Designing & drawing elevations

Designing Elevations

ln this chapter youwill learn to:. apply the principles

and elements ofdesign (Chapter 2)

to creating eleva-tion drawings.

. recognize differentroof styles as

options for roofdesign.

. select and designwindow styles inrelation to elementsof design and win-dow functions.

. locate doors on anelevation design,considering style,size, and types ofdoors.

eave lineelevation drawingsfenestrationgableground lineoverhangpitchridge lineriserunslope (roof)

Elevation drawings, or elevations, show the vertical sur-faces of a structure. Interior elevations, discussed later inChapter 16, show interior walls. Exterior elevation draw-ings show the entire front, sides, and rear of a stmcture.In this chapter, you wiII learn how to apply the elements ofdesign to creating the exterior form of a building, includ-ing the selection of roof, window and door styles.

The term "elevation" also refers to the vertical surfacesthemselves. Designing the elevations of a structure is onlyone part of the total design process. However, the eleva-tion design reflects the part of the building that peoplesee. The entire structure may be judged by the elevations.

I Attractive exterior elevations can make the whole structure moreappealing. Georgia Pacific

284

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Relationship with theFloor PIan

Since a structure is designed from theinside out, the design of the floor plannormally precedes the design of the ele-vation. The complete design processrequires a continual relationship betweenthe elevation and the floor plan.

Flexibility is possible in the design ofelevations, even in those designed fromthe same floor plan. Once the location ofdoors, windows, and chimneys has beenestablished on the floor plan, the develop-ment of an attractive and functional eleva-tion for the structure depends on variousfactors. Roof style, overhang, grade-lineposition, and the relationship of windows,doors, and chimneys to the building llnemust be considered. Choosing a desirable

! elevation design is not an automatic

€ process that follows the floor-plan design,E but a creative process that requires

F imagination.

E The designer should keep in mind thatg only horizontal distances can be estab-&, Iished on the floor plan. However, on an

E elevation, vertical heights, such as heights

E of windows, doors, and roofs, must also be

€ shown. As these vertical heights are

E established, the appearance of the outsideE and the way that the heights affect the

$ internal functions of the building must be

E considered.

EG

E Elements of Design andF Elevations&tr Creating floor plans is a process of# allocating interior space to meet func-g tional needs. Designing elevationsp involves combining the elements of design

CHAPTER 15 - DESIGNING ELEVATIONS 285

to create functional and attractive build-ing exteriors.

The principles and elements of designwere defined in Chapter 2. In this chapter,the elements of design (line, form, space,color, light, materials, and texture) areapplied to the creation of elevations. Thetotal appearance of an elevation dependson the relationship among its componentparts, such as surfaces, roofs, windows,doors, and chimneys. The balance of theseparts, the emphasis placed on variouscomponents of the elevation, the textureof the surfaces, the light, the color, and theshadow patterns all greatly affect the gen-eral appearance of an elevation.

LinesThe lines of an elevation tend to create

either a horizontal or vertical emphasis.The major horizontal lines of an elevationare the ground line, eave line, and ridgeline. If these lines are accented, theemphasis will be placed on the horizontal.If the emphasis is placed on vertical linessuch as corner posts and columns, theemphasis will be vertical. In general, a lowbuilding will usually appear longer andeven lower if the design consists mostly ofhorizontal lines. The reverse is true fortall buildings with vertical lines.

Lines should be consistent. The lines ofan elevation should appear to flowtogether as one integrated line pattern.Conti.nuing a line through an elevation fora long distance is usually better thanbreaking the line and starting it again.Rhythm can be developed \Mith lines, andlines can be repeated in various patterns.

Wtren additions are made to an existingdesign, care must be taken to ensure thatthe lines of the addition are consistent

I286 PART 4 _ BASIC ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS

with the established lines of the structure.The lines of the component parts of anelevation should relate to each other, andthe overall shape should reflect the basicshape of the building.

Form and SpaceLines combine to produce form and cre-

ate the geometric shape of an elevation.Elevation shapes should be balanced. Theterm "balance" refers to the symmetry ofthe elevation. Formal balance is usedextensively in colonial and period styles ofarchitecture. Informal balance is more

A. One-story.

B. One-and-one-half-story.

widely used in contemporary residentialarchitecture and in ranch and split-levelstyles. (Refer back to Chapter 2.)

Vertical space (elevation) emphasis, oraccent, can be achieved by several differ-ent devices. An area may be accented bymass, color, or material.

In addition to the elements of design,the basic architectural style of a buildingneeds to be considered when designingelevations. A building's style is moreclosely identified by the elevation designthan by any other factor.

The type of building structure must alsobe compatible with the architectural styleof the elevation. However, within basicstyles of architecture, there is consider-able flexibility in the type of structure. Fig-ure 15-1 shows the basic types ofstructures. The elevation design can bechanged to fit the building site andlor tocreate the appearance ofseveral differentarchitectural styles, as long as the basicbuilding type is consistent with that style.

Fig. 15-1 I Basic types of structures. National Lum-be r M a nufactu re rs Assoc.

D. Split-level.

a!s

C. Two-story. E. Bilevel.

Elevations should appear as one inte-gral and functional facade, rather than as

asurface in which holes have been cut forwindows and doors and other structuralcomponents. Doors, windows, and chim-ney lines should be part of a continuouspattern of the elevation and should notappear to exist alone. See Fig. 15-2.

Light and ColorAn elevation that is composed of all

light areas or all dark areas tends to beuninteresting and neutral. Some balarc--ring of light, shade, and color is desirablein most elevations. Shadow patternscan be created by depressing specificareas, using overhangs, texturing, andvarying colors. Door and window trim,columns, battens (strips covering joints),and overhangs can be used to create mostshadows.

Materials and Texture


Fig. 15-2 I Windows and doors should be related tothe major lines of the structure.

A. Unrelated.

B. Related.

Design Sequence for

EETtrtrtrmnm

An elevation may contain many kindsof materials, such as glass, wood,masonry, and ceramics. These must becarefully and tastefully balanced for thedesign to be effective. An elevation com-posed of too many similar materials isineffective and neutral. Likewise, an ele-vation that uses too many different mate-rials is equally objectionable. In choosingmaterials for elevations, designers shouldnot mix horizontal and vertical siding ordifferent types of masonry. If brick is theprimary masonry, brick should be usedthroughout. It should not be mixed withstone. Similarly, it is not desirable to mixdifferent types of brick or stone.

Creating ElevationsThe first step in elevation design is to

choose an architectural style. (Refer toChapter 1.) Then sketch the outline of anexterior wall showing the roof shape andthe position of doors, windows, and otherkey features such as chimneys or dormers.

Next, create a series of progressivesketches to develop an elevation design.Experiment with different roof styles, doorand window designs, siding materials forthe exterior walls, overhangs, chimneyshapes, roof materials, and trim varia-tions. Sketches can also show variousarchitectural styles derived from thesame floor plan. See Fig. 15-3.

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2BB PART 4 _ BASIC ARCHITECTURAI DRAWINGS

Fig. 15-3 I Progressive elevation line sketches usingdifferent architectural styles for the floor plan in Fig.14-20.

Roof Style and TypeTo design elevations, a designer needs

to know roof styles and which style bestmatches the building's overall style. Thereare many styles of roofs. The gable, hip,flat and shed styles are the rnost popuiar.See Fig. 15-4. Other features which affectthe appearance of the roof must also beconsidered. These include the size andshape of dormers, skylights, vents, chim-neys, and cupolas. In addition to style, theoverhang size and the roof pitch {angle)must be determined during the designprocess.

Roof framing plans are subsequentlydeveloped from the basic roof design thatis developed. A roof plan shows the out-line of the top view of a roof with solidridge, valley, and chimney lines. Dashedlines represent the outline of the floorplan under the roof. Small arrows showthe slope direction. Refer again to Fig. 15-

4. (Detailed information on roof framingdrawings is presented in Chapter 30.)

GABLE ROOFS A gable is the triangularend of a building. Roofs that flt over thisarea are gabled roofs, or, more simply,gable roofs. Gable roofs are the most com-mon roof style because of their adaptabil-ity to a wide variety of architectural styles,from colonial to contemporary. They alsodrain and ventilate easily.

Variations of gable roofs include A-frames, winged, and pleated gables.A-frame roofs extend to the floor line, cre-ating continuous ceilings and walls inside.Winged gable roofs are created by extend-ing the ridge overhang further than theoverhang at the corners. See Fig. 15-5,page 290. Pleated (folded plate) roofs con-sist of a series of aligned and connectedsmall gable roofs. Refer again to Fig. 15-4.

HIP ROOFS Hip roofs provide eave-lineprotection around the entire perimeter ofa building. The hip roof overhangs shadewindows that would not be shaded at agabled end. For this reason, hip roofs arevery popular in warm climates. See Fig.15-6, page 290. Another variation of thehip roof is the Dutch hip. A Dutch hip iscreated by extending the ridge outward tomake a partial gable end at the top of thehip. Refer again to Fig. 15-4.

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Fig. 15-4 I The roof plan and elevation views of many roof styles.

FLAT ROOFS When a lowbuilding silhou-ette is desirable, flat roofs are ideal. Flatroofs have a slight slope (yu" to Yz" per foot)

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for drainage, unless water is used as aninsulator. They can also function as deckson multilevel structures. Flat roofs do not

-

290 PART 4 - BASIC ARCHITECTURAI DRAWINGS

lig. 1!:5 I. larg.g winged gable roof supported by columns. Two Creek Ranch, Fayetteville, TX-LindiShrovi k, Coldwel I Banker

Fig. 15-6 I _The house in this elevation drawing contains both gable and hip roofs. John Henry, Archi-tect; Jones Clayton, Construction

have the structural advantage normallygained by rafters leaning on a ridgeboard. Heavier rafters (ceiling joists) areneeded. Because of snow-load problemsin cold climates, flat roofs are most popu-lar in warm climates. See Fig. 15-7.

SHED ROOFS A shed roof is aflat roof thatis slanted. If the down slope faces south,

shed roofs are ideal for solar panels.When clerestory windows are addedbetween offsetting shed roofs, light can beprovided for the center of a building.Again, see Fig. 15-4. Many industrial build-ings use multiple shed roofs andclerestory windows in a sawtooth patternto maximize center Iight.

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CHAPTER 15 - DESIGNING ELEVATIONS 29I

VAULTED ROOFS Vaulted roofs are curvedpanel roofs. They are composed of a seriesof manufactured curved panels which areerected side by side between two bearingwalls. This arrangement allows for largeropen areas since the curved constructionis structurally stable.

BERMUDA ROOFS Bermuda roofs origi-nated on the island of Bermuda in theCaribbean Sea. There the large fasciaareas characteristic of the design areused to collect rainwater. This designeffect is often used as a feature in otherareas of the world. See Fig. 15-8.

DOME AND DOME-SHAPED ROOFS As youiearned in Chapter 1, domes have beenused in architecture for centuries. Domeroofs, iike A-frames, provide both roof andwalls in one structuraiiy sound unit.

Fig. 15-7 I Flat roofs can also function as decks onmulti level structures. E a g I e s Nest-Pon te Ve rd r aBeach, FL; Robert C. Boward, Architect; E. JoyceReesh, Arvida

BUTTERFLY ROOFS TWo shed roofs whichslope to the center create a butterfly roof.This roof style allows for higher outsidewalls which can provide more lightACCESS.

GAMBREL ROOFS Gambrel roofs are dou-ble-pitched roofs. They are also known asbarn roofs. Gambrel roofs are the distin-guishing feature of Dutch colonial houses.They are used to create more headroomin one-and-one-half story homes.

MANSARD ROOFS Mansard roofs are dou-bie-pitched hip roofs with the outside con-structed at a very steep pitch. This type ofroof is used on French provincial homes.(Refer back to Fig. 1-9.)

Fig. 15-8 I The repetition of the large, Bermuda-like fascia and ridge caps is used as a major lineemphasis in this house design. Edna Carvin, Remax

292 PART 4 _ BASIC ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS

Because there is no need for internal sup-port walls or columns, completely openfloor space and flexible room sizes arepossible.

The geodesic dome, developed by R.Buckminster Fuller, can be inexpensivelymass produced at relatively low cost.Actually, geodesic domes are not true"domes." They are series of triangleswhich are combined to form hexagonsand pentagons. See Fig. 15-9.

There are several restrictions toremember in designing dome structures.The use of domes for residential construc-tion restricts the design to a predeter-mined area. Working with walls that arenot plumb (exactly vertical) creates prob-

lems in fitting cabinets, fixtures, appli-ances, and furniture effectively into thedesign.

NEW TECHNOLOGY AND ROOF STYLES Thedevelopment of new building materialsand methods in molded plywood, plastics,and reinforced concrete has led to thedevelopment of many shapes of roofs. Theconoid, cylindrical parabolic, and hyper-bolic parabolic roofs are among the mostrecent designs. Again, refer to Fig. 15-4.

ROOF OVERHANG The overhang is the por-tion of the roof that projects past the out-side walls. Sufficient roof overhang shouldbe provided to afford protection from thesun, rain, and snow. See Fig. 15-10. Thelength and angle of the overhang greatlyaffects a roof's appearance and ability toprovide protection. Figure 15-11 shows

Fig. 15-10 I Effects of long and short overhangsun and rain protection.

Fig. 15-9 I Epcot Center Geodesic Dome. Geodesicdomes, as developed by Buckminster Fuller, can bebuilt quite large because the weight is transmittedthrough the structural members to the circumfer-ence of the base. James Eismont Photo

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Fig. 15-12 I The shape of the overhang may vary.Western Wood Products

Fig. 15-11 I The angle of the roof determineslong the overhang needs to be.

that when the pitch is low, a larger over-hang is needed to provide protection.However, if the overhang of a high-pitchroof is extended to equal the protection ofthe low-pitch overhang, it may block theview from the building. To provide protec-tion and, at the same time, allow sufficientIight to enter the windows, slatted over-hangs may be used.

The fascia edge of an overhang does notalways need to parallel the sides of ahouse. See Fig. 15-12. The amount of over-hang is also determined by architecturalstyle. Large gable end overhangs, such asthe g' overhang shown in Fig. 15-13, mustbe supported by columns. Some gable

Fig. 15-13 f This large overhang provides protec-tion to the lanais area below.

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SUN'S RAYS

PART 4 - BASIC ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS

overhangs are enclosed to form a soffi.t asshown in the photo on page 284.

ROOF PITCH In designi.ng roofs, the pitchor angle of the roof must be determined.The slope is the ratio of the rise over therun. The run is the horizontal distancebetween the ridge and the outside wall.The rise is the vertical distance betweenthe top of the wall and the ridge. The runis always shown in units of tz. Therefore aslope of 6/tz means the roof rises 6" for

Fig. 15-14 I Position windows according to thefunctions of interior areas. Small Homes Council

every 12" of run. The pitch is the ratio ofthe rise over the span. Pitch is covered inmore detail in Chapters 16 and 30.

Window StylesWindows are designed and located to

provide light, ventilation, a view, and-insome climates-heat. To accomplish thesegoals, the size, location, and shape of'eachwindow must be planned according to thefollowing guidelines:

1. Relate window lines to the elevationshape to avoid a tacked-on look, asshown in Fig. 15-24.

2. Plan window height to allow for furni-ture and built-in components that areplaced near windows. See Fig. 15-14.

3. Plan window sizes to match availablestandard sizes. Refer back to Fig. 14-13.

4. Decide which windows need to openfor ventilation and which should befixed. See Fig. 15-15.

Fig. 15-15 I Locating awning windows below fixedglass windows provides both ventilation and light.Kolbe & Kolbe lnc.

ry

5. Be sure each window functions fromthe inside as required.

6. Position windows to access the bestviews. Avoid window placement thatexposes undesirable views. Avoid mul-lions and muntins if they restrict views.See Fig. 15-16.

Z.In warm climates, minimize theamount of window space on the southand maxirnize north-facing windows.Do the reverse in cold climates.

B. Keep the window style consistent withthe architectural style of the house.

g. Where possible, align the tops of allwi.ndows and doors in each elevation.

10.If the building has more than one level,vertically align the sides of windowswhere possible.

11. Don't allow small areas between win-dows and other major features such as

Fig. 15-16 I Mullions and muntins may be used asdecorative features. Kolbe & Kolbe Inc.


fireplaces. Design windows and majorcomponents to fill spaces.

12. If windows are to provide the entirelight source during daylight hours,twenty percent of the room's floor areashould be windowed. Ten percent isconsidered minimum.

13. Windows that provide ventilationshould be located to capture prevailingbreezes and provide the best air circu-lation.

14. If possible, locate windows on morethan one wall in each room, to providefor the best distribution of light andventilation.

15. Fenestration is the arrangement ofwindows or openings in a wall.Arrange fenestration patterns to con-form to the elements of design. See Fig.15-17.

Fig. 15-17 I A well-designed elevation with win-dow and door openings aligned. Eagle Window andDoor

296 PART 4 - BASIC ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS

FIXED DORMER DOUBLE-DOUBLE HUNG

Fig. 15-18 I lnterior view of common window types.

CLERESTORY RIBBONCATHEDRAL CORNER

PICTURE WALL IN.SWING CASEMENT

AWNING SLIDERS DOUBLE HUNG

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Fig. 15-19 I Elevation symbols used to identify types of windows.

WINDOW TYPES Windows slide, swing,pivot, or remain fixed. Choosing the rightwindow type for each need requires aknowledge of the function and operationof each type.See Fig. 15-18. Figure 15-19

shows the elevation symbols for the mostcommon window types.

Door StylesThe style , size, and location of doors do

not have as great an effect on elevationdesign as windows. This is because of thelimited options among door sizes and fordoor locations. Usually an elevation willeither have only one door or will containno doors at all. Nevertheless, the princi-

ples of placement relative to other eleva-tion features is the same for doors as forwindows. Refer back to Fig. 15-2.

Door types fall into three main cate-gories: exterior, interior, and garagedoors. Exterior doors provide securityand visual privacy. Interior doors provideprivacy and sound control betweenrooms. Figure 15-20 shows an elevationview of the most common types of interiorand exterior doors.

Detailed information about doors iscontained in a door schedule and cross-referenced to floor plans and/or eleva-tions. Door framing information ispresented in Chapter 29.

DBL HUNG

298 PART 4 - BASIC ARCHITECTURAI DRAWINGS

PANEL DOORS WITH TRIM PATTERNS

Fig. 15-20 I Common types of doors as representedon elevation drawings.

DUTCH SLAB SLABTRADITIONAL FAN LIGHT

Redesiga the elevation fromExercise 2, moving the doors andwindows and changing the mate-rials. Be sure the door and win-dow lines relate to the majorIines of the building.Complete Exercise 1 using a CADsystem.Collect pictures of roofs, win-dows, and doors that you particu-larly like. Try to identifii housestyles for which they are bestsuited.

SLABFLUSH

GLASS PANEL DOOBS

3.l. Sketch an elevation of your owndesign. Trace the elevation fourtimes drawing in a flat roof, gableroof, shed roof, and butterfiy roof.Choose the one you like best andthe one that is most functional foryour design. Expiain why youmade that choice.Sketch the front elevation of yourhome or a home you like. Changethe roof style, but keep it consis-tent with the major iines of theelevation. Move or change thedoors and windows to improvethe design.

4.

5.2.

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Drawing ElevationsThe main features of the outside of a building are

shown on elevation drawings. Exterior elevation drawingsare orthographic representations of the exterior of astructure. These drawings are prepared to show thedesign, materials, dimensions, and final appearance ofthe structure's exterior components. In a building, thesecomponents include doors, windows, the surfaces of thesides, and the roof. Interior as well as exterior elevationdrawings are projected from floor plans. Dimensions areused to show sizes, and elevation symbols are used toindicate various features on the drawings.

I An elevation drawing of a structure shows a direct view of one sideor wall. Image BanklG.K. & Vikki Hart

ln this chapter youwill learn:. to follow steps to

project elevationsfrom a floor planand complete an

elevation drawing.. to draw accurately

scaled and dimen-sioned elevations.

. to mathematicallyestablish the pitchof a roof.

. symbols used onelevations.

. pictorialdrawingand renderingtechniques to useon elevations,

auxiliary elevationdatum lineexterior elevation

drawingsfinished dimensionsframing dimensionsinterior elevation

drawingsorthographic

projectionpresentation

drawingsprofile drawingsslope diagramspan

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299

PART 4 - BASIC ARCHITECTI'RAL DRAWINGS

Elevation ProjectionIn orthographic (multiview) proiection,

related views of an object are shown as ifthey were on a two-dimensional, flatplane. To visualize and understand ortho-graphic projection, imagine a buildingsurrounded by a transparent box, asshorm in Fig. 16-1. If you draw the outlineof the structure on the transparent planesthat make up the box, you may create sev-eral orthographic views. For example, thefront view is on the front plane, the sideview on the side plane, and the top viewon the top {horizontal) plane. If the planesof the top, bottom, and sides were hingedand swung out away from the box, asshoum in Fig. 16-2, six views of the housewould be created. Note how each view is

positioned on an orthographic drawing.Study the position of each view as itrelates to the front view The right side isto the right of the front view. The left sideis to the left, the top (roofl view is on thetop, and the bottom view is on the bottom.The rear view is placed to the left of theleft-side view since, if this view werehinged around to the back, it would fallinto this position.

Notice that the length of the front viewtop (roofl view, and bottom view areexactly the same as the length of the rearview. Notice also that the heights andalignments of the front view, right side,Ieft side, and rear view are the same.Memorize the position of these views andremember that the lengths of the front,

ROOF PLAN

HORIZONTAL PLANEOF PROJECTION

RIGHT-SIDE PLANEOF PROJECTION

FRONT PLANEOF PROJECTION

Fig. 16-1 I A projection box shows three planes of a building.

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CHAPTER 16 _ DRAWING ELEVATIONS 301

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FRONTBOTTOM VIEW (basement area) ELEVATION

Fig.16-2 I Six orthographic (multiview) views are shown when the box is opened and laid flat.

bottom, and top views are a,Iwa,ys thesame. Similarly, the heights of the rear,Ieft, front, and right side are always t}:.esame.

All six views are rarely used to depictarchitectural structures. Instead, onlyfour elevations {sides) are usualiy shown.The top roof view is used to create floorplans. The roof plan is developed from thetop view. The bottom view of a floor is notdeveloped. Instead the foundation under-neath the structure is described by a floorplan and elevation section.

Figure 16-3 shows how elevations areprojected from the floor plan. The posi-tions of the chimney, doors, windows,

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RIGHT ELEVATION

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Fig. 16-3 I Elevation planes of projection.

A-R,CHITECTURAI DRAWINGS

-302 PART 4 _ BASIC

overhang, and building corners are pro-jected directly from the floor plan to theelevation plane.

Purposes of Projected ElevationDrawings

Elevation drawings are used to showthe design of the finished appearance of astructure. Elevations are dravrn to anexact scale, usually the same as the floorplan. For this reason, elevations accu-rately represent all height dimensionsthat are not shown on floor plans. Thestyle of wi.ndows, doors, and siding arealso indicated on elevation drawings. Thevertical position of all horizontal planes,

Fig. 15-4 I Relationship of site plan and

such as ground lines, floor lines, ceilingIines, deck or patio lines, and roof linesare only revealed on elevation drawings.Lines below the ground line such as foun-dation and footing lines are drar,rm bydashed lines.

Only through the use of elevation draw-ings can the vertical relationship of build-ing components be visualized. Forexample, on the site plan in Fig. 16-4A,heights are shown by the contour lines.However, little height detail is apparentwithout the elevation drawing shown inFig. 16-48. Elevation drawings of a siteare known as profile drawings. Thesedrawings show a section cut through theterrain.

profile drawing. Bracken, Arrigoni, & Ross, Inc.

A. Site plan. Note the contour lines that showelevation.

B. Elevation drawing ofSection B from the siteplan. Note how the verticalrelationship of buildings inthe site plan becomesapparent in the elevationdrawing.

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Drawing Elevations froma Floor PIan

Think of an elevation as a drawingplaced on a flat, vertical plane. Figure 16-5

shows how a vertical plane is related toand projected from a floor Plan.

OrientationFour elevations are normally projected

by extending lines outward from each wallof the floor plan. When these elevationsare classified according to their location,

CHAPTER 16 - DRAWING ELEVATIONS 303

they are called the front, rear (or back),right, and left elevation. When these ele-vations are projected on the same draw-ing sheet, the rear elevation appears to be

upside down and the right and left eleva-tions appear to rest on their sides. See

Fig. 16-6. Because of the large size of mostcombined floor plan and elevation draw-ings, and because of the need to show ele-vations as normally seen, the elevationdrawing is rotated so each elevation canbe drawn with the ground line on the bot-tom. See Fig. 16-7.

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Fig. 16-5 I Projection of vertical elevation plans from a floor plan.

304 PART 4 _ BASIC ARCHITECTIMAI DRAWINGS

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SOUTH ELEVATION(FRONT)

The north, east, south, and west com-pass points are often used to describe andlabel elevation drawings. This method ispreferred because it reduces the chanceof elevation callout error. When thismethod is used, the north arrow on thefloor plan or site plan is the key. Forexample, in Fig. 16-6, the rear elevation isfacing norbh. Therefore, the rear elevationis also the north elevation. The front ele-vation is the south elevation, the left ele-vation is the west elevation, and the rightelevation is the east elevation.

When elevations do not align exactlywith the four major compass points, asplit compass reading may be used. SeeFig. 16-8.

Fig. 16-6 I Orientation of elevations byproperty and compass direction.

Fig.16-7 I Elevations are drawn with the ground lineat the bottom in a horizontal position.

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CHAPTER 16 - DRAWING ELEVATIONS

Fig. 16-8 I Elevations for the house require split compass labeling.

16GA GALV SHIELD SPARK ABRESTOR

305

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LANAIS LEVEL

SOUTHWEST ELEVATION

A. Southwest elevation.

B. Elevation under construction. Diane KingstonPhoto

Auxiliary ElevationsA floor plan may have walls at angles

which deviate from the normal90". Thensome lines and surfaces on the elevationsmay appear shortened because of thereceding angles. An auxiliary elevationview may then be necessary to clarifiz thetrue size of the elevation. To proiect anauxiliary elevation, follow the same

C. Compare features as shown on the drawing withthe actlal appearance in the finished structure.Diane Kingston Photo

projection procedures as for other eleva-tion drawings. See Fig. 16-9. When an aux-iliary elevation is drawn, it is prepared inaddition to-and does not replace-otherstandard elevation drawings.

Auxiliary elevations are also used todescribe vertical design features of sepa-rate structures which cannot be shown onplan views. See Fig. 16-10.

h!-

306 PART 4 _ BASIC ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS

Fig. 16-91 Project the auxiliary elevation perpen-dicular to the wall of the floor plan from whichyou are projecting. Home Planners, lnc.

Fig. 15-101 Auxiliary elevation used to showfeatures of a separate structure.

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Elevations and ConstructionFraming elevations show the position,

type, and size of members needed forconstructing the framework of a struc-ture. When these are not PrePared,builders relv solely on exterior and inte-rior elevations for the height of framingmembers. This means that precise dimen-sions on the elevation drawings are cru- icial for accurate construction. Figure 16-8 s

shows an exterior elevation drawing thatwas drawn from the floor plan shovm inFrg. l4-2O. It also shows the related eleva-tion under construction and in compietedform. Observe and match the features ofthe elevation drawing with the framingdetails and appearance of the finishedexterior. Look ahead also to Fig.22-2foranother view of the same house.

Steps in Projecting ElevationsThe major lines of an elevation drawing

are derived by proiecting vertical linesfrom the floor plan to the elevation draw-ing plane and measuring the position ofhorizontal lines from the ground line. To

develop an elevation drawing whichexactly reflects the features of a floorplan, refer to Fig. 16-11 and follow thesesteps:1 Using the floor plan, proiect the vertical

Lines that represent the main lines ofthe building. These lines show the over-all length or width of the building. Theyalso show the width of doors, windows,and the major parts or offsets of thebuilding.

When projecting an elevation on aCAD system, use the grid pick functionto project the major lines from the floorplan to the elevation plane. During thedrawing process, floor plans can berotated 90'to position each elevation

CHAPTER 16 _ DRAWII{G ELEVATIONS 307

Fig. 16-1 1tions.Step 1

I Steps in projecting and drawing eleva-

Steps 3 and 4

SOUTH ELEVATION SCALE:1A"=1'-o"

Steps 5 and 5

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3OB PART 4 - BASIC ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS

with the ground line on the bottom dur-ing the drawing process. Some archi-tectural software can create elevationsfrom floor plans if height dimensionsare input.

2 Measure and project hori,zontal linesthat represent the height of the groundline, footing, doors, tops and bottoms ofwindows, chimney, siding, breaks,planters, and other key features. Toeliminate the repetition of measuringeach of these lines for each elevation, asheet showing the scaled lines is oftenprepared. See Fig. 16-12.

3 Complete the basi,c elevati,on First,develop the roof elevation projection. Inorder to determine the height of theeave and ridge line, the roof slope(angle) must be established. On a high-slope roof, there is a greater distancebetween the ridge line and the eaveline than on a low-slope roof. See Fig.16-13. Pitch is the angle of the roofdescribed in terms of the ratio of therise over the span (rise,/span) described

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Fig.'16-12 I Scaled horizontal reference lines canbe transferred to all elevations.

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Fig. 16-13 I Examples of a high-slope roof and arow-slope rooT.

in terms of the ratio of the rise over therun (rise,/span). Span is the horizontaldistance covered by a roof. Rise is thevertical distance. The run is alwaysexpressed in units of tz. The span is therun doubled. Therefore the span isalways expressed in units of Zq.

After the pitch is established, aslope diagram must be drawn on theelevation, as shown in Fig. 16-14. Theslope diagram is developed on theworking drawings by the drafter. Thecarpenter must work with the pitchfraction (ratio) to determine the angleof the rafters from a pitch angle table,so the ends of the rafters can be cor-rectly cut. Double the run to find thespan. The span is the distance betweenthe supports of the roof. It is a constantof z+. Place the rise over the span (24)and reduce if necessary. This fraction isused by the carpenter to determine therafter angle in degrees.

A roof elevation can be projectedfrom a roof plan. See Fig. 16-15. Notethat the end ofevery eave, and every

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Fig. 16-14 I Steps in drawing a roof slope diagram.

Fig. 16-15 I Projection of eave, valley, and ridge in-tersections to create a roof elevation.

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THE RELATIONSHIP (pToiection) OFTHE ELEVATIONS AND ROOF PLAN

vailey and ridge intersection is pro-jected at a right angle to the plan viewoutline. Figure 16-16 shows a compari-son of roof dimensions between eleva-tion views of common roof types.

4 Establi,sh the intersecti,on of aLI verticaland horizontal Lines, including the eaveand ridge line. These represent the out-line of all features to be shown on theelevation. After they are established,darken the lines to identiSz the positionof each.

5 Add details and synxbols, such as indi-cating door and window trj.m, mullions,muntins, siding, and roofi.ng materials.

6 Add final di,mensions, Labels, and notes.Many different elevation styles can be

projected from one floor plan. The roofstyle, pitch, overhang, grade level, win-dows, chimney, and doors can all bemanipulated to create different effects.

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Fiq. 16-16 I Note how the X, Y and Z dimensions oneich roof plan are the same as those on thecorresponding elevation drawing.

310 PART 4 - BASIC ARCHITECTURAT DRAWINGS

Elevation SymbolsSymbols are needed to clarify and sim-

plifii elevation drawings. They help todescribe the basic features of an eleva-tion. Some symbols identify door and win-dow styles and positions. Standardizedpatterns of dots, iines, and shapes showthe types of building materials used onexterior walls. These kinds of symbols onan elevation make the drawing appearmore realistic. See Fig. 16-17.

Material SymbolsMost standard architectural symbols

resemble the material they represent.However, in many cases the symbol doesnot show the exact appearance of thematerial. For example, the symbol forbrick does not include all the iines shownin a pictorial drawing. Refer again to Fig.16-17. Representing brick on an elevationdrawing exactly as it appears is a long,laborious, and unnecessary process. Many

Fig.16-17 I Relationship between materialsymbols used on an elevation and the actualmaterial as it is used in construction.

elevation symbols appear as if the mater-ial were viewed from a distance.

When using a CAD system, elevationsymbols such as doors and windows canbe stored in symbol libraries. For exam-ple, the material symbols function can beused to add siding material symbols onelevation surfaces. See Fig. 16-18.

Fig. 16-18 I Material symbolson a computer-generated eleva-tion. Autodesk, lnc.

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Window SymbolsThe position and style of windows

greatly affects the appearance of eleva-tions. Windows are, therefore, drav'rr on

tig.16-19 I Elevation window symbols.

A. Typical elevation symbols for fixed windows.

B. Methods of showing sliding, awning, andcasement windows on elevations.


the elevation with as much detail as thescale of the drawing permits. Parts of win-dows that should be shown on all elevationdrawings include the sill, sash, muilions,and muntins, if any. See Fig. 16-19.

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3I2 PART 4 - BASIC ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS

In addition to showing the parts of awindow, it is also necessary to show thedirection of the hinge for casement andawning windows. Dotted lines are used onelevation drawings, as show in Fig. i6-20.The point of the dashed line shows thepart of the window to which the hinge isattached.

Many different styles of windows areavailable. Refer back to Fig. 15-18. Theseillustrations show the normal amount ofdetail used in drawing windows on eleva-tions. An alternative method of showingwindow styles on elevation drawings isused to include one window detail foreach style on the plan drawn to a largerscale. See Fig. 16-21. When the elevation

COMPLETED WINDOW DETAIL _

ONE DRAWING FOR EACHTYPE OF WINDOW USED

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TYPE B WINDOWSEE SHEET 7

TYPE C WINDOWSEE SHEET 8

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ABBREVIATED REFERENCE NOTES

Fig.16-21 I A single window detail may beprepared to show a window style.

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drawing is prepared, the size and outlinedposition of the window are shown with aletter or number to refer to a detail draw-ing. This detail drawing is also indexed toa window schedule which contains com-plete purchasing, framing, and instalia-tion data for each window. (See Chapter35 for examples of schedules.)

Door SymbolsDoors are shown on elevation drawings

by methods similar to those used for illus-trating window styles and positions. Theyare either drawn completely, if the scalepermits, or shown in abbreviated form.Sometimes the outline is indexed to adoor schedule. See Fig. 16-22. The com-

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TYPE 2 DOOR

Fig.16-22 I Use of code index to indicate doordetails.

plete drawing of the doot whether shownon the elevation drawing sheet or as adetail drawing on a separate sheet,should show the division of panels andlights, siII, jamb, and head-trim details.

Many exterior door styles are available.Refer back to Fig. 15-20. The total rela-tionship of the door and trim to the entireelevation cannot be seen unless the doortrim is also shown. Exterior doors are nor-mally larger than interior doors. Exteriordoors must provide access for larger

Fig. 16-23 I Elevations are made of verticalinterior areas.

/G\ r'ioRruresr KrrcHEN wALLryA. Kitchen elevation drawing.

amounts of traffic and large enough topermit the movement of furniture. Theymust also be thick enough to provide ade-quate safety, insulation, and sound barri-ers. Refer back to Fig. 14-9 for commondoor sizes.

lnterior ElevationsAs exterior eievations illustrate the

outside walls, interior elevation drawingsare necessary to show the design of inte-rior walls (vertical planes). Because of theneed to show cabinet height and counterarrangement detail, interior wall eleva-tions are most often prepared for kitchenand bathroom walls. See Fig. 16-23. Aninterior waII elevation shows the appear-ance of the wail as viewed from the centerof the room.

A coding system is used to identify thewalls on the floor plans for which interiorelevations have been prepared. The code

B. Completed construction of the same area. DianeKingston Photo

CO]VIPLEIED DOOR DETAILONE DRAW]NG FOR EACH TYPEOF DOOR USED IN IHE STBUCTURE

ABBREV ATED REFEFENCE NOTES

TYPE 1 DOOF

1O'SERVINGSHELF V


symbol tells the direction of the view, theelevation detail number, and the page orsheet number. See Fig. 16-24.If only a fewinterior elevations are prepared, then thetitle of the room and the compass direc-tion of the wall are the only identifi.cationneeded.

Fig.16-24 I lnterior elevation drawing coded from a floor plan.

Steps in Drawing an lnteriorElevation

The following steps in drawing an inte-rior elevation are outlined in Fig. 16-25:

I Provide a drawing of the floor plan.2 Project lines perpendicular from the

floor plan outline at each corner.

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DIRECTION OF ELEVATIONS

ELEVATION CALLOUT

CHAPTER 16 . DRAWING ELEVATIONS

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STEP 3- DRAWFLOOR LINE ANDCEILING LINEFOR INTERIORELEVATIONS.

STEP 2. PROJECTPERPENDICULARLINES FOR INTERIOBELEVATION

STEP 4. COMPLETEFLOOR PLAN ANDINTERIORELEVATIONS.

STEP 1. OUTLINETHE FLOOF PLAN

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!Fig. 16-25 I Sequence of drawing interior elevations.

3 Add ceiling lines and floor lines to giveeach wall its specified height.

4 Project lines directly from the key loca-tions on the floor plan to each elevationdrawing. This includes cabinets, appli-ances, windows, and other details.Projecting the interior elevation in this

manner is appropriate for accurate draw-ing, but results in an elevation drawn onits side or upside down. Therefore, inte-rior elevation drawings, like exterior ele-vations, are not left in the position as theywere originally projected from the floorplans. Interior elevations are repositionedso that each floor line appears on the bot-tom as a room would normally be viewed.

Once the features of the wall are pro-jected to the elevation from the floor plan,dimensions, instructional notes, and addi-tional features can be added to the draw-ing. See Fig. 16-26.

Interior elevations provide a greatamount of detail: the height of all cabi-nets, shelving, ledges, railings, waII lamps,fixtures, valances, mirrors, chair rails,electrical outlets, switches, landings, andstair profiIes. Elevation drawings alsoinclude wall surface treatment labeling.See Fig. 16-27. Using a common floor lineand ceiling line for: several elevationseliminates much layout work. In some sit-uations, an interior eievation can span

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Fig. 16-26I Complete interior drawing.

Fig.16-27 I The elevation in A includes the details of

several levels, as shown in Fig. 16-28.(Check the floor plan in Fig. l4-2O for thesources of elevations shown in Figs. 16-23,

16-27, and 16-28.)

the room shown in B and C.

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A. This type of interior elevation can be prepared for each outsidewall.

B. Elevation under construction. James EismontPhoto

C. Area after construction wascompleted. James Eismont Photo

6"X12'STUCCOCOVERED COLUMNS

CHAPTER 16 _ DRAWING ELEVATIONS 3t7

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tig. 16-281 Two-level interior elevation drawing.

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A, This elevation includes the stairwell, foyer, andtwo bath walls.

Elevation DimensioningThe vertical (height) dimensions are as

important on elevation drawings as hori-zontal (width and length) dimensions areon floor plans. Many dimensions on eleva-tion drawings show the vertical distancefrom a datum line. The datum line is a ref-erence that remains constant. Sea level iscommonly used as the datum or basic ref-erence for many drawings. However, anygiven line can be conveniently used as abase or datum line for vertical reference.

Dimensions on elevation drawingsshow height above the ground line. Theyalso show the vertical distance from the

B. Area after construction was completed. James Ers-mont Photo

floor line to the ceiling and roof ridge andeave lines, and to the tops of chimneys,doors, and windows. Distances below theground line are shown by dotted lines.

Standards and Guidelines forDimensioning

Elevation dimensions must conform tobasic standards to ensure consistency ofinterpretation. The arrows on the eleva-tion drawing in Fig. 16-29 show the appli-cations of the following guidelines forelevation dimensioning:

1. Vertical elevation dimensions shouldbe read from the right side of thedrawing.

2. Leveis to be dimensioned should belabeled with a note, abbreviation, orterm.


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Fig.'16-29 I Arrows indicate portions of the drawing referred to in the guidelines for dimensioning.

3. Room heights are shown by dimen-sioning from the floor line to the ceil-ing iine.

4. The depth of footings is dimensionedfrom the ground line.

5. Heights of windows and doors aredimensioned from the floor line to thetop of the windows or doors.

6. Elevation dimensions show only verti-cal distances (height). Horizontal dis-tances tlength and width) are shor,rmon floor plans.

7. Windows and doors may be indexed bya code or symbol to a door or windowschedule, if the style of the windowsand doors are not shoum on the eleva-tion drawing. See aiso Fig. 16-30.

B. The slope of the roof is shown by indi-cating the rise over the run.

9. Di.mensions for small, complex, orobscure areas should be indexed to aseparate detail.

10. Ground-line eievations are expressedas heights above a datum point (forexample, sea level).

1 1. Heights of chimneys above the ridgeIine are dimensioned.

Floor and ceiling lines are shown withhidden li.nes.Heights of planters, fences, and wallsare dimensioned from the ground line.Thicknesses of slabs are dimensioned.Overall height dimensions are placedon the outside of subdimensions.Thicknesses of footings are dimen-sioned.Refer to Fig. 16-31. When the level tobe dimensioned is obscure orextremely close to other dimensions,use an elevation line symbol and labelthe level line.

18. Datum must be identified with a note,if not part of the elevation drawing.

e@@@Fig. 16-30 I Code used on an elevation drawing torefer to a door or window schedule.

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Types of DimensionsTWo types of elevation dimensions are

used, framing dimensions and finisheddimensions. Framing dimensions showthe actual distances between framingmembers. This is the most commonmethod and is preferred by most builders.To avoid an accumulation of measuringerrors, framing member dimensions areoften dimensioned to their centers.


and exterior elevations, but dimensionedonly on the exterior elevation drawings.Many other features or components-suchas cabinets, shelving, counters, ledges,railings, wall lamps, switches and recepta-cies-can only be dimensioned on interiorelevations. See Fig. 16-32.

Landscape on ElevationDrawings

Creating a Realistic DrawingElevation drawings, although accurate

in every detail, do not show exactly howthe building will appear when it is com-plete and landscaped. The reason is thatelevation drawings do not show the posi-tion of trees, shrubbery, and other land-scape features that would be part of thetotal elevation design. Adding these land-scape features to the elevation drawingcreates a more realistic drawing or ren-dering of the house.

Finished dimensions show the actualvertical distances between finished fea-tures, such as from the finished floor tofrnished ceiling levels. These two types ofdimensions should not be alternatelyused on the same drawing, unless theexception is clearly noted. A note on eachdrawing or set of drawings should indi-cate which method is used.

Interior vs. Exterior DimensioningFeatures that are shared by an interior

and exterior wall, such as doors and win-dows, are usually shown on both interior

Fig. 16-32 I Typical dimensions used on an interiorelevation drawing.

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Fig. 16-33 I Adding landscape features to an eleva-tion give lt a more realistic appearance.

Steps for Making LandscapedElevations

An elevation drawing is converted intoa landscape elevation drawing in severalbasic steps, as shovm in Fig. 16-35. Aftermaterial symbols are placed on the eleva-tion, the positions of trees and shrubs areadded. The elevation lines within the out-lines of the trees and shrubs are erased,and details are added. Finally, shade linesare added to trees, windows, roof over-hangs, chimneys, and other major projec-tions of the house.

Fig. 15-35 I Sequence of adding surface treatmentsand landscape features to an elevation.

A. Before landscape rendering.

B. After landscape rendering.

Figure 16-33 shows some of the advan-tages of adding rendered landscape fea-tures to an elevation drawing. Theelevation shoum in Fig. 16-33,4., whendimensioned, would be adequate for con-struction purposes. However, the illustra-tion shown in Fig. 16-338 more closelyresembles the final appearance of thehouse. Dimensions and hidden iines areomitted.

When landscape features are added toelevations, the drawings function as pre-sentation drawings. These presentationdrawings are prepared only to interpretthe final appearance of the building pri-marily to clients. They are not used forconstruction purposes. See Fig. 16-34.

Fig. 16-34 I An elevation rendering can be used toshow clients the expected appearance of the structureafter construction has been cbmpleted. Jenkins & ChinShue lncorporated

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Drawing and RenderingTechniques

The addition of landscape featuresshould not hide the basic lines of thehouse. If many trees or shrubs are placedin front of the house, it is best to drawthem in their winter state. Different

Fig. 16-36 I Methods of adding landscape features to elevation drawings.

A. Line drawing. B. Wash drawing.

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Project the front, rear right, andIeft elevations of a floor plan ofyour own design. Add elevationsymbols.Draw a kitchen wall eievation of akitchen of your design.Sketch and dimension the frontelevation of your home oranother home that you are famil-iar with.Using a CAD system develop alibrary of sSrmbols for elevationsto use in drawing your owndesign. Note or list which symbols

CHAPTER 16 - DRAWING ELEVATIONS 32I

drawing techniques may be used. See Fig.16-36. The drafter should use the mediumthat best suits the elevation drawing to berendered. (See Chapters 18, 19, and 20 forinformation about making pictorial draw-ings and landscape renderings.)

are already included in the CADprogram.Project and sketch or draw thefront elevation suggested in oneof the pictorial drawings in Chap-ter 19.

Copy five of the trees, shrubs, orplants as practice for creating alandscape rendering. Then cre-ate one with shadows to an eleva-tion of your own design.Complete Exercises 1 and 2 usinga CAD system.

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Designing & drawing elevations