What is Freehand and Digital Drafting in Architectural Drawings?

14 December 2022

Most people know that architectural drawings are often created using a computer these days, a process referred to as Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) in the business. On the other hand, there is little information regarding how such drawings are generated.

One of the most widespread misunderstandings regarding the drawing creation process is that an Architect or Drafter merely hits a button, and all of the drawings, complete with the necessary information for that particular design, miraculously emerge. Although we would give everything for it to be as simple as that, the reality is that it is not. Even though CAD drawings depict the result, there is a lengthy and complicated procedure that must be completed before the designs may reach their completed condition.

The Advantages of Freehand Architectural Drafting

Sketches drawn by hand are the most efficient approach to starting architectural design. A freehand line is a line that is drawn without any premeditation or planning; it is a fluid movement that flows from drawing to sketch and encourages additional creative thought. The majority of the sketches that an architect generates are just utilised for concept development, and their clients seldom see them. Most people aren’t aware of the significant part that freehand sketching still plays in the process because the drawings in question aren’t shown to the clients. Nevertheless, certain sketches should be presented because of a variety of reasons.

Uncovering The Blueprint for It

A well-known Australian architect named Glenn Murcutt once said, “The hand can find before the eye sees.” This means that when the architect is drawing, suddenly on the paper, between all of the lines and squiggles, the architect will uncover the idea for future growth practically by mistake. This accident can only happen due to the rapid and consistent production of several drawings while simultaneously working through concepts in a focused freehand process.

Engaging The Creative Side of The Brain

When thinking about architectural designs, both the left and right sides of the brain, responsible for different types of thinking, come into action. When you draw or sketch freehand, you engage the more imaginative left half of your brain, whereas typing on a computer keyboard engages the more rational, analytical right side of your brain. Therefore, the production method utilised, whether sketching by hand or drawing on a computer, will influence the creative process. If a transition from freehand drawing to computer-generated drawings is attempted too early in the design process, it might create barriers to the correct refining of a design since the left side of the brain hasn’t had the opportunity to work through the design.

Rapid And Fluid Designs

Another disadvantage of using a computer to generate architectural plans is that the information required to make a drawing is exact and must adhere to stringent guidelines. In a freehand drawing, the thickness of a pencil line or a series of pencil strokes can be used to depict a wall, a roof, or a floor. This can be done fast and without giving too much thought to the actual structure of the building. When transitioning to a computer, the computer must be accurately programmed with the dimensions for the wall, floor, and wall thicknesses, as well as the material kinds and other information, to assign dimensions, line weights, and other information appropriately. Putting a stop to the creative process so that an enormous quantity of data may be entered early in the process is a pointless roadblock that will only slow down the creative process. This level of deeper depth in the material is often unnecessary, particularly in the initial design stages.

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