The role of drawing and basic disciplines front of new tools to manipulate space. Case studies in educational research in architectural education

Abstract

The aim of this work is to show partial results of an educational research on the development and improvement of spatial and graphic capacities to operatively represent the architectural space, as well as to show the academic performance of the students of architecture throughout the whole studies, using newer or more traditional graphical tools.

To this end, case studies have been carried out with two kind of groups: control groups of students from the Technical School of Architecture of Barcelona (ETSAB), who use traditional techniques and methodologies and experimental groups of other students who take the experiment and, at some point in the process, teachers introduce practices that involve the use of new methodologies with the help of computer techniques.

The relevance of our contribution is supported by the fact that few bibliographical references in similar tests in the field of architecture are found. Therefore teachers and researchers in the area of Architectural Expression have also few references to perform their tasks and research.

The lack of training and affinity - as well as ignorance - of the traditional drawing by new architecture students in Spain cannot be fully compensated throughout the career. On the other hand, it would be absurd to ignore its evidently solid visual culture that facilitates the proper integration of ICTs into the training process. In fact, it is required, even if only as a motivational strategy. Although more advanced training in traditional drawing for career access should be required, appropriate natural integration of all technographies in the various courses should also be assumed, including projectual subjects to adapt graphic practices, optimize times lines and academic performance.