What Is an Architectural Drawing?

An architectural drawing is a manual for a building. The architectural drawing is an illustration of what the final product will look like, plus an instructional tool on how to achieve it. Architectural drawings can be devoted to depicting an overview of the building (i.e., an elevation), or they can focus on a particular element (a detail).

History

Architectural drawings began as pieces of art rather than the detail-oriented blueprints they have become today. In Europe's Italian Renaissance, famous painters, sculptors and artists created vivid drawings of buildings and structures they imagined. Many of these depictions (such as the Sistine Chapel) were then turned into an actual structure. In those times, architectural drawings did not possess the measurements and notes that they have today. They were simply illustrations of what the artist had in mind, and it was up to the construction team to figure out how best to achieve it.

Function

An architectural drawing provides a guideline for how a structure should be built. It ensures that a structure can operate as intended and also be durable for years to come. Without architectural drawings, the builders would have to decide a building's design, inevitably leading to much rework in the construction if the method proved to be unsuccessful. Architectural drawings allow issues to be resolved before the start of construction.

Types

There are various types of architectural drawings. Some drawings are more conceptual than technical in nature. These include renderings and site plans, both of which are intended to provide a broad overview of the project rather than specific details. Drawings such as cut sheets and details, however, provide extremely specific project information, and are ridden with dimensions, notes and guidelines. This type of architectural drawing is intended to specifically direct construction technique.

Benefits

A central benefit of architectural drawings is that a schedule and budget can be generated before the start of construction. Without architectural plans, much of the building's components would be up in the air until construction began. This would make it difficult for a general contractor to provide accurate pricing or develop a realistic schedule forthe project. Architectural drawings show most of the aspects involved in a project and allow a builder to plan accordingly. Contractors can verify required supplies, labor needs and equipment preferences from architectural drawings.

Warning

Although architectural drawings may seem thorough and complete, information is often missing . This missing data can lead to schedule delays or unexpected costs. It is recommended that even the best of drawings be reviewed by a general contractor or project manager before the start of a job. Questions often do not arise until construction is in process; the architectural plans will then need to be amended by the architect to solve the problem.