apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Ah, when drawings were actually drawn...

In fact, I've been trying to figure out how to display drawings from my particular building which is a historical landmark.

I found about 20 sets of demolition plans in a dumpster so I kept a roll. There are some cool pages of the facade (art deco) that I would like to display in some way.

why are you calling them "building drawings"? aren't they blueprints?

art,
Architectural drawings are great for display and I highly encourage you to do it. I'd recommend getting copies of the more interesting sheets, to keep the sets intact (perhaps that's just the archivist in me talking). Framing individual drawings is one way to go, or you could turn it into a découpage project or even a patchwork wallpaper!

art and michelle,
I also love hanging old architectural drawings on display. I think simply framing the drawings (originals, even) looks the nicest as it doesn't take away anything from the drawing. But I think I'm biased since I draw them for a living.

It's just another way I like to consider architecture art. Even the drawings are beautiful.

I'm definitely going to either frame or wallpaper them. I was also able to take some cool photos of the building before it was rehabbed so between those, the drawings and a historical print that I have of the building, I think my entryway could serve as a sort of decorative homage to the architecture of the building in the various stages of its life.

These are diazo process "whiteprints" - true blueprints stopped normal use in the mid 60's. These were made by shining light thru paper or mylar onto treated paper and then the paper processed using amonia fumes. They are not truely stable - exposure to light (esp. sunlight) and air will yellow them fast!

If you want to frame, any reproduction firm can make copies to plain paper. (They scan and print.) They can even photoshop and apply effects such as true "blueprints" - white text on blue background. Some firms can also inkjet print to othe medias such as canvas. Good luck!

Ahh, I love whiteprints. And how is it that every architecture firm that ever hand-drew things decided on the same lettering style? I swear I practiced those very letterforms over and over at my parallel bar at my old office.

Does anybody still do the old UV exposure and ammonia fume construction document sets?