Kamil Rawski

I found this article very interesting & refreshing. And, I was pleased to read that the author gave a lot of credit to the imporantce of “Hand Drawing” skills by Landscape Architects. Interesting when hyou compare “Hand Drawings” to “Computer Generated Drawings……for instance, humans first recorded “Hand Drawings” 73,000 Years ago. I believe that Landscape Architects first began using autoCAD in 1982.,,,,that’s ONLY (39) years ago.

I first began learning Hand Drawn Architectural type drawings in the 7th Grade @ age 13….Earned an “A” in the couse and really enjoyed it. Took several additional similar courses (plus art & graphic design courses – Hand Drawn)…through my Senior Year in High School & for 3 semesters @ The University of North Texas. Took 4 years off to serve in the U.S. Navy onboard an Aircraft Carrier in the Mediterranean Sea (was the Administrative Assistant to the Airwing Commanding Officer. Then, earned my B.S.LA. degree @ Texas A&M University in 1977…then, designed for (2) different Landscape Architecture Firms for 14 years (all drawings then I created were “By Hand” only. In 1991, I established my own Landscape Architectural Design Practice in the Dallas, Texas area; I became so buried in major design projects, there was just no time to make the conversion from “Hand Drwaings” to “autoCAD”…..so, I just decided to stick with what I knew best and what I was comfortable with….”Hand Drawings”.

I put in 44 Calendar Years in my Career (along with 4 years worth of over-time hours)….so, to date, approx. (48) years of bending over a drawing board. I have designed close to (700) Design Projects (a wide variety of project types….in 16 different States. Now, at the Age of 72, I’m about to finally Retire…..it’s just time. I’m currently designing my Final Landscape Architectural Project….a $2 Million Vacation Home located on the Florida Panhandle. Should comple this project mid-January…..and I’ll be done,

Well, I can definitely understand where there were situations where “autoCAD” or being ableto create “3D Computer generted Renderings: would have been helpful…..but, I managed fine. Never had a single client request that I prooduce any of their design projectss using “autoCAD”. i have always felt that “Hand Drawing” helps me to stay loose and be more creative. Even some of the largest Landscape Architecture Firms in the World begin most of their projects with “Hand Drawan” sketches and Hand Drawn 2D drawings. But, I do believe way too many Landscape Architects lean too hard on “autoCAD”…..and don’t focus enough on “hand Drawing Skills”.

I will say this about “autoCAD”, although there are many Landscape Architects who are proficient in “autoCAD”…many of them still have not become accomplished & creative designers. And, many don’t understand the “value” of “Line Weights” to help their drawings easy to read & understand. Using “plant symbols” may be easy for a Landscape Architect to design with, but, IMO, those plans can cause confusion for Landscape Contractors in the field.

After all these years of designing…..I have NO regrets. Many of long hours @ my drawing board, but, a very satisfying 40 plus Landscape Architectural Design Career.

J. Robert (Bob) Wainner
Plano, Texas