Manchester School of ArtBA(Hons) Landscape Architecture

academic session: 2010-11 year: one/grad.dip. session: two units: 14011602

Studio wk 15/16

Workshop: Landform modelling

Introduction

The purpose of this workshop is to provide a basic understanding of contours, what they mean and how they are represented on drawings.

KnowledgeUnderstanding plan information as 3D form at a range of scales

SkillInterpolating 2D information into 3D

Imaginative InterpretationProduction of finished model and drawing to a high standard of craftsmanship

Brief You are to carry out the following exercise in the handout, treating the units as metres rather than feet1. Construct a 3D model of the enclosed plan. Make the model the same size as the drawing using

white foam board. Construct a suitably sized base for the model to sit on.

Please read the handout carefully. In addition to the characteristics for natural conditions, you should be aware that for constructed landscapes 1, contours should cross roads, or footpaths approximately at right angles (so that the road surface does not tilt) and 2, contours do not cross the footprint of buildings (unless the building is split level).

ProgrammeFriday 21st January. 10.00am. Launch and introduction to contours and levels.

Materials requiredDrawing equipment, A4 paper, Scalpel or sharp Stanley knife.Glue5mm Foam Board

Submission requirementsModel, crafted to the highest degree of craftmanship as detailed in brief. To be submitted in session two portfolio

Manchester School of ArtBA(Hons) Landscape Architecture

academic session: 2010-11 year: one/grad.dip. session: two units: 14011602

A Note on Contours and Scales

One of the problems in working with contours is the mismatch between the horizontal scale and the vertical scale. This is caused by the fact that most of our sites and geographical areas extend to hundreds of metres or more but often the change in height is in metres . When we produce a drawing or a model the vertical scale always looks very insignificant.

One result of this is that geographers often exaggerate the vertical scale to compensate and it is common to multiply the height by a factor e.g. 2x. This may be appropriate for geography but it is not appropriate for landscapes architecture and should never be employed. The sites look wrong and the relationships are upset particularly in relation to the sun angle etc.

When producing a site model or drawing you should use the correct vertical scale. You should think carefully about the contour interval that you choose as the amount of detail that you show is determined by this. A contour interval of more than one metre will probably not show enough detail of the subtle variations of topography but a contour interval much less than one metre will require high quality survey data via a topographic/level survey.