What is Architectural Illustration?

Discover more about this specialized branch of illustration

Architect and architectural illustrator Héctor López (@_thearchitector) says that “architectural illustration is the visual representation of an object that can be as small as a construction detail or as big as an entire building or block of buildings.”

Humans have created visual representations of architectural objects for thousands of years. According to Héctor, the earliest known example of an architectural plan dates back to 2200 BC. It’s part of a statue of Gudea, who ruled the state of Lagash in Southern Mesopotamia c. 2144–2124 BC. The statue, titled “Architect with a Plan,” features Gudea sitting with a tablet on his lap, which shows the floor plan of a temple. During and following the Roman Empire, more and more examples of architectural illustration that were more fitting with the discipline we know today began to appear.

What is the role of an architectural illustrator?

An architectural illustrator works closely with an architect to visually represent the latter’s plans for a structure or space, carefully following the architect's instructions. This serves to show clients–or anyone else with an interest in the project who would struggle to make head or tail of a blueprint–what the end result will look like.

What might these images be used for?

Originally, architectural visuals were created only after a structure had been built–they weren’t used as aids during the construction process. Over time, these images acquired a range of new uses and became crucial in the construction process. While some drawings are more conceptual, communicating the look and feel of a project, technical drawings explain how it is constructed.

These visuals serve to test out and develop an idea or multiple ideas. They can be used to show a project’s potential: they might be used by a real estate agent wanting to sell properties that are still being built or an organization trying to secure funding to renovate the space they use. Perhaps they’ll be shown to a homeowner so they get a better idea of what their new extension will look like.

Four standard views

These days, there are four standard views that are used in architectural drawing:

Floor plan

Cross section

Facade

Perspective

What tools are required?

Different architectural illustrators will work in different ways–while one might create their visuals with pencils and watercolors, another might work digitally using specialized computer software. Below, we’ve compiled a list of courses in which different experts share techniques, tips, and tools they use for architectural illustration projects:

Introduction to Freehand Architectural Design, a course by Héctor López

In this course, architect and architectural illustrator Héctor López (@_thearchitector) talks us through the history of architectural drawing and its importance. He’ll explain what a facade is, how to draw its textures, and how to use a vanishing point to achieve architectural perspective.

Architectural Visualization Using Digital Collage, a course by PALMA

PALMA (@palmamx) is an architecture studio based in Mexico City. In this course, you will learn how to present an architectural project through the medium of digital collage, using different programs and plugins for modeling and image editing.

Architectural Sketching with Watercolor and Ink, a course by Alex Hillkurtz

Alex Hillkurtz (@alexhillkurtzart) is a Paris-based watercolor artist and storyboard artist. In this course, he’ll teach you the basics of perspective and how to create powerful compositions using ink, pencils, pens, and watercolors.

Digital Illustration of Architectural Projects, a course by Fernando Neyra Moreta

Fernando Neyra Moreta (@fn23grafica) is an architect and an illustrator. In this course, he’ll teach you to find a balance between the technical and artistic sides of architectural illustration to create an accurate representation of an architectural project using SketchUp.

You may also like:

–The Story Behind "Accidentally Wes Anderson"
–5 Courses to Learn Digital Architecture From Scratch
–Essential Shortcuts for Working with SketchUp