NUMBER 1
retArch describes a condition but you can call me Doug.
My off-the-cuff ramblings will hopefully ease boredom and entertain…….entertain me that is, not necessarily you……………. We shall see.
GOOGLE SKETCHUP:
They are indeed a kind bunch are Google, permitting a download of their GoogleSketchUp programme that permits us to design and draw in 3-D………and it works……….and it’s relatively easy to learn, if one takes the time. As with all new programmes of course there is the initial 2-week cursing of, in this case, GOOGLE, and all the other idiots who dared to encourage me to try it out. In the end of course it was worth the trouble and although I cannot call myself a technical expert in the art I can profess to its advantages in building design. Here is one example of a work in progress. It shows the basics of the “model” that can be enhanced using other rendering programmes that can be purchased at reasonable cost.
Well, actually I didn’t have the expertise to copy and paste to this blog. It wouldn’t let me. But then again I didn’t profess to be an expert. Did I? In later days I may be able to oblige, if someone tells me HOW!
The Google SketchUp is free of course but they have a Pro (standing for “professional” no doubt) that you can purchase that provides additional features. I haven’t reached this level yet!
As time passes oh so slowly I shall come up with other references to Google….and probably many questions that I hope can be answered by others more qualified in this field.
THE OLDEN DAYS:
Those of you who are old enough might recall the days of solid geometry, skiagraphy and all the other tools required to create 3-D images on the double-elephant drawing board. You may also recall the vanishing points so far to the right that another board was necessary. And then, once it was drawn…….and transferred to water colour board (a tedious task) it was on to the paints and hopefully the fun.
For my own part I did dabble in providing my artistic services to others, with monetary satisfaction, but it was tiresome. I never did enjoy creating coloured renderings of another’s design.
THE ARCHITECT’S DECLINE:
My days are numbered anyway so here goes: First it was the master builder, an architect/designer who was also an engineer and a building contractor. This superman ruled the roost and created everything from cathedrals to outhouses….well, maybe not outhouses, but you get my point. Then along came technology in all its forms and engineering became a science that “encouraged” the separation of architect from engineer….and thank goodness for that one……mathematics was never a strong point!
It was at about this time that architects began to shed their roles in the building process and this was for many reasons, one being perhaps the lack of funds to support the construction role whilst catering to the increased technical demands of an architectural practice.
And then along came the interior designer, an expert in the use of colour, texture and interior planning. So the architectural profession was diluted again……and thank goodness AGAIN for that one……….colour was never a strong point!
It goes on of course. The quantity surveyor became a project manager when in fact this was the historic and factual role of every architect in the western world….as I remember…..but then again I do really remember how we took the Q.S. by the “short and curlies” from time immemorial in the Old Country, conning them into preparing our specifications at no cost….so we deserved that final insult! My best friend Bob is a Q.S. retired, and we’ve had many discussions….well, arguments on this one…….all in fun of course.
In a nutshell the architectural profession has taken its lumps over the years, decades and centuries. We are not what we used to be. Our dilution is certain. Our decline is arguable.
Having said that, if I had my life over I would still be an architect with a capital “A”.
Note: With apologies to all since I have very little understanding of blog terminology. My page lacks a custom header that I had designed but couldn’t paste! Nor could I paste the Google SketchUp model. And now I have to find out how to send (post) this darned thing ??????????!!!!!!
Oh yes, there it is, under “Publish immediately”. Now, that’s easy enough, so do I hit this or “Publish” ?
“Hello World”.
