VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS 1

ARC 1301

ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS
AND ITS CONVENTIONS
Week 1 Day 1
 Drawing
Drawing is a means of making an image, using any of a wide variety of
tools and techniques. It can be subjective through emotive works and it
can be objective through technical works.
Types of Drawings
(Technical Drawing)
Artistic Drawings Architectural Drawing
a. It is about the discipline of drawing and delineating figures or • It is a system of graphic representation of various types of objects or
abstract forms that represent a real or imaginary object. It is a structures. Its purpose is to provide sufficient information to facilitate
form of graphic expression. its design, construction, and maintenance. It is usually done today with
the help of computerized media. They are usually made on paper or
b. It has been used since prehistory as a language of universal other types of flat media.
characteristic that allows the transmission of information,
descriptions, ideas and feelings. • This type of drawing is based on descriptive geometry and uses
orthogonal projections to draw the different views of an object, plane,
c. Its purpose is aesthetic, is to convey an idea or feeling. part, machine and others.
• Several views are usually represented as top view, roof, floor,
elevation, bounded and covered among others.
• Two projections of the object are needed to provide useful
information about it, although this will depend on its complexity.
• The technical drawing follows internationally approved regulations to
unify the language used. However, each country has a body that
normalizes the study and approval of the rules to follow.
• It includes sketches, sketches, diagrams, electrical, mechanical,
architectural and urban planning plans.
Architectural Drawings
• Architectural drawing is a two-dimensional and
three-dimensional representation of three-
dimensional objects. In general, it provides
necessary information about the shape, size,
surface quality, material, manufacturing process,
etc., of the object. It is the graphic language from
which a trained person can visualize objects.
• Drawings prepared in one country may be utilized
in any other country irrespective of the language
spoken. Hence, engineering drawing is called the
universal language of engineers. Any language to
be communicative, should follow certain rules so
that it conveys the same meaning to everyone.
Similarly, drawing practice must follow certain
rules, if it is to serve as a means of communication.
For this purpose the International Standards on
code of practice for drawing is used . The other
foreign standards are: DIN of Germany, BS of Britain
and ANSI of America.
Other Classification of Drawings

Illustration Drawings Life Drawings

• These are drawings that are • Drawings that result from direct or
created to represent the lay-out of real observations are life drawings.
a particular document. They Life drawing, also known as still-life
include all the basic details of the drawing or figure drawing, portrays
project concerned clearly stating all the expressions that are viewed
its purpose, style, size, color, by the artist and captured in the
character, and effect. picture. The human figure forms
one of the most enduring themes
in life drawing that is applied to
portraiture, sculpture, medical
illustration, cartooning and comic
book illustration, and other fields.
Emotive Drawing Analytic Drawing
• Similar to painting, emotive • Sketches that are created for
drawing emphasizes the clear understanding and
exploration and expression of representation of observations
different emotions, feelings, and made by an artist are called
moods. These are generally analytic drawings. In simple
depicted in the form of a words, analytic drawing is
personality. undertaken to divide
observations into small parts for
a better perspective
Perspective Drawing Diagrammatic Drawing
• Perspective drawing is used by • When concepts and ideas are
artists to create three-dimensional explored and investigated, these
images on a two-dimensional are documented on paper through
picture plane, such as paper. It diagrammatic drawing. Diagrams
represents space, distance, are created to depict adjacencies
volume, light, surface planes, and and happenstance that are likely to
scale, all viewed from a particular take place in the immediate future.
eye-level. Thus, diagrammatic drawings serve
as active design process for the
instant ideas so conceived
Geometric Drawing
• Geometric drawing is used,
particularly, in construction
fields that demand specific
dimensions. Measured scales,
true sides, sections, and various
other descriptive views are
represented through geometric
drawing.
Role of Architectural Drawing
• The ability to read drawing is the most important requirement of all
technical people in any profession. As compared to verbal or written
description, this method is brief and clearer. Some of the applications are :
building drawing for civil engineers, machine drawing for mechanical
engineers, circuit diagrams for electrical and electronics engineers,
computer graphics for one and all.
• The subject in general is designed to impart the following skills.
• 1. Ability to read and prepare engineering drawings.
• 2. Ability to make free - hand sketching of objects.
• 3. Power to imagine, analyze and communicate, and
• 4. Capacity to understand other subjects:
• The Instruments and other aids used in draughting work are listed below:
• 1. Drawing board
• 2. pens and pencils
• 3. Instrument box
• 4. Set squares
• 5. Protractor
• 6. Set of scales
• 7. French curves
• 8. Drawing sheets
• 9. Pencils
• 10. Templates
b. Architectural Drawing – sketching
classified by stages of drawing in architecture
• 1. process drawing – preliminary images, sketches, schematics
• 2. construction documents – drafted drawings
• (technical sketch mechanical drafting, computer aided) working
drawings, plans, elevations, sections, details,
• 3. presentation drawings – 3D ex. Perspectives, isometrics,
obliques, etc.
1. Process drawing – preliminary images,
sketches, schematics
2. construction documents – drafted drawings
(technical sketch mechanical drafting, computer aided) working drawings, plans, elevations,
sections, details,
3. Presentation Drawings – 3D ex.
Perspectives, isometric, obliques, etc.
Drawing Methods
• Hand drawings

• Hand drawing is the traditional sketching with a pen on paper. For a long
time, architects have used hand drawings to explore ideas and assess
multiple options during the design stage. Unlike today where hand
drawings are used to make rough sketches before fine tuning with
computer software, traditional hand drawing had to be perfect.

• The first-hand drawings in the history of architecture date back to 10,000

B.C.E. At this time the drawings were merely artistic, but then they
gradually evolved to become architecturally meaningful. Today hand
drawings have been faded out, but in small instances, they exist side by
side with computer-assisted drawings.
Computer Generated Imagery
• Computer Generated Imagery (CGI) is as the name suggests the
processes of using a computer application to create a representation
of a project, with the soul purpose of communication.
Computer Aided Design
• Computer-aided design (CAD) is used throughout the entire design and
construction process of a project, having completely superseded older formal
hand drawing methods. The advantage amongst being a lot more precise and
accurate, is the ability to revise and undo elements of the drawing with ease and
speed, making it a much more efficient method of drafting.

• Both architects and engineers use 2D and 3D CAD software. These programs
enable in-depth exploration of design ideas. Architects can visualize concepts and
simulate design performance in the real world.

• Computer-assisted designs are highly beneficial in the construction world.

Designers can collaborate over the cloud across oceans. The designs are easy to
interpret even for non-professionals.
 The purpose and importance of drafting
• drawing is a tool for thought, for creativity, for invention
• method for problem solving – exploring and documenting the evolution of an idea.
• can capture time and record a memory. It is visual communication: a medium for expression.
• it teaches us to see, to observe – educating our visual sense through the exploration of form, light, texture,
distance and perspective.
• In architecture profession, drawing is essential to the process which leads the development of a design.
Various types of drawings are produced – diagrammatical at the initiation of a project and highly technical in
the end. During this process the exploration of design ideas are studied, shared and presented, and varying
levels of information must be communicated.
• Hand drawing is incomparable when one considers its efficiency, and perhaps even its beauty.
• Used as a method for problem solving, a hand sketch can explore numerous possibilities quickly. The
development of a parti, the analysis of a site, the organization of spaces within a building, even the
exploration of construction details are all efficiently produced in the line work of a sketch.
PARTI
The development of a parti – the concept of an architectural design – is often obtained through numerous
diagrams that analyze form, space, orientation, context, and more. Typically loose in style, these drawings
initiate an often-complex design with an abstract suggestion
SITE ANALYSIS
The analysis of a project’s site is often documented with overlaid diagram sketches illustrating wind directions,
solar paths, topography and terrain, vegetation and landscape, infrastructure, contextual relationships,
directional views and more. This visual information begins to define a buildable area and orientation for building
placement. Site planning sketches follow this exercise and quickly explore various development concepts within
the defined area.
BUILDING DESIGN
Conceptual building sections are explored with sketches that consider floor-to-floor heights, structural depths, vertical
circulation, and potential daylighting strategies. Building elevation sketches record initial ideas of style, proportion, exterior
materials, and color. In combination, these illustrations provide useful analysis for consideration in the design of the building’s
mass, roof design, exterior fenestration and more
DETAILS
Hand sketches are efficient for problem solving construction details. A number of illustrations can be produced
quickly, incorporating varying ideas that reach a single solution. The evolution of the process provides
documented analyses which can then be compared to identify the best solution
The required tools
and equipment
Architectural
Drafting
including line
quality,
dimensioning
, lettering,
and symbols
The dangers of poor DRAWINGS

• An inaccurate drawing can mean a construction job fails before it has

even begun. If the artist has not infused their work with enough
clarity, spatial awareness and precision, it will lead to serious issues
further down the line. If the original plan was not rendered with
enough skill, everything from unexpectedly high costs to under-
equipped builders can be the result.