This document discusses the importance of drawings in the building design process. It begins by stating that all buildings are planned in advance through design. It then explains that the design process involves three key stages: conception, development, and realization. In the conception stage, architects create initial sketch proposals and drawings to visualize their ideas for the client and design team. In development, alternative designs are explored through more drawings to arrive at a fully-developed solution. Working drawings and detailed specifications are then produced to communicate the full proposal to the builder. The realization stage involves using these final drawings to guide the actual construction of the building. Drawings are thus essential at every step for designing, planning, communicating, and building architectural structures.
2. Drawing as a way of exploring the world: a personal passion
3. Drawing as a way of exploring the world: a personal passion
4. Drawing as a way of exploring the world: a personal passion
5. Drawing as a way of exploring the world: a personal passion
6. Drawing as a way of exploring the world: a personal passion
7. All constructions are designed
• Buildings
don’t just
happen, they
are planned
in advance
8. Fundamentals of building design
• Design is creative, on completion there
is something new which did not exist
before
• Before anything exists, the architect has
to visualise ideas for three reasons
– As a creative tool for her/himself
– As a communication tool within the design
team
– As a communication tool with the client
12. It all starts with a drawing
The Guggenheim
Museum, Bilbao
Frank Gehry
13. Conception: fooling around with drawings
• Sketch proposals
– Working to the initial brief, the designer will prepare sketch ideas.
These need to be, at some stage, comprehensible to the client.
– The brief will be revisited and revised many times during the
course of design development.
Initial sketches of
the IC extension to
the RAC Library
14. Conception: fooling around with drawings
• Sketch proposals
– Working to the initial brief, the designer will prepare sketch ideas.
These need to be, at some stage, comprehensible to the client.
– The brief will be revisited and revised many times during the
course of design development.
Initial sketches of
the IC extension to
the RAC Library
15. Conception: fooling around with drawings
• Sketch proposals
– Working to the initial brief, the designer will prepare sketch ideas.
These need to be, at some stage, comprehensible to the client.
– The brief will be revisited and revised many times during the
course of design development.
Initial sketches of
the IC extension to
the RAC Library
16. Conception: fooling around with drawings
• Sketch proposals
– Working to the initial brief, the designer will prepare sketch ideas.
These need to be, at some stage, comprehensible to the client.
– The brief will be revisited and revised many times during the
course of design development.
Initial sketches of
the IC extension to
the RAC Library
20. Developing the proposal
• The initial presentation must be made simple
and clear. 3-d sketches often help in clarity
21. Fully developed proposal
• Most clients do not understand building
plans. A model is often essential although
3-d rendering on computers can help.
22. Full working drawings of proposal
• The designer prepares contract drawings and
specifications, which tell the builder what he is to
build and the client, what she is to pay for
• These are general arrangement contract drawings for
the IC extension
24. Detail development
• The designer must tell the builder exactly how the building
is to be constructed, through use of detail drawings and
written specifications
This is a
working
drawing
through the
eaves of a
timber framed
building
26. Specialised detail
• Unusual construction, such as this stone spiral
staircase, will have to be drawn in fine, large scale
detail if it is to be priced and built as desired.
