Usefulness of Architectural Drawing in Urban Planning Decision- Making for Façade Interventions: The Ensanche of San Sebastián

Abstract

The renovation of fa & ccedil;ades to improve energy efficiency has led to rapid and unregulated change in the landscape of cities. A loss of identity is occurring in urban centres, with previously unknown materials, textures and colours distorting the composition and style of buildings and their respective fa & ccedil;ade surfacing. This article considers the graphic research conducted to create a pilot system that encourages consistency in fa & ccedil;ade interventions. Modelling and rendering techniques can generate scenarios to test the consequences of certain regulations. Those graphic techniques were accordingly used to view different regulatory proposals applied to fa & ccedil;ades. More comparative decision-making based on realistic images is hence achieved, using graphic expression as a decision-making mechanism in urban planning.