Architects use a wealth of powerful tools throughout the entire architectural design process, but one of the most powerful is visual communication. All works need effectively illustration to convey the ideas, principles and concepts to everyone involved with the project – including clients, contractors and consultants.
When we start the architectural design process, we gather critical information from the client that provides a full understanding of their goals and objectives for their home. Custom house designs include looking into the client’s family needs, including pets, lifestyle and living pattern to inform an appropriate size and number of primary living spaces and other areas.
In the Beginning
At first, an architect prepares the concepts and visual communications at a basic level. Over time, the input from the client and family members refine the concepts and begin to see greater levels of detail as a result.
At each stage of development over the design stage, architectural designs are made that build the foundation that gets elaborated on as the project moves forward. This results in numerous sketches, drawings and model examples that the architect delivers to advance each aspect with review and feedback.
The architect prepares various detailed and graphic communications to illustrate the design intent and relationship to the site, landscape and natural topography. An experienced Cheadle Architect uses numerous tools, skills and strategies within these visual communications to communicate these architectural design concepts to clients who can only see a drawing of their home, providing an understanding of how everything works and looks more like art.
2D Toolset
A primary two-dimensional drawing at the beginning of the project is a Conceptual Site Plan, illustrating an aerial top-down view of the physical boundaries of the property intended for the build.
The site plan illustrates crucial features such as adjoining structures, utilities, roads, driveways, trees and vegetation – stretching to wetlands and water bodies. The architect will evaluate all factors – such as solar orientation to maximise natural daylight, environmental sustainability and existing topographical features.
As the design is furher developed, Architects in Cheadle create a computer-generated plan prepared with detailed and specific site information. The other recognised 2D drawing architects prepare is an Architectural Floor Plan. These drawings communicate the intended spatial configuration and adjacencies of each room on every floor the building will have.
Often initiated as hand drawings and sketches, these floor plans eventually feed into computer-aided drafting programs as the architecture develops.
Although these are only a few visual communication tools used by architects in Cheadle, these are tools we use to elevate the process of collaboration with our clients, consultants and contractors. At Cheadle Architects in Manchester, we have the skills to support effective communication to deliver world-class architectural services to our clients, no matter if it is a new build or a home renovation.
Contact Cheadle Architects today to find a natural partner for architectural services in Manchester.
