THE METEROLOGY CENTER

Site: THE METEOROLOGY CENTER, Paseo Maritim, Alvaro Siza

Assignment: NARRATIVE AND COMPOSITION

James Joyce, the 20th century writer is celebrated for is ability to present a story rich in complexity. In his novel Dubliner, Joyce constructs his characters through the presentation of multiple perspectives. These fragmented views collectivelly assemble a narrative that allows for a broad understanding of the social and political contexts of the city

In sketching architecture, we are presented with the same challenge of how to represent a subject in which the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Each architectural building or site has the ability to be viewed through a infinite number of lenses. In addition, each scholar brings to the subject elements of perception, approach and point-of-view.

Point-of-view and composition become critical in establishing the narative of your subject. We can take clues from our literary example offered by Joyce in that the attempt to capture the entire building in one sketch is often less successful that the narrative that is constructed by the collection of multiple drawings.

You will explore composition and narrative through a series of sketching explorations at the Meteorology Center.

com·po·si·tion
1.
a. The combining of distinct parts or elements to form a whole.
b. The manner in which such parts are combined or related.
2. Arrangement of artistic parts so as to form a unified whole.

nar·ra·tive
1. A narrated account; a story.
2. The art, technique, or process of narrating.
adj. 1. Consisting of or characterized by the telling of a story.