How Architecture Is Born: 7 Dynamic Diagrams by MVRDV and the Buildings They Inspired - Architizer

How Architecture Is Born: 7 Dynamic Diagrams by MVRDV and the Buildings They Inspired

From free-flowing sketches to photorealistic renderings, architects have a plethora of mediums with which to communicate their design ideas to clients and the wider world. However, one particular type of graphic representation has seen a remarkable rise in popularity in recent years: the diagram. This form of drawing has long been popular with heavyweights of the profession, such as OMA, and has since been prolifically utilized by Rem Koolhaas’ alumni — including dynamic Dutch studio MVRDV.

MVRDV’s diagrams are fueled by a desire to distill ideas down to a crystallized sequence that clearly conveys the origins of an architectural concept. These drawings tell the story behind the studio’s process, helping to illustrate the firm’s logical journey toward a design solution informed by programmatic and contextual drivers. Here, we sample seven of MVRDV’s colorful diagrams and the buildings — either complete or in development — that they helped to shape: