Architecture Drawing: Master the Art of Precision Design
Architecture drawings provide a visual way of communicating the structure and context of buildings.
The National Archives holds architectural drawings in various formats and stages of completion; unfortunately, catalog descriptions rarely record this detail.
An exit gate is a return message from lifelines connected with an arrowhead back to the diagram’s frame.
Architectural ideas are generated through a cognitive process that involves rapid thought processes and imagination, often illustrated with graphic gestures that can easily be drawn over again when necessary to capture and save specific ideas.
These sketches are known as architectural conception drawings. Over the years, this particular form of artwork has gained the respect and endorsement of multiple fields of knowledge that have helped expand its definition.
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Architectural diagrams play an essential part in the design process, both at an early stage and later when communicating them to clients, colleagues, and other stakeholders. Diagrams also help show how different elements connect.
There are various types of architectural diagrams used throughout the design including structural, contextual, circulation, and programmatic versions for various purposes ranging from sketches to 3D renderings.
The National Archives houses an extensive collection of architectural drawings, plans, and related records about architecture ranging from 18th-century architectural works through modern engineering projects.
This material spans site plans, elevations, sections, and perspective drawings to depictions of buildings and structures depicted. It includes site plans, elevation sections perspective drawings, and depictions.
Architects and designers create technical drawings during the planning stages of a construction project to help ensure it will meet client requirements while at the same time being cost-effective and material-efficient.
Additionally, these drawings enable them to plan how they will build the structure so there are enough resources available and costs are kept to a minimum.
Our records rarely include information about the drawing medium or stage for maps, plans, and architectural drawings in our records; however, three tables do contain this data arranged topographically as well as subject indexes with full catalogue references.
What is an Architectural Drawing?
Architectural drawings are visual depictions that provide detailed information about buildings.
Generally speaking, an architectural drawing involves drawing three-dimensional objects in two dimensions using orthographic projection.
Architectural drawings serve to demonstrate how structures will be organized on sites as well as where doors, windows, and other features will be placed – as well as showing outer covering of buildings such as middle horizontal members of classical entablatures that sit above architrave and below cornice; close-spaced parallel grooves used to ornament columns and pilasters; as well as type of dormer with parallel eaves lines that don’t gabled roof lines similar to main roof eaves lines rather than gabled roof lines – they create images that demonstrate detail that cannot be found through visual means alone.
10 Types of Architecture Drawings:
There are three main forms of architectural drawings used to communicate designs: plan, elevation, and section drawings. They allow architects to present final designs for objects, structures, or buildings in various ways.
These drawings may also be presented at various stages in a building project, such as presentation, contract, working, and record/as-built drawings.
The National Archives holds a comprehensive selection of architectural drawings and related records. The three tables below highlight record series that contain significant quantities of plans and drawings related to architecture and the built environment.
For additional assistance when searching architectural drawings, please consult both paper catalogs compiled by our former Office of Works department (department reference WORK), as well as our online catalogue. Both sources of information about our collection can be found in Kew’s Map and Large Document Reading Room.
Primary Steps in the Architectural Drawing Process
One of the initial steps of creating an architecture drawing is defining its context. This involves considering factors like where and when it will be built, any weather conditions it might encounter, and any other influences that could shape its design.
Next, an architect will draw up a floor plan. This diagrammatical representation shows all of the walls, doors, and windows of a building’s enclosure and will serve to guide construction by communicating various elements’ locations within its framework.
Furthermore, this drawing may also be used for creating other forms of drawings like elevation plans.
Architecture Drawing Styles
Architectural drawings come in many styles that are commonly employed when designing and producing buildings, with plan, elevation, and section drawings being the most commonly employed styles.
A plan depicts all major features of an object or building on two dimensions with orthographic projection.
An elevation is the view of an object or building as if sliced horizontally through its floor plan and seen from above, typically created using orthographic projection.
Surface patterns are used traditionally on stone surfaces but frequently recreated in other materials to give the appearance of large blocks with deep and wide joints, often decorated with decorative motifs, inscriptions, or figures.
The National Archives holds numerous maps, plans, and drawings related to architecture and the built environment that have been acquired from government departments like the Office of Works.
Our paper catalogs offer details arranged topographically or subject-wise; you can access these records in our Kew Map and Large Document Reading Room.