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DDA Week 6 Lecture - 25-02-2026


Digital Documentation for Architects 2026


Elevations, Sections & Enlarged Room Layouts (Assignment Parts 3–5)


1. From Site Plans to Vertical Information

This week’s lecture shifted from horizontal documentation (plans and site coordination) to vertical representation—specifically:

  • Elevations

  • Sections

  • Enlarged interior elevations (room layouts)

Sean began by reviewing previous submissions and reinforcing the importance of completing and linking site plans correctly before moving forward. The message was clear: documentation builds layer by layer.


2. Understanding Elevations: What Must Be Included?

The session began with a breakdown of what a proper architectural elevation should contain.

Students were asked to think critically about:

  • Elevation titles and scale

  • Grid lines

  • Finished floor levels

  • Roof slope information

  • Material annotations

  • Window and door indications

  • Callouts for enlarged areas

  • Clear labelling and annotation

Sean emphasized the difference between presentation elevations (clean, minimal, client-focused) and technical elevations (fully annotated and construction-ready).

For this assignment, the expectation is technical clarity.


3. Sections: Cutting Through the Building Properly

The lecture then moved to sections and their role in communicating construction intent.

Key components discussed:

  • Section markers (correct placement and referencing)

  • Structural build-ups

  • Floor-to-floor heights

  • Wall assemblies

  • Material notes

  • Relationship between interior and exterior levels

Students were reminded that sections must do more than “look correct”—they must explain how the building is built.


4. Enlarged Room Elevations (Interior Elevations)

A major focus of the session was the requirement for at least one full set of enlarged room documentation.

This includes:

  • Enlarged interior elevations

  • Clear dimensions

  • Material references

  • Joinery or fixture information

  • Annotation consistent with construction standards

Sean explained that while the assignment currently requires at least one, this may be revised to encourage documentation of multiple rooms for students who want to strengthen their submissions.

The key principle:

Enlarged drawings exist to remove ambiguity.

5. Interactive Miro Board Activity

To reinforce understanding, students participated in a Miro board exercise.

The task:

  • Identify and list the required elements of an elevation drawing

  • Add names and photos to responses

  • Complete at least two entries per person

This activity was designed to shift students from passive listening to active recognition of documentation components.

The exercise will be repeated at the start of the next class before the recording is published.


6. Technical vs Presentation Drawings

An important discussion emerged around the difference between drawing types:

Presentation Drawings:

  • Clean

  • Minimal annotation

  • Designed for visual clarity

Technical / Construction Drawings:

  • Fully dimensioned

  • Fully annotated

  • Include callouts and detail references

  • Designed for contractors and builders

Students were reminded that this module is focused on construction-ready documentation, not portfolio imagery.


7. Accuracy, Scale & Labelling

Sean reinforced several technical standards that apply across all submissions:

  • Correct drawing scales

  • Clear section markers

  • Consistent annotation styles

  • Accurate dimensions

  • Logical callout placement

  • Weekly updates to the full drawing package

Each week builds on the last. Elevations and sections must integrate seamlessly with previously completed site plans and floor plans.


8. Deliverables Moving Forward

Students must now ensure their packages include:

  • Site plan (correctly linked and positioned)

  • Elevations

  • Sections

  • At least one enlarged room elevation

  • Required details

  • All specified annotations and callouts

Everything should be updated weekly—not left until final submission.


9. Key Takeaways from This Week

By the end of this session, students should understand:

  • What distinguishes technical drawings from presentation drawings

  • The required components of elevations and sections

  • How enlarged room elevations improve construction clarity

  • Why detailed documentation reduces ambiguity

  • How to structure vertical drawings within a coordinated package

This week marks the shift from drawing “what it looks like” to documenting how it is built.

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