Frederick O. Lawrence (c.1893-1971), like the other architects at the BSR, worked in the genre of restoration drawing. Their practice involved studying the Roman buildings and archaeological remains that surrounded the Scholars in their residency and proposing a vision for their restoration.
One of the major tasks that the Rome Scholars in Architecture were expected to complete during their tenure was designing a restoration project for an ancient part of Rome or other Italian cities. In the absence of computers, architects honed their draughtsmanship skills. They scaled the building’s measurements down to a drawing working with simple tools such as a scale ruler, a compass, a T-square, and a drawing board. Lawrence’s project involved a restoration of Ostia, the ancient port of Rome. Lawrence envisioned redesigning it in the classical style, as if it were to be restored to its former glory.
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For a full bibliography and further reading, see here.
