On-site architectural drawing with hand-held mobile instructions

Abstract

The advances in computer-aided design tools have enabled design visualization and realization to become more efficient and effective. However, these fast-growing digital technologies are also gradually reducing the presence of hand drawings in architectural education. This leads to a reduction in the ability to be inspired from the direct observation of the architectural environment through on-site freehand sketching. This study aims to implement digital technology as a teaching aid to retrieve these lost abilities. Analytical drawing is a method that encourages thinking before drawing, laying out the invisible underlying structure, and finalizing it with a visible appearance. This method remains an effective way of three-dimensional visual thinking. Accordingly, this study presents an interactive smartphone application that brings computer-assisted instructions into mobile learning. Promising responses from students revealed that using digital technology as a teaching aid can help to retrieve the lost abilities of visual thinking through on-site sketching.