What Are Conceptual Sketches?
- Concept designs can be simply a series of sketches, ideas and explorations
- it can also go into considerable depth, including design illustrations, indicative plans, sections and elevations and 3D Models of a development approach.”
Conceptual Sketches Definition
- Conceptual Sketches are freehand sketches that are used by designers such as architects, engineers, designers as a quick and simple way.
- They are not intended to be accurate or definitive, merely a way of investigating and design principles and aesthetic concepts.
- Concept drawing can also be used to explore more technical aspects of a design providing an initial response and possible solutions to problems, constraints and opportunities such as service layout, structure, method of construction, paths and shading, patterns and calculations, the relationship between aspects of size etc.
- Preliminary sketches capture and communicate the essence of an idea, focusing on its driving features, and in the same way that an artist sketch is often more evocative than a finished concept drawing can sometimes capture the sense of an idea more clearly than later drawings or even the completed building.
Architecture Concept Drawing
- An architecture concept drawing is a technical drawing of a building (or building project) that falls within the definition of architecture.
- Architectural drawings are used for a number of purposes: to develop a design idea into a coherent proposal, to communicate ideas and concepts, to convince clients of the merits of a design, to assist a building contractor to construct it based on design intent, as a record of the design and planned development.
Size and Scale
- The size of drawings reflects the materials available and the size that is convenient to transport – rolled up or folded, laid out on a table, or pinned up on a wall.
- The drafting process may impose limitations on the size that is realistically workable.
- Sizes are determined by a consistent paper size system, according to local usage. Normally the largest paper size used in modern architectural practice is ISO A0 (841 mm × 1,189 mm or 33.1 in × 46.8 in) or in the USA Arch E (762 mm × 1,067 mm or 30 in × 42 in) or Large E size (915 mm × 1,220 mm or 36 in × 48 in).
Types of Drawings for Building Design
The types of drawing for building design are as follows.
- Perspective
- Production Drawing
- Scale Drawing
- Section Drawings
- Shop Drawings
- Site Plans
- Technical Drawings
- As-Built Drawings and Record Drawings
- Assembly Drawings
- Block Plan
- Construction Drawings/working Drawings
- Design Drawings
- Engineering Drawing
- Installation Drawings
- Location Plan
- Floor Plan
- Elevation
- Cross Section
- Isometric and Axonometric Projections
- Detail Drawings
- Drafting
- Computer Aided Design
#1. Perspective
Perspective drawing is a technique for depicting three-dimensional volumes and spatial relationships based on the eye level and vanishing point (or points) of the viewer.
#2. Production Drawing
Production drawing Production drawings illustrate how to manufacture a product, providing information about dimensions, materials, finishes, tools required, methods of assembly and so on.
#3. Scale Drawing
Scale drawing is a generic term used to describe any drawing that illustrates items at less than (or more than) their actual size.
#4. Section Drawing
Section drawings A section drawing shows a view of a structure as though it had been sliced in half or cut along another imaginary plane.
#5. Shop Drawing
Shop drawings might be prepared by contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, manufacturers or fabricators. They generally relate to pre-fabricated components, showing how they should be manufactured or installed.
#6. Site Plan
Site plans A site plan is a large-scale drawing that shows the full extent of the site for an existing or proposed development.
#7. Technical Drawing
Technical drawings are intended to convey one specific meaning, as opposed to artistic drawings which are expressive and may be interpreted in a number of ways. Most drawings prepared during the design and construction of buildings might be considered to be technical drawings.
#8. As-Built Drawings and Record Drawing
The contractor will generally mark up changes to the ‘final construction issue’ drawings on-site using red ink, and these can then be used by the consultant team to create record drawings showing the completed project.
#9. Assembly Drawing
Assembly drawings can be used to represent items that consist of more than one component.
#10. Block Plan
Block plans usually show the siting of a project in relation to Ordnance Survey Maps. Conventions are used to depict boundaries, roads and other details.
#11. Construction Drawing/Working Drawing
Working drawings or construction drawings provide dimensioned, graphical information that can be used; by a contractor to construct the works, or by suppliers to fabricate components of the works or to assemble or install components.
#12. Design Drawing
Design drawings are used to develop and communicate ideas about a developing design. In the early stages, they might simply demonstrate to the client the ability of a particular design team to undertake the design.
#13. Engineering Drawing
An engineering drawing is a type of technical drawing used to define the requirements or engineering products or components. An engineering drawing is a subcategory of technical drawings. The purpose is to convey all the information necessary for manufacturing a product or a part.
Engineering drawings use standardised language and symbols. This makes understanding the drawings simple with little to no personal interpretation possibilities.
#14. Installation Drawing
Installation drawings present the information needed by trades to install part of the works.
#15. Location Plan
A location plan is a supporting document that may be required by a planning authority as part of a planning application.
#16. Floor Plan
Technically it is a horizontal section cut through a building (conventionally at four feet / one metre and twenty centimetres above floor level), showing walls, windows and door openings and other features at that level.
Geometrically, a plan view is defined as a vertical orthographic projection of an object on to a horizontal plane, with the horizontal plane cutting through the building.
#17. Elevation
This is the most common view used to describe the external appearance of a building. Each elevation is labelled in relation to the compass direction it faces. Geometrically, an elevation is a horizontal orthographic projection of a building onto a vertical plane, the vertical plane normally being parallel to one side of the building.
#18. Cross Section
A cross section, represents a vertical plane cut through the object, in the same way as a floor plan is a horizontal section viewed from the top. In the section view, everything cut by the section plane is shown as a bold line. Geometrically, a cross section is a horizontal orthographic projection of a building on to a vertical plane, with the vertical plane cutting through the building.
#19. Isometric and Axonometric Projection
Isometric and axonometric projections are a simple way of representing a 3D object. An isometric uses a planning grid at 30 degrees from the horizontal in both directions, which distorts the plan shape.
Cabinet projection is similar, but only one axis is skewed, the others being horizontal and vertical. An axonometric uses a 45-degree plan grid, which keeps the original orthogonal geometry of the plan. This is sometimes called a planimetric or plan oblique view.
#20. Detail Drawing
Detail drawings show a small part of the construction at a larger scale, to show how the component parts fit together. They are also used to show small surface details. In traditional construction, many details were so fully standardised, that few detail drawings. were required to construct a building.
#21. Drafting
Until the latter part of the 20th century, all architectural drawings were manually produced, if not by the architects, then by trained (but less skilled) draftsmen (or drafters), who did not generate the design, but did make many of the less important decisions.
This system has continued with CAD drafting: many design architects have little or no knowledge of CAD software programmes, relying upon others to take their designs beyond the sketch stage.
#22. Computer Aided Design
Computer-aided design (generally referred to by the acronym CAD) is the use of computer software to create drawings. Today the vast majority of technical drawings of all kinds are made using CAD.
Instead of drawing lines on paper, the computer records equivalent information electronically. There are many advantages to this system: repetition is reduced because complex elements can be copied, duplicated and stored for re-use. Errors can be deleted, and the speed of drafting allows many permutations to be tried before the design is finalised.
What Is Architectural Concept Drawings in Residential Construction?
Architectural concept drawings are the very first piece of design perception of the building. The concept should usually arise from the building typology, existing site condition and the requirement of the building. Concept drawing gives schematic pictures of how space is about to look like, this may be done either by freehand sketches or drawings.
What Is a Sketch?
The sketch is a loose, unrefined early inspiration towards a final drawing. Sketches lack detail and have many lines that are part of the visual image. The sketch is the first draft of the final work. A sketch can be a way of describing someone or some activity using just a few words.
Difference Between Sketching and Drawing
- Drawing can simply be defined as making marks on a surface. The two descriptions are often used interchangeably.
- Sketches are typically created as preliminary drawings in order to prepare for a more finished work of art. Sketches are typically created with quick marks and are usually lacking some of the details that a finished drawing may have.
- Sketching is a quick record of a moment or a reminder of something to be developed further. A drawing is more detailed and ultimately becomes the finished work.
What Is a Drawing and How Does It Differ from a Sketch?
Drawing is a more detailed approach to creating a picture and the drawing becomes the finished piece of work. Drawing can be the outcome of a sketch as the artist uses the sketch for guidance and the initial study of the subject matter. Drawings usually get to be framed and displayed as they are a more detailed piece of work.
Drawings are not confined to the realm of the artist and are used extensively by architects and draftsmen. The architect draws the plans and the draftsman drafts the project too. In modern technology, many architects’ plans are designed digitally using sophisticated computer programmes.
FAQs
What are architectural concept drawings?
Architectural concept drawings are initial sketches or illustrations that depict the fundamental design ideas and spatial relationships of a building or project. They serve as the starting point for developing a comprehensive architectural design.
Why are architectural concept drawings important?
Concept drawings help architects and designers visualize and communicate their design intent to clients, stakeholders, and construction teams. They explore design possibilities, aesthetic concepts, and functional arrangements early in the design process.
What types of information do architectural concept drawings convey?
Concept drawings convey the basic form, layout, scale, and spatial organization of a building. They may include rough floor plans, elevations, sections, and perspective views to illustrate how the building will look and function.
How do architectural concept drawings differ from detailed construction drawings?
Concept drawings are preliminary and exploratory, focusing on broad design concepts and aesthetics. In contrast, detailed construction drawings are highly specific and include precise dimensions, materials, construction methods, and technical details necessary for construction.
Who creates architectural concept drawings?
Architectural concept drawings are typically created by architects, designers, or architectural draftsmen. These professionals use their creativity and technical skills to translate conceptual ideas into visual representations.
What tools are used to create architectural concept drawings?
Traditional tools such as pencils, markers, and tracing paper are often used for freehand sketches. In modern practice, computer-aided design (CAD) software like AutoCAD, Revit, and SketchUp is widely used for creating digital concept drawings.
How do architectural concept drawings evolve into construction drawings?
After approval of the concept, architects refine the design through iterative processes, incorporating detailed technical information and client feedback. These refinements eventually lead to the production of comprehensive construction drawings used for building realization.
Are architectural concept drawings legally binding?
Concept drawings are not legally binding documents but serve as a visual representation of design intent. Legal and contractual obligations are typically defined in detailed construction drawings, contracts, and project specifications.
What role do architectural concept drawings play in the design process?
Concept drawings facilitate collaboration and decision-making among design teams, clients, and consultants. They help explore design alternatives, evaluate feasibility, and refine the project vision before committing to detailed design development.
Can architectural concept drawings be revised during the design process?
Yes, concept drawings are iterative and subject to revision based on feedback, design changes, or new project requirements. Revisions ensure that the final design meets functional, aesthetic, and regulatory objectives.
