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Description
Finally! I had to work at this plan a little at a time for the last three weeks because of other obligations, but I wanted to take my time and try something different by combining the perspective drawing with some internal structural sketches of the roof trusses. As usual, all these drawings are done by hand on paper 8 and a half by 11 inches, usually with sharp pencils in the lighter range, H, 2H, and 4H. I scan them, darken a bit, and tweak the color to sepia.

Usually, with perspective drawings. I draw them completely free-hand, no references, no computer help. HOWEVER, with this one, I had available to me a nicely done 3D computer model by T. Lebret [link] , so I asked him for some views, chose the best one, printed it out, and then I put some tracing vellum over it and traced the major outlines only, mostly roof ridges, bottoms of walls, dormer outlines, etc. I knew I would essentially be re-drawings almost everything, especially the "shaped" sculptural details and other complicated stuff that a computer model can't capture very well. Once I had most of it sketched, I went back into the roof structure and laid out the spacing of the trusses lightly, and began to sketch them in from a 2D rough elevation sketch of a single truss, (not pictured here.) I also sketched in the rear roof structure with slightly less-spectacular trusses.

The main trusses are visible, of course, from the ground floor and the second floor balcony/arcade that runs on either side of the interior of the main hall. Coupled with the high elongated rows of side dormers and the tiny upper dormers, the lighting effects on the trusses and other interior details would be spectacular indeed, similar to a gothic cathedral on a smaller scale. I wouldn't be opposed to some stained glass windows either!

From a design perspective, the point of this exercise was to push the limit with creative sculptural components, spectacular roof truss design, and medieval-inspired design components such as corbels, steep roofs, mixed materials, polychrome brickwork, slate roofs with colored ceramic tile accents, "fortified" turrets, and other medieval design devices. This building could have been built 300 years ago, or, it could be built now, with modern materials in some locations, an insulating layer in the roof, modern heating and cooling, plumbing and electrical, and use of modern structural materials where advantageous such as reinforced concrete.

Special emphasis was placed on the front wall. A symmetric design, it features a balanced composition of harmoniously combined sculptural elements, with beautiful front entry arches and a balcony for the town leaders to address the people. As always, proportion is key, and I always mix materials, in this case, primarily a smooth creamy-white stucco with some stone accents and a strip of half-timbering at the second floor level.

Enjoy!

Description
Finally! I had to work at this plan a little at a time for the last three weeks because of other obligations, but I wanted to take my time and try something different by combining the perspective drawing with some internal structural sketches of the roof trusses. As usual, all these drawings are done by hand on paper 8 and a half by 11 inches, usually with sharp pencils in the lighter range, H, 2H, and 4H. I scan them, darken a bit, and tweak the color to sepia.

Usually, with perspective drawings. I draw them completely free-hand, no references, no computer help. HOWEVER, with this one, I had available to me a nicely done 3D computer model by T. Lebret [link] , so I asked him for some views, chose the best one, printed it out, and then I put some tracing vellum over it and traced the major outlines only, mostly roof ridges, bottoms of walls, dormer outlines, etc. I knew I would essentially be re-drawings almost everything, especially the "shaped" sculptural details and other complicated stuff that a computer model can't capture very well. Once I had most of it sketched, I went back into the roof structure and laid out the spacing of the trusses lightly, and began to sketch them in from a 2D rough elevation sketch of a single truss, (not pictured here.) I also sketched in the rear roof structure with slightly less-spectacular trusses.

The main trusses are visible, of course, from the ground floor and the second floor balcony/arcade that runs on either side of the interior of the main hall. Coupled with the high elongated rows of side dormers and the tiny upper dormers, the lighting effects on the trusses and other interior details would be spectacular indeed, similar to a gothic cathedral on a smaller scale. I wouldn't be opposed to some stained glass windows either!

From a design perspective, the point of this exercise was to push the limit with creative sculptural components, spectacular roof truss design, and medieval-inspired design components such as corbels, steep roofs, mixed materials, polychrome brickwork, slate roofs with colored ceramic tile accents, "fortified" turrets, and other medieval design devices. This building could have been built 300 years ago, or, it could be built now, with modern materials in some locations, an insulating layer in the roof, modern heating and cooling, plumbing and electrical, and use of modern structural materials where advantageous such as reinforced concrete.

Special emphasis was placed on the front wall. A symmetric design, it features a balanced composition of harmoniously combined sculptural elements, with beautiful front entry arches and a balcony for the town leaders to address the people. As always, proportion is key, and I always mix materials, in this case, primarily a smooth creamy-white stucco with some stone accents and a strip of half-timbering at the second floor level.

Enjoy!