Paraline drawings depict three-dimensional views that can be scaled along the x, y, and z axes. Axonometric drawings maintain 90 degree interior angles but the front and side planes can vary between angles that add up to 90 degrees, with lower angles providing clearer views and steeper angles providing less clear views. Isometric drawings differ from axonometric drawings in that both the x and y axes are drawn at 30 degree angles, providing a clear view of both planes and showing interior angles of squares and rectangles as 120 degrees. Paraline drawings can be used to describe complex views or depict spaces in sequence or exploded views.

1. Paraline Drawings

2. • Paraline drawings (single view drawings, axonometric drawings, isometric drawings, oblique
drawings) are derived from multi-view drawings (plans, elevations, sections) and create a three-dimensional
view scalable along the x, y, and z axes.

3. • Axonometric drawings (sometimes known as Plan Oblique) maintain the 90˚
interior angle (if the original space has a 90˚ interior angle), while the front and side
planes can vary between any two angles that add up to 90˚.
• The lower the angle (0˚ to 45˚), the more clearly you can see that plane, while the
steeper the angle (45˚ to 90˚), the less clearly you can see.

4. • Here you can see how changing the angle of projection along the X or Y axis
changes the view of the associated plane. The 60˚ angle seems steep,
while the 30˚ angle feels more relaxed (at 0˚, it’s an elevation).

5. • Isometric drawings, while technically considered a form of axonometric drawing, differ
from 45˚/45˚ axonometrics (aka “axons”), or 30˚/60˚ axons in that both the X and Y
axes are drawn at 30˚ angles. This provides a clear view of both the X and Y planes.
• This means that the interior angle of a square, or rectangular, space would be shown as
120˚ in the isometric.

6. • As you become more comfortable with axonometric or isometric
construction, you can begin to describe more complex views, such as this
“phantom view” (of a Charles Moore space), which allows you to see the
envelope in which an interior space is situated, without taking away from the
expression of the interior space.

7. • As you master more axonometric or isometric construction, you can describe
spaces related in sequence (such as first floor under second floor under third
floor), or spaces exploded in view (such as walls pulled away from the floor
plans, allowing you to see both walls and floors clearly).