language through sketching. Creating a grid of molding sections revealed the subtle variety in the details and the practicality they were designed with. We began block layouts for the orders - outlining the proportions and spacing of the columns - starting with the Tuscan. Later in the evening, we met our mentors in person and had the opportunity to socialize with other ICAA members, including many working professionals, at the Summer Social. It was a great first day that went by too fast!

Tuesday, June 18th, by Fox Carlson

Our second full day of class began with an in-depth study of the Tuscan order, which we had been introduced to the previous day. With the help of instructors Mark Jackson and Martin Brandwein, we were each able to draft a detailed Tuscan order for the purpose of better understanding its geometry and proportions. Following the completion of our first classical order, the afternoon began with an exciting presentation about measured and analytical sketch book drawing given by Stephen Chrisman and Martin Burns. We then traveled upstairs to Cast Hall to draw some of the various architectural elements and artifacts they have on display using the techniques from the lecture. It was amazing! The evening concluded with a lecture by Clive Aslet entitled “Classicism in the Golden Age.” It was a thorough and engaging lecture that we were still discussing amongst ourselves today during class!

Wednesday, June 19th, by Christian Galindo

The first week of the Summer Studio was as fun as it was fulfilling for all of us students lucky enough to have been accepted at the ICAA! We learned how the human scale impacted much of classicism, and how to apply it to architecture, as well as proper drafting techniques.

Thursday, June 20th, by Julie Chandler
Mark Jackson led us this morning in how to construct the Doric order. We followed the same process as with the Tuscan--basic layout diagram, base, shaft, and capital. We looked at how the ratios remained the same, even though the proportions changed.

In the afternoon, we discussed arches: spring points, height to width ratios, and many precedent photographs. In the evening, we were treated to a lecture by Nathaniel Walker entitled "A Universal Language in Stone and Steel: Architectural Poetics, Globally Considered", which was engaging and dynamic.

Friday, June 21st, by Jack Edwards

Today we traveled all around Prospect Park, where we studied precedents for our entry pavilion project. Starting at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch, we observed how the orders were used within the design of the arch while also making note of what kind of arch it was.

We then went on to take measurements of existing pavilions and gates to set up our analytical drawings in order to get a better sense of their scale in relation to the site that our project will be on.

We noted the materials used in order to integrate them into our own projects.

We ended at the Boathouse, where we observed the vaulted ceiling with Guastavino tile, and conducted a measured drawing of one of the bays. All in all, it was a fantastic day of being able to personally measure and observe precedents to become more acquainted with the character of Prospect Park.

June 22nd, by José Hernandez

We finished our first week of the program on a site visit to the Villard Houses by McKim, Mead & White in Midtown Manhattan. Our instructor, Martin Burns, taught us how to perform analytical sketchbook drawing by carefully observing the facade and the plan without specific measurements. We departed from measured drawing towards a more free-handed and artistic mode of sketching, which helped in building confidence in our drawing skills. While learning the basic measurements of the facade with a laser tape measure, we discovered that the central bay of the arcade on the main facade was wider than the rest, a very subtle and intentional decision to emphasize the central bay. At the end of our field study, Martin taught us how to approach perspectival drawing and the advantages of the one-point perspective.

Tags: Summer Studio, education