Iceland
Beer Spa

The project makes use of advanced imagery and line drawings to tell a compelling story and which make the project a true architectural proposal. Read more The renderings are often dark, empty and could be perceived as gloomy; they would benefit from annotation to describe materials or main concepts, human scale figures to give a sense of the spatial experience, and additional illumination or a less extreme contrast between light and dark in order to yield more promising, warm and dynamic interior spaces. The diagrams and text are recommended to be increased in size for readability. And the project would be strengthened with detailed drawings that describe materiality and constructability.

The project successfully uses a mix of visuals to describe a very believable project. The line drawings carry a unique aesthetic that places emphasis on the massiveness of walls and floors, and which very clearly describe the spaces the building contains. The renderings are clear and crisp and communicate well the various experiences within the project. Read more The presentation would benefit from key conceptual statements on each sheet to strengthen the reasoning behind the design and to summarize the drawings contained on each page. The renderings would also be strengthened with annotation to clearly describe the design intent of each space at a technical level. 

The project makes use of sophisticated, photorealistic images and advanced line drawings. The imagery would be strengthened with some human scale figures to give a sense that this public building is well designed to accommodate dynamic activities and uses. As shown, the spaces are empty and without life, albeit greatly detailed with excellent material textures and spaces which are clean and airy. The text would benefit from being increased in size for legibility. Read more The structure at the top of the tower cantilevered above the panoramic windows could also be further considered for constructability in this extreme climate. 

The presentation has excellent visuals paired with simple diagrams to communicate its various design decisions. The overall plans and sections, while interesting, are unfortunately small - doubling their size on the sheets would greatly increase their impact and more clearly describe the information they convey. The site plan takes up half a sheet yet does not include a great amount of detail and appears rather unfinished and empty. Read more This is perhaps the intent to describe the vastness of the landscape yet could be overlaid at the very least with annotation and descriptions that increase its complexity.

The primary critique of this presentation is that there is an overall lack of hierarchy, both within the line drawings which consist of lines all very similar in weight, as well as with the overall layout and size of images which are also quite consistent. The two interior images of the cafeteria space for instance do not describe significantly different information and could be reduced to a single more impactful image. Read more The overall sections and axonometry are very beautiful and detailed and are to be lauded for the amount of information and proof of design concept they communicate. The author is also recommended to consider the use of bolder, stronger colors either within the drawings or diagrams to give more variation and interest to the presentation layout.  

This project uses a crisp and simple layout with an intelligent selection of key images on each sheet, varying in size to provide clear hierarchy, and carrying consistent colors that are specific to each sheet. The use of multiple rendered perspectives interior and exterior, as well as advanced cut-away axonometries, communicate well the building’s interior spatial experience and its means of circulation. Read more The project would benefit from a detail to describe the material buildup of the envelope. It would also be strengthened with additional linework and materiality in the two primary sections, which currently give a good understanding of the building’s form but do not provide much information as to the relationship among or feeling of the interior spaces. A clear title would also help this project stand out.