Functional Skills: Plans and Elevations

Drawing Plans and Elevations of 3D Shapes

Example: Draw a plan, a front elevation, and a side elevation of the following 3D shape.

Viewed from the side, this shape would have a width of 2 squares and a height of 1. So, the side elevation looks like this:

If we stood at the front of the shape, we’d see a width of 3 squares and a height of 1. So, the front elevation would look like this:

Finally, from above (plan view), we’d see an L-shape like this:

Drawing Plans and Elevations of More Complex 3D Shapes

For complex shapes, you may be given dimensions that you will need to use to draw the plans and elevations.

Example: A builder is planning on building the following 3D structure.

Draw the front elevation of the structure on the grid below.

1 square = 1 ft in real life

Start by drawing the dimensions you know:

• The width of the bottom of the front elevation is 8 ft, so this is 8 squares wide on the grid.
• The width of the top of the front elevation is 4 ft, so this is 4 squares wide on the grid.
• The middle of these two lines need to be inline vertically, and need to be 6 squares apart.

Finally, join up the two lines to make the front elevation: