Architectural Drawing

There are three main types:

-          Preliminary/initial sketch drawing

-          Design or presentation drawing

-          Working or production drawing

Preliminary/Initial Drawing

Graphic interpretation of site and site conditions, feasibility studies (analysis of brief), and working out of main lines of possible design solutions. The drawings are a little more than mere diagrams with short life. The preparation of the drawings and presentation are on broad lines without much attention to detail. Suggestion of the essential qualities of the design, construction and general character are all that is required. They may or may not be to scale.

*They have a very short life and of no importance to the contractor. Media and style of presentation are immaterial.

Design or presentation drawing

They are prepared after preliminary drawing. They are drawings made to scale for development of designs, which may attract the involvement of other specialist consultants like structural and mechanical engineers. The drawings may be highly finished but techniques of presentation and scale vary according to the purposes for which they are prepared and the budget involved.

They are always drawn to scale, and scale must be written

Media

They may be done in pencil, felt pen, crayon, charcoal, ink, water colour, oil colour, etc.

Style

The style is much more casual than that used in working drawing. The composition of material (symbol) is more a matter of artistic taste than formula or rule of standard.  A pleasing artistic style of drawing is more important to the success of a presentation drawing than it is to a working drawing.

Purpose(s)

They could be for

-          Putting down the designers idea

-          To stimulate new ideas

-          To provide a means of communication between members of the design team

Details

Draft constructional details could be prepared otherwise they are not emphasized

Dimensioning

Dimensions are not normally shown but where necessary, drawings are not completely dimensioned. However, the effect of the total project is emphasized rather than completeness of detail.