Draw a Temple Facade: Roofline, Columns, and Steps

Object Drawing Lessons

This lesson teaches a reliable method for drawing a temple facade in flat elevation, not perspective. You will set a facade frame, place a roofline, space columns evenly, and build steps with consistent units. The convention is simple: all horizontal measurements use the same unit, and vertical placement is measured from the baseline to the midline for letter-height checks. Because drawing styles vary, the rubric accepts valid alternatives when proportions and spacing checks pass. Work through the worked example, then complete four self-contained exercises. Each exercise gives a prompt, an answer, reasoning, and a check method so you can verify your own drawing without an image.

Practice materials: Printable downloads are not available for this lesson yet. Use the instructions and four exercises below.

Set the facade frame and unit

Begin with a rectangle for the facade. Choose a unit length, such as one column width, and label it U. All horizontal spacing will be a multiple of U. For vertical placement, use the baseline-to-midline convention: the baseline is the bottom of the facade frame, and the midline is a horizontal guide halfway up the frame. This convention is for checking letter-height style marks and column height bands, not for forcing one universal letter shape.

Mark the baseline and midline lightly. Decide the total facade width in units, for example 7U, and the total height in units, for example 5U. These numbers are hypothetical examples; measure your own paper and adjust. Keep the same unit for every horizontal measurement so column spacing and step widths remain checkable.

1. Draw a rectangle and label its bottom edge baseline.
2. Draw a horizontal midline halfway up the rectangle.
3. Choose unit U and write it near the frame.
4. Mark total width and height in U on the frame edges.

Place the roofline

The roofline sits above the columns. In flat elevation, draw a horizontal roof base line and a simple triangular or trapezoidal roof profile above it. Keep the roof symmetric about the facade centerline. The roof base line should be one unit above the column tops, and the roof peak should be within the frame.

Check symmetry by measuring from the centerline to each roof corner. The two distances should match within your chosen tolerance, for example half a unit. If they do not match, adjust the roof corners before adding detail.

1. Draw the facade centerline vertically.
2. Mark the roof base line one unit above the column-top line.
3. Draw roof corners equal distances from the centerline.
4. Connect corners to the peak and check symmetry.

Space and draw columns

Columns are vertical bands between the roof base and the step top. Decide the number of columns, for example four, and the gap between them. Assume no edge margins: the outer columns sit flush with the facade edges, so four columns create three inter-column gaps. If the facade width is 7U, each column is 1U wide, and there are no edge margins, four columns use 4U and the three inter-column gaps use 3U of 1U each. This arithmetic is checkable: 4U for columns plus 3U for gaps equals 7U.

Draw each column as two vertical lines from the step top to the roof base. Use the midline to compare column height bands. Letter styles vary, so do not force identical decorative capitals; instead, keep the column width and spacing consistent. Valid alternatives include slight taper or simple capital marks, provided the spacing arithmetic still holds.

1. Write the column count and gap count.
2. Multiply column width by count and gap width by count.
3. Add the two products and compare to facade width.
4. Draw vertical column lines and check equal gaps.

Build steps with consistent units

Steps sit below the columns. Use the same unit U for step width and step height. For example, make the bottom step 7U wide and 1U high, with three steps; offset each higher step inward by half a unit on each side. The total step height is 3U. Check that the step top meets the column bases and that the bottom step sits on the baseline.

Draw each step as a horizontal rectangle. Offset each higher step inward by a small amount, for example half a unit on each side, so the steps read as a stack. Keep the offsets equal on left and right. Measure the actual equipment you use, such as a ruler or grid paper, and label any numerical values as hypothetical examples.

1. Mark three step heights of 1U each above the baseline.
2. Draw the bottom step full width.
3. Offset each higher step inward by equal amounts.
4. Check that the top step meets the column bases.

Worked example

Draw a temple facade 7U wide and 7U high with four columns, three gaps, and three steps. Use U as the column width and gap width. Place the roof base one unit above the column tops, and allow one unit above the roof base for the roof profile.

Four practice exercises

Common mistakes

• Using different units for column spacing and step width. Choose one unit U and express every horizontal measurement as a multiple of U.
• Placing the roofline off-center. Measure from the centerline to each roof corner and adjust until the distances match.
• Drawing columns with unequal gaps. Count columns and gaps, multiply by U, and compare the sum to the facade width before drawing.
• Letting the top step overlap the column bases. Set the step top exactly at the column-base line and check the total step height.

Self-check rubric

• Facade frame is a rectangle with baseline and midline marked.
• One unit U is defined and used consistently for horizontal measurements.
• Roofline is symmetric about the centerline within the chosen tolerance.
• Column count and gap count arithmetic matches the facade width.
• Column widths and gaps are equal within the chosen tolerance.
• Steps use the same unit U and meet the column bases.
• Valid alternative column styles are accepted if spacing checks pass.
• All numerical values are labeled as hypothetical examples.

Questions and answers