Visual Communication of a Three-Dimensional Space (Zaha Hadid & The Beginner's Guide)

Using computer graphics to prepare architectural projects allowed us to go beyond traditional presentations based on perspective drawing (1) with one or two vanishing points. 3D software enables us to situate the point of view in any position in space and visualise architectural scenes in different formats. Zaha Hadid (2) is an example of architectural visual communication, showcasing abstract aesthetics and 4D animation (3).

One day, an architecture student explained that he wanted to leave his studies to pursue a career in video games. He showed me his favourite game, The Beginner's Guide (4), features architectural forms and scenes. In the interactive animation, the virtual camera exited the scene and ascended from bottom to top. The horizontal and vertical lines of the volumes, initially parallel to the frame, were recomposed in inclined lines from bottom to top, from left to right. Through those abstract forms and the camera’s movement, I could make out Zaha Hadid's drawings.

We discussed the video game industry and its creative design, a field that requires an understanding of the numerical proportionality found in architecture, photography, and image management.