BEYOND THE SCREEN: HAND-DRAWN LIFE REPRESENTATION IN THE AGE OF METAVERSE . OLTRE LO SCHERMO: LA RAPPRESENTAZIONE A MANO LIBERA NELL’ERA DEL METAVERSO

This study explores the significance of hand-drawn life drawing in architectural education within a context increasingly dominated by digital tools. It aims to emphasize the cognitive and transcendental potential of drawing as an immersive and analytical learning practice. The research is based on the course Methods for the Representation and Modelling of the City and Territory at the University of Bologna. Students engage in on-site hand-drawing exercises across urban spaces, focusing on public areas and natural elements. The methodology prioritizes direct observation and includes exercises in proportionality, light and shadow, and the depiction of figures, architecture, and landscapes. Students demonstrated improved technical and perceptual skills. Their drawings showed greater accuracy in representing spatial relationships, proportions, and natural and human forms. They developed stronger visual analysis capabilities, learning to balance detail with thematic hierarchy and improving their overall architectural representation. As a case study based on a single academic course, findings may not be universally generalizable. However, they offer valuable insights into pedagogical approaches combining analog and digital tools. The findings support integrating hand-drawing practices into curricula to cultivate spatial awareness, observational accuracy, and critical thinking. Encouraging on-site drawing fosters a deeper connection between students and the urban environments they study, enhancing sensitivity to social and spatial dynamics. The study reinforces the value of hand-drawing as an irreplaceable tool for critical analysis and spatial understanding. It argues that the manual act of drawing nurtures a deeper connection between observer and subject, making it essential to architectural education even in the digital age.