BUILDING ELEVATIONS
A building elevation is the image of abuilding projected
orthographically onto a vertical picture plane. Building
elevations convey the external appearance of a building.
compressed onto a single plane of projection. They
therefore emphasize the exterior vertical faces of a
building parallel to the picture plane and define its
silhouette in space. They can also illustrate the t exture
and patternof cladding materials, as well as the location.
type. and dimensions of window and door openings.
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To show abuilding's relationship to the ground plane,
building elevations should include a section cut through the
• ground mass on which the structure sits. This vertical cut
is typically at some distance in front of the building. This
distance varies according to what information we wish to
display in front of the building and to what degree this
context will obscure the form and features of the building.
We normally orient the picture plane to be para llel
to one of the principal faces of the building. This
enables all planes parallel to the picture plane to
retaintheir true size. shape. and proportions.
Any plane that is curved or oblique to the picture
plane will appear foreshortened.
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