Introduction to Architectural Elevations

In a world of 3d modeling, where you can look at the design from any angle, in realistic lighting and detail, the traditional 2d drawings of plans, sections and elevations, remain invaluable tools in the design process, and ultimately make up the final set up blueprints that your contractor uses to build.
If you aren’t familiar with architectural drawings, and the architectural design process, these terms are part of the language you’ll come to get comfortable with throughout your project. The three main types of drawings, plans, sections and elevations, are three different ways to look at your building, and are important to understand.

Plans are like the map view. They represent a horizontal slice through the building, with you looking strait down from above (or lying on your back looking up from below in the case of ceiling plans.)
Sections are a vertical slice through your building, showing you the scale, size and proportion of the inside rooms. They are also used to look inside the walls and floors to design how the building is built.
Elevations are a flat, straight-on view of the walls of your building. Most often the term is used to describe exterior views, looking at all the facades—front view, side view, back view. But interior elevations are also an important tool your architect will use to design and show you the inside of your spaces.

Each of these traditional 2d drawing types has its own qualities, technical and stylistic needs. Today we’ll talk about elevations, which are not just a technical tool for architects and contractors used through all phases of the design process, but an art form unto themselves.

Definition of Elevation in Architecture

In architecture and design, an elevation is a scaled drawing looking straight-on at one side of your building, or one wall of an interior room. These drawings are used to show and study all vertical aspects in detail.

Elevations show the facade’s design, materials, and architectural elements. Plans show you how the rooms are arranged, and how you navigate through your house. Sections show you what the rooms feel like, and how the building is built. Elevations show what your building will look like.

You will see elevation drawings as sketches—your architect will likely have a notebook filled with quick sketches of your house, some of which you might see popping up in early concept design presentations—colored renderings showing materials and shadows, and meticulously detailed drawings covered in notes, dimensions, textures and annotations that are part of the construction documents.

Types of Elevations

Architectural elevations are categorized based on the view they represent, with each type offering unique insights into the building’s exterior. The primary types of elevations include:

• Sketch Elevation: Your architect usually starts with a sketchbook, or on tracing paper, brainstorming and working through ideas. Most of these are discarded, or left in the notebook where you’ll never see them. The best ones, or the ones that best represent design ideas they want your feedback on, can end up in early design presentations. Depending on your architect’s style, they may be loose, rough, ink drawings, pencil or charcoal sketches or quick computer drawn studies. Either way the intention is to get a feel for what the building can look like, how it sits in the landscape or in the neighborhood context.
• Conceptual Elevation: This can mean any number of things and are a way to study big picture elements of the how the building might look and feel. A conceptual elevation is an abstraction, often breaking down the building into geometric or graphic shapes, looking at proportions, balance, angles and alignments. There are a wide number of ways that architects analyze and design elevations.
• Rendered Elevation: These are elevations used to show the colors and materials of a building. They are most commonly used in the Schematic Design phase when the look and feel is being designed. Traditionally, architects would have done rendered elevations with watercolor. Now they are often digital renderings, but watercolor and hand drawings still have their place. A rendered elevation can be a work of art. Some clients frame their renderings as a souvenir of the process.
• Hard-Line Elevation: A drafted or hard-line elevation drawing is still the ultimate tool for the architect to communicate the exterior of the building to the contractor. These are precision drawings that are scaled, dimensioned with increasing levels of documentation and annotation as the process moves toward a completed construction-ready set. That’s not to say that there isn’t an artistic quality to the drawings. Varying line thickness and quality, and the subtle use of shadow can bring out depth and material quality.
• Interior elevation: Most often when architects talk about elevations, they are referring to drawings of the outside faces of the building, but any of these above types of elevation can also be applied to drawings of the interior. Interior elevations are useful for getting views of inside spaces, looking at cabinetry and trim details, window and door sizes and locations, and labeling materials.

Each type of elevation serves a specific purpose in the architectural process, helping to create a comprehensive understanding of the building’s design and how it interacts with its environment.

Components of an Elevation Drawing

As the project develops through the phases of design, the elevation drawings become detailed blueprints that incorporate several key components, communicating the architect’s vision. The main components typically include:

• Scale: Elevation drawings are drawn to a specific scale for accurate representation of the building’s dimensions. Your contractor can measure lengths and distances on the drawings and translate them into real scale construction.
• Title Block: This section includes essential information such as the project name, architect’s details, date, and scale of the drawing. It provides context and reference for those interpreting the elevation.
• Annotations: These are notes and labels that provide additional details about materials, finishes, and specific architectural elements. Annotations help clarify the design intentions and guide the construction process. Often they refer to the schedules or specifications which serve as the master lists for materials and selections.
• Dimensions: Elevation drawings include precise measurements, indicating the height, width, and placement of various elements like windows, doors, and rooflines, height and spacing of columns, placement of beams, and so on.
• Material Indications: The drawing often includes a key or legend with symbols or hatching to represent different materials, such as brick, stone, or wood. This is a design tool to show you what your building will look like, and gives the contractor info for pricing and ordering of materials, and ultimately construction.
• Shadows and Textures: To enhance the realism of the drawing, shadows and textures may be added. These elements give depth make the drawing come alive.

Architectural drawing is a process of layering information, and refining and clarifying the idea throughout each phase of development. Part of the beauty of elevations is to draw them in such a way that they give you the feel for the building and its surroundings—but are also clear, communicating all the information necessary for you to make decisions along the way, and for your contractor to price and build.

The Role of Elevations in the Design Process

Elevations provide a visual representation of a building’s exterior, allowing architects to communicate their vision effectively to clients, contractors, and regulatory authorities. They show every aspect of the building’s facade, including height, material choices, and symmetry. This communicates the size, look, scale, proportion and the overall design intent.

• Conceptual and Schematic Design: Elevation drawings and sketches are heavily used in early-phase design exercises. Curb appeal, overall look and style, symmetry and proportion are all studied in early elevations.
• Design Development: Elevations allow architects to refine and adjust their designs by presenting a clear view of the building’s proportions and aesthetic details. Changes in materials, finishes, and architectural elements can be explored and modified before construction begins, preventing costly alterations later.
• Pricing: Pricing exercises happen at various points throughout the design in order to keep the project on track. Your contractor will rely heavily on elevations for the information they need to calculate pricing.
• Regulatory Compliance: Elevations are often required for permits and approvals. These drawings help ensure that the building adheres to local building codes, zoning laws, and aesthetic guidelines set by municipal authorities or homeowner associations.
• Construction Guidance: During the construction phase, elevation drawings act as a reference for builders, ensuring that every aspect of the facade is constructed according to plan. This reduces the risk of errors and misinterpretations, helping to streamline the building process and achieve the intended results.

By incorporating elevations into the design process, architects can create buildings that are not only functional but also aesthetically cohesive and in harmony with their surroundings.

How Elevations Influence Building Permits and Construction

Elevations are almost always a part of getting approvals from HOAs and municipal and county planning departments. The rules can vary greatly in terms of how they want the building to fit into the context, but be prepared for them to give a close look at your buildings scale, proportions and materials.

When submitting plans for a building permit, or HOA/community approval, they will be looking at style, size (making sure it’s not too tall, or misproportioned in relation to your neighbors or the zoning rules) and things like fenestration calculations (some places want to make sure you have enough windows facing the street, some want to make sure you don’t have too many windows facing the street or overlooking your neighbors yards).

Conclusion: The Importance of Elevations in Architecture

Elevations are used to come up with design ideas, study scale and proportion, look at building materials, and communicate design intent and specifics with your builder/contractor. They are a fundamental component of architectural practice, playing a key role in the design of a building from concept to completion. As you get started on your project, expect to see elevation drawings used in many different ways as your project takes shape. Hopefully you come to appreciate the subtle sophistication of the art form!