Fawzy, O N (1991) The development of the architectural working drawing from the descriptive to the prescriptive: A study in architectural communication. PhD thesis, University of Pennsylvania, USA.
Abstract
For centuries, the method of conveying architectural designs and instructions from architect to builder was through architectural working drawings. In recent years, working drawings have undergone many changes and refinements brought about by various economic, social and technological developments. With the continuous development of new building materials and new building techniques, as well as the advancements in the building sciences, working drawings multiplied in number and in the quantity of information they contain. The fear of litigation in addition to the requirements of building codes and zoning regulations further burdened the drawings with layer after layer of often useless information making them so complex that a common occurrence is the constant demand for interpretation by those trying to read the drawing. The problem calls for a revaluation of the current system. To achieve this goal, the study investigates the historical development of conventional methods of communication among architect and builder. It traces the shift of emphasis from a predominantly verbal mode to a purely graphic one. The emergence of a graphic mode is studied from its early form which is referred in the study as descriptive working drawings, to the current mode which is identified as prescriptive working drawings. Descriptive and prescriptive working drawings are examined emphasizing the various factors which have lead to their emergence and to the change from the former to the latter. Using a set of measurable criteria including internal and external identification, rules of construction and rules of legibility, both types of working drawings are analyzed providing an understanding of the characteristics of each in order to determine their communicational effectiveness. From the historical investigation and the analysis, recommendations to enhance communication in current architectural practice are proposed.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Frascari, M |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | effectiveness; emergence; new build; working drawings; architectural design; communication; litigation; regulation; builder |
| Index terms: | litigation, working drawing, regulation, architect, architectural practice, drawing, effectiveness, builder, new build, investigation, emergence, building science, building code, historical development, building material, zoning, architectural design |
| Subjects: | dispute resolution, data collection methods, profession, practitioner, design practice, political science, business, building materials, engineering principles, construction integration, performance management, architectural and construction history, urban planning, systems engineering, technical documentation, regulatory law |
| Topics: | Quality Management, Engineering Principles, Roles and Professions, Design Practice, Business Strategy, Governance, Research Practice, Legal Issues |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here