Architectural Drawings Research Articles

Not a Temple but a Tomb: The Architectural Drawings on Pap. Berlin P 15781 and 15782A + B

Summary Based on a reassessment of the papyri Pap. Berlin P 15871 and 1582A+B with the correction of several readings, particularly one of the three determinatives of (i) “shrine”, the key word for their earlier interpretations, it is suggested that the architectural drawings do not show a rock cut temple or a hemi-speos but KV 5, the so-called tomb of the sons of Ramesses II in the Valley of the Kings. Differences in the handwriting, in the depiction of the bedrock pattern surrounding the rectangular rooms, and other observations suggest that more than one person was involved in the creation of the architectural drawings. As suggested in the past, they belonged to at least two different papyri. Terms referring to work in progress indicate that the papyri are related to work in progress, as opposed to other architectural drawings which represent the beginning or final stages of tomb construction projects.

Application of PV on Commercial Building Facades: An Investigation into the Impact of Architectural and Structural Features

The rapid global transition toward renewable energy necessitates innovative solar PV deployment strategies beyond conventional roof installations. In this context, commercial building facades represent an expansive yet underutilized resource for solar energy harvesting in urban areas. However, existing studies on commercial rooftop solar PV predominantly focus on European contexts, neglecting the unique design constraints and performance trade-offs present in regions such as the Middle East. This study addresses this gap by specifically investigating the impact of architectural and structural features on the utilizable facade area for PV deployment in commercial buildings within the hot desert climate of Saudi Arabia. Detailed case studies of twelve representative buildings are conducted, combining architectural drawing analysis, on-site measurements, and stakeholder surveys. The methodology identified sixteen parameters across three categories—facade functionality, orientation suitability, and surrounding obstructions—that impose technical and non-technical restrictions on photovoltaic integration 3D modeling, and irradiance simulations revealed that, on average, just 31% of the total vertical facade area remained suitable for PV systems after accounting for the diverse architectural and contextual limitations. The study considered 698 kWh/m2 of solar irradiance as the minimum threshold for PV integration. Shopping malls displayed the lowest utilizability, with near-zero potential, as extensive opaque construction, brand signage, and shading diminish viability. Offices exhibited the highest utilizability of 36%, owing to glazed facades and unobstructed surroundings. Hotels and hospitals presented intermediate potential. Overall, the average facade utilizability factor across buildings was a mere 16%, highlighting the significant hurdles imposed by contemporary envelope configurations. Orientation unsuitability further eliminated 12% of the initially viable area. Surrounding shading contributed an additional 0.92% loss. The results quantify the sensitivity of facades to aspects such as material choices, geometric complexity, building form, and urban context. While posing challenges, the building facade resource holds immense untapped potential for solar-based urban renewal. The study highlights the need for early architectural integration, facade-specific PV product development, and urban planning interventions to maximize the renewable energy potential of commercial facades as our cities rapidly evolve into smart solar energy landscapes.

Gothic Locks: Pioneering Drawings for Hydraulic Works in 16th-Century Holland

Just as Gothic cathedrals have long dominated the perception of medieval architecture, the spectacular drawings of the German lodges have shaped our view of the medieval design process. However, their towering importance has diverted scholarly attention from alternative drafting practices and reinforced the view of a homogeneous Gothic design practice based on quadrature. Historians generally accept that in the 16th century a new Renaissance graphic language challenged and ultimately replaced the Gothic tradition north of the Alps. However, this antagonistic narrative of one dominant practice superseding the other needs to be re-examined because hitherto neglected drawings for other types of buildings reveal that medieval drafting practice was more varied and open to new developments than is often believed. This paper will examine three rare sets of architectural drawings, together consisting of over thirty sheets, made for three stone sluices in the provinces of Utrecht and Holland between 1556 and 1563. They show that for technically demanding hydraulic works, drawings directed every step of the process, from enabling discussion of the most suitable design to guiding the stonemasons in the execution of the work. Moreover, they demonstrate that for such projects, Gothic masters did not adhere to tradition but engaged with new design methods, using scale, colour, and multiple views to convey all aspects of the project, thus indicating that changes in style and method were not always interrelated.

On the Assessment of Wind Microclimate in a Complex Urban Environment Utilising Computational Fluid Dynamics

This paper presents an insight and key considerations for using Computation Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to simulate the Wind Microclimate in a Complex Urban Environment. The current study involved developing a local 10m height “reference” wind rose for the project site and then combining statistical meteorological data with aerodynamic information and wind comfort and wind safety criteria. Where wind speeds were found to be at undesirable wind levels at areas of interest (ground level, podium level, terraces, balconies, etc.), recommendations were made to reduce detrimental wind effects, e.g. using landscaping, porous windbreaks, canopies, etc. The criteria used in the evaluation of pedestrian-level winds surrounding the proposed development were based on the well-established “Lawson” criteria which couple the probability of exceeding winds at given statistical levels with wind speed magnitudes originally related to the Beaufort Land Scale. To take into account the influence of the immediate surrounding environment, all neighboring buildings and local topography within a diameter of almost 1,000 m around the site were included in the developed CFD model. Furthermore, all small canopies, balconies, and semi-open spaces were modeled in detail as per the provided architectural drawings. Based on a mesh sensitivity assessment, polyhedral elements were used for the entire computational domain. CFD analysis offers a comprehensive range of output including the velocity distribution in three directions and turbulence levels, allowing the identification of hot spot areas that have potentially unacceptable wind conditions for further assessment and mitigation treatments to reduce wind speed to acceptable levels. The baseline (no mitigation) scenario simulation results contributed to a better understanding of the environmental wind impact for the project at the site, enabling a targeted approach to the development of effective windbreak options This paper provides a comprehensive approach toward the establishment of a robust CFD assessment of human comfort to ensure that proposed building developments and their streetscapes create a comfortable wind environment to live and visit.

Fitting blueprints in a lighting policy: possibilities for exhibiting architectural drawings

This article describes the lighting policy framework of Het Nieuwe Instituut, the national museum and archive for architecture, design and digital culture in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The framework combines relative cultural value, light sensitivity and acceptable loss of value due to colour change into recommended annual light doses for objects. To fit the blueprints into the policy, the loss of value upon fading and regain of the blue colour was studied. As other studies have shown, the fading of Prussian blue due to photo-reduction was reversed by the oxidation of the formed Prussian white in the dark. Overall colour changes remained unnoticeable to the naked eye. Although blueprints are highly sensitive to light, the loss of value after exhibition is minimal, therefore display possibilities are wider than thought. Nonetheless, pristine blueprints should be displayed with care when their colour is a character-determining feature. Additionally, some architectural drawings may look like blueprints but have been produced by different techniques and may fall in the ‘high’ light sensitivity class as they can never regain their colour.

Investigating daylighting quality in educational spaces following building renovation

Abstract Daylighting is essential to the well-being of occupants in educational spaces. It increases students’ performance and provides an opportunity for achieving energy efficiency, as well as indoor visual and thermal comfort. However, daylight performance is rarely accounted for when taking decisions attributed to building renovation. This results in increased or decreased daylighting lighting levels and glare which jeopardizes the functional requirements of the space. Hence, this study adopted a mixed qualitative/quantitative approach to compare two recently renovated educational spaces (architectural design studio drawing halls) in terms of the effect of renovation activities on daylighting and visual comfort, noting that both spaces were located in the same building and subject to similar prevailing climatic conditions. This included a sequence of site measurements, surveys and simulations. The results showed great variation between both studied spaces in terms of daylight efficiency and visual comfort. Some design proposals were tested in order to deduct learnt lessons for proper accounting of daylight during building renovation plans.

Using Data Mining Applications to Analyze the Grades of Students in the Department of Construction and Civil Engineering: A Case Study at the Higher Institute of Science and Technology – Kufra

This study presents to analyze the grades of students in the department of construction and civil engineering in the department of construction and civil engineering, specializing in architectural drawing and surveying, from the Spring semester (2006-2007) until the Fall semester (2010-2011). The goal was to understand the factors influencing students' grades, as well as the lack of interest in the department due to the difficulty in obtaining grades of previous graduates. To address the issue of student data accumulation. The study also sought to explore various methods to achieve specific results and establish a digital repository of student data to support decision-makers in understanding student outcomes. The significance of the study lies in predicting and analyzing students' grades in the department of construction and civil engineering, as well as understanding students' lack of interest and identifying weaknesses in academic courses. The present study employed an analytical research methodology. The K-Means Clustering Algorithm was used for data mining to identify factors leading to academic underachievement. the study results showed that a repetition of subjects within the curriculum for architectural drawing and surveying for more than one academic semester or course. The study results also showed that the differences in students' grades between the architectural drawing and surveying branches, with the architectural drawing branch having higher grades at 6.65 compared to 5.56 for the surveying branch. Then the study recommended the necessity of building a database for the institute's students and conducting a balance between the subjects and courses for the students of the architectural drawing department, as well as conducting workshops to update the study materials.

Identifying Legal, BIM Data and Visualization Requirements to Form Legal Spaces and Developing a Web-Based 3D Cadastre Prototype: A Case Study of Condominium Building

Over the past decade, numerous countries and researchers have been investigating the potential of 3D cadastre based on the Building Information Model (BIM). In Türkiye, the General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre (GDLRC) has been engaged in the “Production of 3D City Models and Creation of 3D Cadastral Bases Project” since 2018. One of the objectives is to develop 3D (physical) digital building models (and databases) through the digitization of floor plans of architectural drawings. In order to ensure the long-term viability of this project, a new regulation was issued in 2021. This regulation mandates the submission of 3D digital building models to the land registry in order to register condominiums. The future goals of the GDLRC include utilizing the 3D digital building models produced to create legal spaces in condominium buildings for the 3D cadastre. However, no research has yet been carried out for this goal. The objective of this research is to identify the legal and BIM data requirements for deriving legal spaces in condominium buildings, in light of the legislative analysis, and to develop a web-based 3D cadastre visualization prototype (showing both legal spaces and physical objects) based on the requirements obtained from the scientific literature. The result of this research demonstrates that well-structured and annotated BIM data can be used to develop a 3D cadastre prototype that meets the legal requirements in the case of Türkiye. Moreover, it is evident that, although the GDLRC has initiated the construction of a robust foundation for a 3D cadastre based on BIM, further enhancements and resolutions must be implemented from a legal and technical standpoint. It is postulated that the identified requirements and the proposed methodology in this research may assist decision-makers in Türkiye and globally in formulating their strategic plans for a 3D cadastre.

Navigating Delays: A Comprehensive Study of Public Building Retrofitting Projects in Kathmandu Valley

The objective of the study was to find out the present scenario of delays of retrofitting of public building with case of 11projects of Kathmandu valley. An observation and study of the project document is carried out along with questionnaire survey with 50 respondents. The maximum rate of delay in the retrofitting project is found to be 167% time overrun and minimum is found to be 42% of time overrun. Only one project among them is within the schedule with physical progress of 22%. A multiple linear regression analysis was performed to examine the influence of the variables Time overrun (Months) and Time extension with respect to initial contract (%) on the variable Physical Progress. A model summary model is obtained as follows: Physical Progress = 0.57 + 0.02 * Time overrun (Months) - 0.15 * Time extension with respect to initial contract (%) The top ranked specific delay contributing factors in a retrofitting project are as found as Impractical project schedule and duration (frequent changes in critical path), Unavailability of the numbers and skilled workforce for retrofitting projects, Delays occurred due to lack of coherence in architectural, structural, electrical, sanitary, and HVAC drawings, Approvals of shop drawings submitted by the contractor and Unavailability of the specific materials as per BOQ.

The palace of Charles V in the Alhambra: graphic analysis of the ‘large plan’ (circa 1532)

Around 1526, Emperor Charles V decided to build a new Renaissance palace in addition to the Nasrid palaces in the Alhambra of Granada, a monumental site currently included in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) World Heritage List. In that period, a large floor plan, which is preserved today at the Library of the Royal Palace of Madrid, was drawn to represent the building and its surroundings. Although this anonymous drawing has attracted considerable historiographic interest, a study of the graphical aspects analysed here, namely, paper assemblage, drawing technique, representation system, metrology, graphical scale, dimensioning, and labelling, is lacking. To accomplish this analysis, the original document was carefully examined and digitalised with high definition. This process allowed a comprehensive graphic analysis, utilising other drawings from the same period as a comparative reference and studying for the first time the major characteristics of one of the most relevant architectural drawings of the 16th century.

Architectural drawing at Gdańsk University of Technology from 1904 to 2024

The article analyzed the programs and teaching methods at the Faculty of Architecture of the Gdańsk University of Technology in terms of hand drawing as the basic means of architectural teaching in the 20th century. Contemporary changes in this area are also presented. The Gdańsk University of Technology (Technische Hochschule Danzig) was established in 1904 as a university with German as the language of instruction. The Faculty of Archi- tecture existed there from the beginning. In 1945, the former was transformed into the Polish Gdańsk University of Technology (Politechnika Gdańska). After 1945, the Faculty of Architecture of the Gdańsk University of Technology continued mainly the traditions of the two faculties existing before World War II at the Lviv University of Technology and the Warsaw University of Technology, and the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Vilnius. The most important was the tradition of the Lviv school, from which the curricu- lum was transferred almost unchanged after 1945 and from which most of the teachers at the Gdańsk Faculty came.

History and Present of Architectural Drawing Teaching in Krakow

This paper presents the nearly eight decades of activity of the Chair of Drawing, Painting and Sculpture of the Faculty of Architecture at the Cracow University of Technology. It is one of the oldest teaching bodies of its kind in Poland. Its history and contemporaneity are linked to Krakow, a city of cultural, academic and artistic significance in Poland. Over the years, the department’s name, its research and teaching profile have evolved, although the continuation of the curriculum and the achievements of successive masters and teachers has always been important. Initially, the curriculum included the study of drawing, painting and model-making, but was always dedicated to architects. In later years, teaching was redirected to the needs of the future architect’s professional skillset, and served defining intent, communicating and imaging designs using various tools, including contemporary ones.

Automatic generation of architecture drawings from point clouds

AbstractTraditional methods for producing architectural drawings require extensive manual labor. This paper proposes an automated method for generating a comprehensive set of three‐view drawings, including the standardized labeling of doors and annotation of dimensions and areas. The output drawings are software‐readable and editable, and the method is applicable to intricate structures with non‐orthogonal or curved walls. To fully validate the accuracy of the proposed method, two distinct building scenarios were selected for experimentation.

Diaphanous Bodies: A Hauntology of the Mediating Image

AbstractThe contemporary world is so dependent on the virtual, with its constantly morphing and invisibly magical potentialities, that it is somewhat paradoxical that the speculative, explorative aspect of architectural drawing is so undervalued in this context. The profession's computerised quick‐fix, feed‐me, satisfy‐me normative mentality has limited truck with the intangible. Peter J Baldwin writes an ode to the phantasmagorical and the ephemeral, citing it as a useful tool to enhance and liberate the creative design mind. Allied with tactics of re‐reading and post‐rationalisation, he constructs a spectral ‘machine’ for making work.

Intelligent design and optimization system for shear wall structures based on large language models and generative artificial intelligence

Intelligent design technology for shear wall structures has great potential for enhancing design efficiency and addressing the challenges of tedious and repetitive design tasks. Recently, there has been a surge in the development of this technology. However, existing deep learning-based design methods for shear wall structures suffer from poor quality and usability issues. To address these challenges, this study proposes an intelligent design and optimization system for shear wall structures based on large language models (LLMs) and generative artificial intelligence (AI). The system employs an LLM as the core controller, which interacts with engineers to interpret their language descriptions and translate them into executable computer code. Subsequently, the system utilizes the corresponding structural generation and optimization methods to accomplish intelligent design tasks automatically. Furthermore, the system incorporates such critical factors as the empirical rules, mechanical performance, and material consumption into the structural optimization process. A unique three-level, two-stage optimization method is constructed based on topology, pattern, and size to enhance the overall design quality. Being able to complete the entire workflow of architectural drawing processing, structural scheme generation, and analysis model establishment, the proposed system enables automated and efficient design of shear wall structures. Through the analysis and validation of multiple cases, it was demonstrated that this system can significantly speed up the design by approximately 30 times compared to that of traditional methods whilst ensuring the safety and cost-effectiveness of the design schemes. Consequently, this study provides valuable insights for the advancement of automated structural design undertakings.

Automatic Design Line Detection in Urban Building Images through DCT

The conversion of urban building images into design lines is a valuable technique used in architecture. It aids in theanalysis of design styles and building components. Recent studies have shown a significant interest in usingcomputational methods to examine the design lines in architectural images, such as plans, facades, and streetscapes.This research presents an automated approach that utilizes kernel filters to extract edges and reduce noise fromvarious architectural images. Additionally, it introduces a new filter that separates lines based on their directionsutilizing the Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT). The proposed technique generates distinct images that display thevertical, horizontal, and curved lines extracted from the original images. The results demonstrate that the proposedtechnique is efficient not only with architectural drawings but also with photographs of existing buildings. Thistechnique opens the door for further experimentation in artificial intelligence, computational aesthetics, imagerectification and calibration, and 3D building reconstruction.

Usefulness of architectural drawing in urban planning decision-making for façade interventions: the ensanche of San Sebastián

Usefulness of architectural drawing in urban planning decision-making for façade interventions: the ensanche of San Sebastián

Architectural and planning features of wooden orthodox Churches of Bukovyna using the example of the assumption church, 2 Novoushytska street, Chernivtsi

Wooden churches are an important part of Ukraine's cultural heritage. A significant portion of them has been identified, included in the State Register, and thus is under state protection. It should also be noted that the wooden architecture sites of western Ukraine were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2013 (nomination "Wooden Tserkvas of the Carpathian Region in Poland and Ukraine"). A characteristic feature of the Moldavian-Bukovinian type churches is a plan in the shape of an Orthodox cross. They also feature a high and steep wooden tent roof. The plan consists of three parts: the narthex, the nave, and the altar part. Above each part is a spherical vault in the shape of a half-sphere. The walls are made of wooden beams. The length of the wooden beam’s ranges from 3 to 6 meters. The entrance to the church is always located on the south facade. The prototype of all wooden churches of this type is considered to be the wooden church of the Putna Skete from the 14th century. The architectural monument of national significance, the Assumption Wooden Church, is an outstanding example of folk architecture. The church has retained its authenticity and has been located at its historic site since 1876. Its architectural and planning features lie in the preservation of the traditions of medieval folk architecture of wooden Orthodox churches in Bukovina, serving as a unique authentic example for researchers and restoration scientists The article provides an analysis of the architectural and planning features of the wooden Assumption of the Virgin Mary Church, one of the four wooden churches of national architectural significance located in the city of Chernivtsi. The impact of historical, cultural, and social factors on its architecture is analyzed. Methods and approaches to the preservation and restoration of wooden churches are considered, particularly the use of modern 3D scanning technologies for recording the state of the object and creating its phantom model. The article is illustrated with architectural drawings: site plan, floor plan, and elevations, and provides photographic documentation of facade and interior fragments.

A Digital Preservation for the Indonesian First Terminus

Abstract The presence of modernization in Indonesia is supported by several factors, one of which is the railway network. Unfortunately, despite its importance in Indonesian history, the first terminus in Indonesia – namely, Semarang Station – has almost been forgotten. Conservation efforts are needed to describe the architectural evolution of Semarang Station, which can provide a lens to see the adaptation efforts in the development process and the global impact of the establishment of a railway network in the colony. Moreover, digital reconstruction as architectural preservation is necessary to convey the station’s historical value. Given the limited access and scarcity of architectural drawings for Semarang Station, textual sources were used to validate the information from the visual sources. The digitalization of visual data produced 2D objects that were used as the basis for making 3D models; these 2D objects were identified using textual data to see the relationship between their architectural transformation and the events related to the building. The findings of the architectural morphology analysis were then used as data to produce the 3D models, which were the main target of the digital reconstruction. The result of this process is a reconstruction of the morphology of the Semarang Station that demonstrates its historical value.

Knowledge-Driven and Diffusion Model-Based Methods for Generating Historical Building Facades: A Case Study of Traditional Minnan Residences in China

The preservation of historical traditional architectural ensembles faces multifaceted challenges, and the need for facade renovation and updates has become increasingly prominent. In conventional architectural updating and renovation processes, assessing design schemes and the redesigning component are often time-consuming and labor-intensive. The knowledge-driven method utilizes a wide range of knowledge resources, such as historical documents, architectural drawings, and photographs, commonly used to guide and optimize the conservation, restoration, and management of architectural heritage. Recently, the emergence of artificial intelligence-generated content (AIGC) technologies has provided new solutions for creating architectural facades, introducing a new research paradigm to the renovation plans for historic districts with their variety of options and high efficiency. In this study, we propose a workflow combining Grasshopper with Stable Diffusion: starting with Grasshopper to generate concise line drawings, then using the ControlNet and low-rank adaptation (LoRA) models to produce images of traditional Minnan architectural facades, allowing designers to quickly preview and modify the facade designs during the renovation of traditional architectural clusters. Our research results demonstrate Stable Diffusion’s precise understanding and execution ability concerning architectural facade elements, capable of generating regional traditional architectural facades that meet architects’ requirements for style, size, and form based on existing images and prompt descriptions, revealing the immense potential for application in the renovation of traditional architectural groups and historic districts. It should be noted that the correlation between specific architectural images and proprietary term prompts still requires further addition due to the limitations of the database. Although the model generally performs well when trained on traditional Chinese ancient buildings, the accuracy and clarity of more complex decorative parts still need enhancement, necessitating further exploration of solutions for handling facade details in the future.