Field work.

In addition to an exploration through interrogating and analysing existing theoretical writing and precedent, another element of understanding an architectural approach or methodology can also be derived from the direct experience and interrogation of architectural examples at first hand within their context.

As a response to this concept our studio organised a field trip to Palma Majorca that included tours of the Moma Palma, the Miro Foundation and the Museo dos Molinos. Further to this myself and David Holden, which whom I am working with on Bursledon Brickworks as a joint thesis subject, organised a study trip to Hamar, Norway and Koln in Germany to experience specific examples by Sverre Fehn and Peter Zumthor.

Both of these trips focused upon the appreciation of built examples through experiencing as well as documenting through sketching and photography. Attempts were therefore made to elucidate the methodologies and processes that led to the physical articulation of the examples.

Gathering and appreciating primary evidence in this way avoids the experience of a built example through the secondary medium of a book or the internet for example. Arguably if a building is to be fully understood it needs to be experienced; not observed and scrutinised out of context.