Lesson video

Hi, I'm Miss Blue, and I'm really excited to be learning with you today.

I hope you find our lesson as interesting as I do.

Let's get started.

The outcome of this lesson is: I can explore and describe the style and work of an architect and use it to inspire my own design ideas.

Let's have a look at our keywords.

Number one is "architect." This means a person who designs buildings and oversees their construction.

Next is "building," a structure with a roof and walls, such as a house or factory.

"Structure," which means how something is built or put together.

"Blueprint," a detailed drawing or plan used in building design.

Let's begin with: observing architecture.

So what is architecture? Have a look at this image on the left.

It's a photograph of different buildings.

You can see that they're all different heights and shapes.

I wonder who built these and where they're located.

Architecture is the art and science of designing buildings.

Have a look at this picture on the left.

You can see that lots of creativity and ingenuity has gone into this building.

I love how unique it is.

I wonder what the function is.

An architect is a person who designs buildings and oversees their construction.

Architects think about how buildings look and function.

While buildings need to be safe and follow certain rules, architects can use creativity to make them unique.

On the left is an image of architects' planning ideas.

You can see how many different hands go into one building.

Architects usually work in a team.

Can you think of a time in your life when you've worked in a team? Sometimes I find that it's really useful to bounce ideas off each other in pairs or groups.

It really helps to unlock my imagination and creativity.

Buildings are designed for different purposes.

For example, schools are designed as spaces for educating children.

We can call this their purpose.

What might the purpose of this building be? Think about the shape of it and where it's located.

Maybe the materials that have been used.

It's quite smooth on the surface.

Pause the video here while you think of your own ideas.

Throughout history, architecture styles have changed.

If you look at buildings from around the world or at different time periods, you'll notice differences in forms, materials, shapes, and structures.

Think about this image on the left.

I wonder what country this building is in.

Can you think of any examples of buildings you've witnessed that have interesting forms, materials, shapes, or structures? One of my go-to examples is the Bauhaus museum in London.

I love looking at brutalist architecture.

Let's test your knowledge.

What is the job of an architect? Is it: A, to paint pictures of buildings? B, to build houses with bricks? C, to design buildings and plan how they are made? Or D, to sell houses to people? Pause the video here while you come up with your answer.

If you chose C, you would be correct.

The job of an architect is to design buildings and plan how they are made.

Architects help to shape the world around us.

By learning from them, we understand how design choices can be both creative and useful.

Have a look at this image where an architect is looking at the blueprints and architectural photos.

I recently had the pleasure of attending a friend's degree show.

I got to see all of her architectural photos and blueprints, and it really helped me to understand her work and viewpoint on the world.

Her project was about trying to solve the issue of climate change and fire safety through using indigenous design choices.

It was both aesthetically pleasing and functional.

Let's think about some architects who are excellent in their field.

First is Zaha Hadid.

From 1950 to 2016, she was a famous Iraqi-British architect known for futuristic and flowing designs.

Her buildings often look like they are moving or growing naturally.

She believed buildings did not have to follow traditional rules.

She used curves, flowing shapes, and modern materials in her designs.

I love this example photograph on the left.

It shows how the buildings merge into their landscape.

It seems organic and inviting.

What do you think? What natural forms does this building remind you of? Pause the video here while you come up with your response.

Architects don't just draw what looks good; they imagine how people will use and experience the space.

Notice how this building on the left features flowing lines, light and smooth surfaces, and large open spaces.

These choices make the overall structure feel open and light.

I love how the windows seem to reflect the grass and the colour of the building.

Very inviting.

Architects also consider the materials that a building will be made from.

Think about this image on the left.

This seems to be in a warmer climate.

I love how inventive the materials are, the shapes, and the colours.

Depending on where the building is located, there may be different materials available, like concrete, glass, metal, clay, wood, or bamboo.

Making thoughtful design choices helps architecture to become more sustainable.

Which of these is a feature that you may find in the architect Zaha Hadid's buildings? Is it: A, curved flowing shapes? B, brick walls and chimneys? C, pointed rooftops only? Or D, classical columns and statues? Pause the video while you think of your answer.

If you chose A, you would be correct.

Curved, flowing shapes are design features which you can find in Zaha Hadid's buildings.

For your task, you must choose an architect and observe examples of buildings that they have designed.

You should: select a building to observe in detail.

Make a sketch of your chosen building.

Label the key features you observe.

Look for curves, angles, materials, and structure.

Don't worry about making a perfect drawing.

Focus on noticing and thinking.

Are you ready to get started? Pause the video here while you work on this task.

Let's have a look at this sketch.

I think Aisha has really captured the flowing and organic shapes in Zaha Hadid's architecture.

It has a rounded roof, lots of windows, and curving shapes and form.

The second part of our lesson is about design thinking in architecture.

To help communicate their ideas, architects use blueprints.

Here's an example on the left of an architect making a blueprint.

You can see that they use a ruler to make sure the lines are as precise as possible.

A blueprint is a detailed drawing or plan used in building design.

Did you know blueprints get their name because they were originally blue with white lines? This is thanks to the process of cyanotype, which is one of the first forms of photography, invented in 1842 by Sir John Herschel.

Today, blueprints don't have to be blue and white, but we still remember its name.

Before you draw or design a blueprint, think about: what is the purpose of this building? For example, is it a museum, a school, or a place to play? This helps your design to make more sense.

The image on the left is an example of a museum.

I love how they've combined traditional architecture with more contemporary design on the right-hand side.

It seems to merge creativity and function, just as a museum would.

Discuss with your partner what your building design could be used for.

Pause the video here while you work on the task.

Aisha says, "My building will be a futuristic library." Lucas says, "I'm designing an art gallery." Andeep says, "My design is for a cinema." Did you have any ideas similar to theirs? Architects use drawings like blueprints to show how a building should be built.

Making a blueprint involves lots of stages and experiments.

Your drawings do not have to be perfect to show your ideas and design thinking.

On the left is an example of an architect making a blueprint.

You can see how they've annotated it just to get their ideas down.

It's always good to get your vision onto paper.

So why do architects use blueprints? Is it: A, to show how a building should be built? B, to decorate their studio? C, to copy other buildings? Or D, to make art for galleries? Pause the video here while you come up with your answer.

If you chose A, you would be correct.

Architects use blueprints in order to show how a building should be built.

So let's start sketching our own buildings.

Try to include at least two features inspired by another architect's style, such as the forms, shapes, or structures they have used.

I wonder which architect this person was inspired by on the left.

For example, if you were inspired by Zaha Hadid's architecture, you might look at her dynamic, fluid forms and complex geometric shapes, or perhaps more organic shapes with a sense of movement and fragmentation.

Pause the video while you work on this task.

When designing, remember the purpose for your building and use this to guide the shapes, forms, or materials that you incorporate.

Architects often use unusual shapes or materials to make their buildings look more interesting, and so can you.

I wonder what shapes inspired these buildings on the left.

They look almost futuristic and give me a sense of calm when I look at them.

When designing, use your sketching skills to get the basic shapes into place.

You might use a ruler to create straight lines or go freehand to make curvy shapes.

Think about how you can add movement into a design.

Look at how this young architect is approaching their sketch.

Don't forget to label your drawing with the design choices that you've made.

Explain which parts were inspired by the architect you studied.

You can see how this architectural sketch on the left has lots of different labels and annotations.

I always find that I need to make little notes for myself so that I don't forget my original idea when I come back to look at my work.

It's also important so that other people can understand your ideas.

What is one way architects make their buildings interesting? Is it: A, making every building the same? B, using unusual shapes or materials? C, hiding windows? Or D, only using grey colours? Pause the video here while you decide on your answer.

If you chose B, you would be correct.

One of the ways architects make their buildings interesting is by using unusual shapes or materials.

As a bonus task, can you think back to earlier in this lesson to which architect uses unusual shapes or materials? Pause the video while you have a think.

If you said Zaha Hadid, you would be correct.

Well done.

Your next task is to design and sketch a building inspired by the architect you looked at in task A.

Your design should reflect both creativity and purpose.

You should: decide on the purpose of your building, select key design features from your inspiration architect, sketch your own design applying the influence of your inspiration architect, and finally, be creative and add your own personality to your design.

You can now pause the video and have a go at this task.

Press play when you're ready to rejoin us.

You might have created something like Aisha in her sketch.

You can see how this building seamlessly blends into the mountainous landscape.

I love the flowing forms and the use of free-flowing sketching.

Aisha says, "I designed a futuristic library based on the style of Zaha Hadid.

I used curved lines and shapes, a rounded roof, and big windows to make it light and bright for reading." That's a great example of how form and function has inspired her design.

To summarise, architects influence how buildings look and function.

Architectural styles vary across time, place, and purpose.

Architects use blueprints to help to communicate their ideas.

Observing details like materials, shapes, forms, and structure improves visual literacy.

Thank you so much for listening and paying attention in this lesson.

I hope you learned something new and had fun along the way.

See you next time.