 The British Columbia Heritage Trust has prepared this manual to provide an explanation of the techniques used in recording buildings by means of "as found" drawings. The manual is written for interested laymen, students and practitioners in the field of heritage conservation who wish to increase their knowledge of this valuable tool. It is hoped that the manual will encourage individuals and organizations to undertake the recording of buildings in which they have a particular interest.
The term "as found drawings" means a set of line drawings that accurately and in some detail delineates the subject building (or artifact) in its existing condition. Another term that is used synonymously is "measured drawings," which points out the fact that such drawings are produced from measurements taken from the building. These drawings are therefore distinct from so-called "design" drawings, which are produced prior to and for the purpose of construction of a building.
There are several methods of graphic documentation of buildings. Ordinary black and white or colour photography is useful as a general record. Its use, however, is limited to unobstructed views of the exterior and interior. The resulting images are usually in perspective and are therefore not "to scale." Photogrametry, a specialized form of photography, utilizes photographic images and special techniques to produce scale drawings directly. It is a costly but effective method for certain applications. "As found" drawings, however, form the most complete record. Scale line drawings delineate not only the external and internal appearance, but also provide plans, sections, construction details, dimensions and annotations as to materials and condition. They are correspondingly more costly to make and their accuracy is dependent on the skill and care of the recorder. |
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The scope of an "as found" recording project will depend upon the intended purpose of the drawings. Drawings made in preparation for restoration or as an archival record of architecturally significant buildings will be extensive. In addition to the documentation of the appearance of external and internal habitable spaces, the drawings will illustrate cellars, attics and structural details. The will also include irregularities due to movement, wear and decomposition, such as cracks in plaster and wear patterns in floor boards. Drawing sets of this type often run to fifty or more sheets per building, along with supplementary photographs and a written report. On the other hand, a lesser degree of coverage is acceptable in drawings for other purposes, such as the CIHB 1 or HABS2 surveys. The HABS standards3 allow the recorder to select a group of significant features in any one building, resulting in a drawing output of between one and twenty sheets of drawings per building. For certain projects, one major aspect of a building may be documented for example, a particularly significant room or facade.
In referring to the extensive coverage above, it is not our intention to intimidate or discourage the reader. On the contrary, the reader is encouraged to make simple but accurate drawings of appropriate and worthy buildings which are of interest to him and to which he has access. It is only through actual practice of the techniques outlined in this paper that skills are developed and good judgement achieved.
Canadian Inventory of Historic Buildings
2 Historic American Buildings Survey
3 McKee, H.J. Recording Historic Buildings
Hyperlinked Words are defined in the Glossary.
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