Architectural Elevations Explained + How to Draw Them

#homedecor #design #architecture #constructionmaterials

Learn how to draw architectural elevations step by step in this hand-drawn architectural drawing tutorial.

In this video, I'll explain what an architectural elevation is, what information it communicates, how many elevations you need, and how to draw exterior elevations from a floor plan.

We'll use an existing community center as an example and draw a complete set of exterior elevations by transferring horizontal information from the floor plan and adding vertical information from measurements and reference photographs. I'll also show you how to organize a set of elevations, use grid lines and projection lines, establish different line weights, represent exterior materials with graphic hatches, add vertical dimensions and datum lines, and reference elevations back to the floor plan.

This tutorial focuses on the traditional hand-drawing process so we can better understand the logic behind architectural elevations.

Whether you're an architecture student, learning architectural drawing, working on a school project, or simply trying to understand how plans and elevations work together, this video will give you a solid foundation for drawing your own architectural elevations.

📐 In this video:
00:00 Intro to elevations
00:53 How plans and elevations work together
01:58 How many elevations do you need?
03:03 Drawing elevations
08:00 Line weights
08:46 Exterior materials and finishes
11:05 Finishing touches and annotations

If you're interested in learning architectural drawing, check out my other tutorials on floor plans, architectural scale, drawing references, and traditional architectural rendering.

Thanks for watching, and happy drawing!