Students need to prepare an uncarved thermocol cube.

Thermocol sheets should have substantial

thickness to enable the students to do deeper carving. Before doing the carving, the students can draw line
sketches on the cube. Students should be careful to see that there is evident continuity all over the
surfaces of the cube. While carving, the student should explore a variety of volumes and concave and
convex surfaces.

Retrospective Analysis
The surfaces carved on the cuboids have various depths. These depths can be experienced powerfully if
these cubes are seen in sunlight and studied for its sciography. At this stage one can easily compare this
visual experiment with an architectural design. A number of buildings could be well analysed or criticised
for visual qualities based on the study of the carved cube. The visual effect of the continuity in three-
dimensional graphics all over the surfaces of the cube can be experienced. The recesses and projections
in this carved cube are synonymous to projections and aperture in the architectural form.

Simple plastic clay powder can be mixed with water. Dough made of clay requires proper kneading. Too thick dough is
difficult to mould. Too watery dough may look easy to work but fingers may get stuck with clay and you cannot work. Use of
tools like palate or small metal objects can be used at a later stage. A strong base of marine plywood is necessary. The
clay forms should not be allowed to dry rapidly. The purpose of using clay is to explore almost impossible type of forms,
which the human mind cannot imagine by sketching. There is no loss of material or wastage in this assignment. Metal foils,
threads, wires can also be added.

Almost all sorts of opening, enclosed and semi-enclosed spaces can be tried in this assignment. Meaningful cut-outs can
add light to the interior dark spaces. The clay model should be perceived as if it is done at large architectural scale
The headroom spaces of their own studio can be experimented with this assignment. Students can make use of
nylon rope or bamboo sticks along with coloured papers, plastics, metal chains, etc and try and create interesting
space sculpture.
Retrospective analysis
This assignment is challenging because students require substantial knowledge of materials before they use it. Also
the student should have knowledge about its strength when hung into the space. After installation of such sculpture in
space one should check whether it is equally appealing from each corner of the space.

With help of mount board sheets students are asked to create three-
dimensional forms. Actually these forms are made to look like moulds of
sculpture, or students are sometimes asked to create two counterparts of
unevenly cut cube that will fit edge to edge. This is quite difficult assignment
and requires good skills of cutting & pasting the pieces of the mount board. The
surfaces of the model can be further treated with colour or texture.

Visually both the sides of this model should be studied. There

should be an effort from students to study amalgamations of solid
forms into each other. These amalgamated areas also should be
studied carefully. The visual images shall be verified with the
mental images before actually seeing it from other side. However
the student should notice following without any difficulty.
 » the stepped form looks same from both sides
»the cylindrical forms reduce down to mere black circle
» cones and pyramids look totally different
»curved surfaces look alike.
A simple thin sheet of paper can be folded and converted into a solid form. The paper can be folded diagonally to
give it the shape of a conical or pyramidal form. Paper can be wrapped to give cylindrical forms. These conical,
pyramidal and cylindrical forms are suitable for certain architectural functions like exhibition Pavilions or small
kiosks, etc. Otherwise these forms are very difficult to sketch manually. This technique of folding paper and
manually exploring different types of forms enriches the visual vocabulary of basic design students.

Actual Exercise
Students are asked to make several paper folded forms. Some short listed forms are further cultured to make it
more sculptural. The cut-outs and colour schemes are then added.

A comparative study of various types of paper sculptures is expected from the students. The plain uncut paper
sculpture can be compared along with the sculptures with cut-outs and colour schemes. One will realize that, the
original form has to achieve visual improvement (aesthetically) by introduction of cut-outs and the application of a
colour scheme. Certain forms certainly need colour application and openings. But generally speaking, meaningful
openings and restrained use of colours improve the appearance of the basic paper form.
Introduction of mobiles
Recently architects have explored the space above human height. The area in between the roof slab can be filled
with planes, lines and sculptures. Staircases, wells and atriums could also be filled with space sculptures. The
sculptures not only make the space more interesting but also add movement into it. The headroom spaces in waiting
areas, shopping precincts and courtyards can be made more colourful and full of movement by use of these space
sculptures.
Actual exercise
The headroom spaces of their own studio can be experimented with this assignment. Students can make use of
nylon rope or bamboo sticks along with coloured papers, plastics, metal chains, etc and try and create interesting
space sculpture.
Retrospective analysis
This assignment is challenging because students require substantial knowledge of materials before they use it. Also
the student should have knowledge about its strength when hung into the space. After installation of such sculpture in
space one should check whether it is equally appealing from each corner of the space.

It will be an interesting visual experience to impose graphics and colours on the interlocking planes to make the
whole sculpture homogeneous. However the space created between them looks fairly weak and without any
individual characteristic.

Introduction to space
Planes define the boundary of a space. Spaces can be characterised by colouring or animating two-dimensional planes.
Floors, walls, doors, windows and other similar architectural elements are nothing but two-dimensional planes enclosing
precious space between them. Actual exercise
Simple mount board planes are cut and interlocked with each other. The blank surfaces of the mount board planes
are now coloured and imposed with graphics. The sculpture so created is studied from all sides.
Introduction to three-dimensional forms
These forms of art have existed right from the Egyptian civilization. The walls of Egyptian temples were decorated with this
technique. Bas- relief is a technique, which can be actually termed as two-dimensional work. But at some places the
sculptors carve out the portions and give it a three-dimensional effect. While doing this exercise our brain has to calibrate
itself to imagine a three-dimensional form with the help of two-dimensional sketches. The sketches done by an artist on the
surface before carving is a two-dimensional line work. A circle drawn on the surface can represent a cylinder, a concave
sphere or may be a convex vault. This training to the brain is necessary for visual artists to improve their imagination
abilities.