Writer: Niall Hobhouse
Seeing, and Disbelieving
2 March 2020
Seeing, and Disbelieving2 March 2020
It is easy enough to say that the analysis of any architectural drawing begins with asking what it is for. But trying to answer this innocent question, which applies equally to the purpose for which the drawing was intended and for which we are now looking at it, presents many… Read More
From a little below and to the right
17 December 2019
From a little below and to the right17 December 2019
There is a characteristic recurrence in Lutyens’ drawings of a quickly sketched oblique perspective in his own hand. Apparently, this is added as an afterthought once the orthogonal image of the building itself has been fully developed elsewhere (sometimes by assistants), and both usually appear on the same sheet. Invariably,… Read More
Gio Ponti: un disegno è un idea
7 October 2019
Gio Ponti: un disegno è un idea7 October 2019
Signora Onvoloni, here is a drawing that might find a place in your cabinet of ideas: ‘a drawing is an idea’ – Gio Ponti, translated by Guido Beltramini [1] All seems simple enough on the face of it, and of course one smiles, just as Gio hoped we might. But… Read More
Gio Ponti: ‘Come for Porchetta’
23 August 2019
Gio Ponti: ‘Come for Porchetta’23 August 2019
The Milanese architect Gio Ponti typically arrived at his office very early in the morning and would use the quiet interlude before his colleagues appeared to write a succession of letters – to friends and associates, to clients and contractors, to his associate editors at Domus or Stile, to his fellow architects Le… Read More
Madelon Vriesendorp
4 November 2018
Madelon Vriesendorp4 November 2018
By Niall Hobhouse and Madelon Vriesdendorp
Excerpted from Madelon Vreisendop in conversation with Niall Hobhouse, RIBA, 2 July 2018
Siza and the limits of representation
25 September 2018
Siza and the limits of representation25 September 2018
Over the years in which the collection of Drawing Matter has been formed we have come to understand that the most productive discussion of architecture is actually about the precise relationship between the drawing and ‘its’ building. One good rule is that an architect with a powerful idea is always… Read More
Sans Humour?
14 September 2018
Sans Humour?14 September 2018
It seems that architects are too self-conscious – or perhaps in need of being seen as permanently on duty – to portray themselves or what they do with much humour, let alone self-critical caricature. Edwin Lutyens is an honourable exception, even if his self-mockery ultimately becomes a public performance – a… Read More
Le Corbusier: Sketch for the Governor’s Palace, Chandigarh, India
7 September 2018
Le Corbusier: Sketch for the Governor’s Palace, Chandigarh, India7 September 2018
Niall Hobhouse remembers that Jullian de la Fuente, the Chilean architect who worked with Le Corbusier, told him the story of how he came to own the twelve pages (of which one is shown) extracted from Le Corbusier’s sketchbook: In the late 1950s the first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal… Read More
Grounded: Plans & Planning
29 April 2020
Grounded: Plans & Planning29 April 2020
By Richard Hall and Niall Hobhouse
The following is part of an email exchange between Niall Hobhouse and Richard Hall in response to Richard’s text on James Gowan and John Hejduk, One Thing Leads to Another. Niall Hobhouse: When you have time, I thought it would be interesting to encourage you to think about why it is… Read More
sketch plan