3
Architectural Drawing
Systems
The central task of architectural drawing is representing three-dimensional
forms, constructions. and spatial environments on a two-dimensional surface.
Three distinct types of drawing systems have evolved over t ime to accomplish
this mission: multiview, paraline, and perspective drawings. This chapter
describes these three major drawing systems, theprinciples behind their
construction, and their resulting pictorial characteristics. The discussion does
not include media that involve motion and animation, made possible by computer
technology. Nevertheless, these visual systems of representation constitute a
formal graphic language that is governed l;ly a consistent set of principles.
Understanding these principles and related conventions is the key to creating
and reading architectural drawings.