Introduction to Architectural Drawing (16+)

About This Class

This beginner-friendly course introduces participants to the fundamentals of architectural and interior drawing, combining technical drawing skills with observation, creativity, and personal visual expression.

Across eight sessions, participants progressively develop skills in sketching, perspective, floor plans, elevations, sections, architectural rendering, colour, and visual presentation. Throughout the course, participants apply these skills to the development of a final architectural project.

Class Outline

Session 1 – Architecture, Sketching & Visual Language

Participants are introduced to architectural drawing and visual communication, exploring architectural styles, symbols, line quality, proportion, and basic sketching techniques. They will also begin developing their own visual language and graphic style.

Outcome: Students create a series of quick architectural sketches and begin exploring a personal approach to visual representation.

Session 2 – Perspective Drawing

Students explore the fundamentals of perspective drawing, including horizon lines, vanishing points, and one-point and two-point perspective. These techniques are applied to simple objects and architectural spaces.

Outcome: Students produce an interior or exterior perspective drawing that demonstrates depth and spatial understanding.

Session 3 – Floor Plans & Spatial Planning

Students are introduced to technical architectural drawings, including scale, dimensions, walls, doors, windows, furniture symbols, and the fundamentals of spatial planning.

Outcome: Students select a small interior space and develop a basic floor plan that becomes the foundation of their final project.

Session 4 – Elevations & Sections

Students learn how elevations and sections communicate the vertical dimensions of a space and explore the relationship between plans, elevations, and sections.

Outcome: Students produce at least one elevation and one section based on their project floor plan.

Session 5 – Architectural Rendering: Light, Shadow & Materials

Using pencil and charcoal, students explore techniques for creating depth and atmosphere through light, shadow, texture, and material representation.

Outcome: Students develop rendered drawings that communicate depth, lighting, and material qualities.

Session 6 – Colour & Mixed Media

Students experiment with watercolor and mixed-media techniques to introduce colour, mood, atmosphere, and material expression into their architectural drawings.

Outcome: Students apply colour and mixed-media techniques to enhance the visual communication and atmosphere of their project.

Session 7 – Final Project Development & Presentation

Students bring together the technical and creative skills developed throughout the course to refine their final project. The session focuses on drawing completion, composition, presentation layout, and communicating a cohesive design concept.

Outcome: Students refine and assemble their floor plan, elevation, section, and rendered drawings into a cohesive final presentation.

Session 8 – Final Presentation & Critique

Students complete and present their final architectural projects. The session includes individual feedback and group critique, encouraging students to discuss their process, explain their design decisions, and reflect on their development throughout the course.

Outcome: Students present a completed architectural project incorporating a floor plan, elevation, section, and perspective or rendered drawing.

Final Project Development

Beginning in Session 3, students develop a small interior-space project that evolves throughout the remainder of the course. Each session adds another layer of architectural information and visual communication.

Session 3 – Floor Plan: Select a small interior space and establish its layout, scale, and basic dimensions.

Session 4 – Elevation & Section: Translate the floor plan into vertical drawings and develop a stronger three-dimensional understanding of the space.

Session 5 – Light, Shadow & Materials: Introduce depth, lighting, texture, and material qualities through architectural rendering.

Session 6 – Colour & Mixed Media: Explore watercolor and mixed media to communicate mood, atmosphere, and material expression.

Session 7 – Project Refinement & Presentation: Refine individual drawings and organize them into a cohesive architectural presentation.

Session 8 – Final Presentation & Critique: Present the completed project and receive individual and group feedback.

Materials needed

All materials required for this course will be provided by VCUarts Qatar. Participants are also welcome to bring or purchase their own preferred materials if they wish.

Materials used during the course include:

• Sketching paper
• Watercolor paper
• Pencil set, including erasers and sharpeners
• Drafting pens
• Tape
• Ruler
• Charcoal set
• Watercolor set and brushes

Schedule

Start: Sun 14, Mar, 2027
End: Wed, 7 Apr, 2027
Lessons: 8
Days: Sundays and Wednesdays
Time: 6–8 p.m.
Location: VCUarts Qatar Campus
Cost: QAR 950

Instructor

Nour AlAreed

Nour AlAreed is an interior designer with a BFA from VCUarts Qatar. With over three years of experience in a design firm, she specializes in creating functional interiors with a focus on retail spaces and innovative design solutions.

She has led charcoal drawing classes in collaboration with Katara Art Center and served as a teaching assistant in both Drawing and Interior Design studios at VCUarts Qatar. Her passion for design and education shapes her approach to creating impactful spaces and fostering creative growth in students