From vision to reality: Sonoma County architectural renderings and final products

Sonoma County has preserved architectural renderings that showcase the evolution of many local buildings. Take a look.|

From pen and ink to brick and mortar, architectural renderings are the first step in the building process, helping architects to conceptualize a project inside and out. The drawings help to communicate ideas to clients, to neighbors and to the public, they enable contractors to build it, and serve as a valuable record of a completed work.

Renderings showcase all perspectives of a structure providing dimensions, units of measurement and scales.

Although modern-day designers use CAD software to conceptualize new projects, even the builders of ancient cathedrals used architectural plans to help them work out problems and envision new means of construction.

The Sonoma County Heritage collection has preserved a number of architectural renderings, from pen and ink to blue print to computerized drawing, that showcase the evolution of the art form for many historic buildings in Sonoma County.

Click through our gallery to see how some of the renderings in their collection and the final result. Browse through more at heritage.sonomalibrary.org.

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