Editor’s note: This post was originally published on the The Architects' Take blog and re-published here with permission.
In previous articles, we’ve explored the power of hand drawing for working out design problems, communicating with clients, and for communicating intent to contractors in the field. The same detail that would take 2 or 3 “flat” drawings to describe can be grasped immediately a 3D or isometric sketch, with less mental effort.
Hand drawings are faster to do, too. The same detail might take 15 minutes to hand sketch in rough dimensions, but over an hour to model in CAD with dimensioning and calculated parameters.
So what happens once you’ve communicated your intent, or you’ve worked out how the building elements should really go together? The next step is to go ahead and create that CAD model and add precision scaling and dimensions. These renderings can be used in construction drawing sets, which can be legally binding, whereas hand drawings (typically) cannot. As with hand drawings, renders can help the builder understand how things go together, the operation of moving parts, and the order of assembly.
Fontana Apartment
This luxury apartment make-over, featured in its completion on Mark English Architects’ main web site, has a clean, curvilinear feel. The drawing technique we want to highlight here is this Escher-like trick: an isometric kitchen where half of it is floor plan (looking down) and half in elevation (popping out a wall).
Quick Gestalt
Sometimes the sheer clarity of a good 3D rendering can add validity. Notice that these renderings are not isometric 3/4 views, but instead utilize 2-point perspective with a horizontal vanishing point while the vertical members are rendered isometrically (no vanishing point below). The result gives the viewer an enhanced sense of place.
Desk Legs
A combination of isometric and flat views (top-down and elevation) shown on the same page gives a better sense of how to assemble this custom-designed desk. The two desks are different heights. Readers don’t have to spend time flipping back and forth between 3 or 4 different pages.
Fold-Up Dining Room Table
This example shows a dining room table designed for a tight space. The leaves each fold out individually, with a base that also rotates out underneath the table on hinges.
Fasteners in Assemblies
Mechanical assembly diagrams include fasteners to show how the whole thing goes together, and sometimes visual indications for the operation of moving parts. In this vertical trellis design, the top portions of each trellis fold down to allow for trimming of the vines without having to use a ladder.
Conclusion
Thoughtfully presented CAD renders require effective presentation skills as much as design competency. Taking the time to conceptualize the presentation results in a more readable drawing set that serves multiple audience levels and project needs.
Editor’s note: This post was originally published on the The Architects' Take blog and re-published here with permission.
