What is a 'Concept' in Architecture? (Finding & Drawing an Idea)
2.5万 次观看 · 2026-10-18
空间与建筑
What is a design concept? It can be described as the central idea behind a project that guides and drives every decision in the design, but knowing what one actually is, how to identify one and how to draw it is harder than it seems.
This is a condensed version of my full lesson available right now on my Online Architecture Studio ‘Sketching in Architecture’ with a downloadable worksheet of the shown diagrams and drawings provided to work through this process on your own project.
You can join now at: www.patreon.com/cw/mckernarchitecture
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The framework breaks a concept down into four parts. The big idea, the story of the project compressed into one sentence that every decision gets tested against. The what, a purely descriptive explanation of the architectural moves in tangible geometric language. The why, the reason behind each move traced back to the big idea. And the how, where each move shows the response to the reasoning and what it's doing.
The three projects are the Berlin observation deck and library, a stadium design and the bathhouse within the Swiss mountains. Three completely different briefs, three completely different concepts, but with all the same process. The three stage diagram sequence for each project shows how the concept develops visually before turning it into refined architectural drawings as a project develops.
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Follow me on Instagram: www.instagram.com/mckernarchitecture
Download my free book ‘Sketching as an Architect’ now via the link below and visit my website to view my other courses: www.mckernarchitecture.com
Sign up to my Patreon to receive full tutorials, downloadable worksheets, access to behind the scenes content and involvement with an online architecture community with real discussions: www.patreon.com/cw/mckernarchitecture
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Let me know what you would like to see in the next video below.
Gear I use:
Sketchbook + Trace Paper (Baking Paper)
Unipen Fineliners / Technical Pens
Graphite Pencils 2B-HB
Scale Ruler + Set Square
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:39 What is a Design Concept?
02:33 The Framework: What, Why and How
04:22 Concept 01: Berlin Library & Visitor Centre
06:39 Concept 02: Stadium Design
09:07 Concept 03: Bathhouse Project
11:31 Assessing Your Concept as you Work
13:02 Join my Architecture Studio
This is a condensed version of my full lesson available right now on my Online Architecture Studio ‘Sketching in Architecture’ with a downloadable worksheet of the shown diagrams and drawings provided to work through this process on your own project.
You can join now at: www.patreon.com/cw/mckernarchitecture
-
The framework breaks a concept down into four parts. The big idea, the story of the project compressed into one sentence that every decision gets tested against. The what, a purely descriptive explanation of the architectural moves in tangible geometric language. The why, the reason behind each move traced back to the big idea. And the how, where each move shows the response to the reasoning and what it's doing.
The three projects are the Berlin observation deck and library, a stadium design and the bathhouse within the Swiss mountains. Three completely different briefs, three completely different concepts, but with all the same process. The three stage diagram sequence for each project shows how the concept develops visually before turning it into refined architectural drawings as a project develops.
-
Follow me on Instagram: www.instagram.com/mckernarchitecture
Download my free book ‘Sketching as an Architect’ now via the link below and visit my website to view my other courses: www.mckernarchitecture.com
Sign up to my Patreon to receive full tutorials, downloadable worksheets, access to behind the scenes content and involvement with an online architecture community with real discussions: www.patreon.com/cw/mckernarchitecture
-
Let me know what you would like to see in the next video below.
Gear I use:
Sketchbook + Trace Paper (Baking Paper)
Unipen Fineliners / Technical Pens
Graphite Pencils 2B-HB
Scale Ruler + Set Square
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:39 What is a Design Concept?
02:33 The Framework: What, Why and How
04:22 Concept 01: Berlin Library & Visitor Centre
06:39 Concept 02: Stadium Design
09:07 Concept 03: Bathhouse Project
11:31 Assessing Your Concept as you Work
13:02 Join my Architecture Studio