Buildings illustrations

Looking for a unique illustration of a building or architectural design? Then you've come to the right place!

My passion for buildings and architecture comes to life in my illustrations. I capture the unique details, from roof tiles to the distinctive textures of bricks. Each building has its own character and story, and I love translating that visually.
Whether it's a historic building, a modern design, or even your own home, I create both black and white and colorful illustrations. I can add elements that match the client's corporate identity, creating a cohesive whole.

Building illustrations are not only beautiful for books; they can also serve perfectly as decoration in a restaurant, cafe or as a personal work of art for your home.
Would you also like to have a unique building illustration made?

Detached buildings

Sometimes it's nice to have a supporting illustration to accompany a text. It gives it more "swing."
I created the illustrations above for Hotel New York (left) and Edificio la Adriatica in Seville (right). Want an illustration of your favorite building or house?

Municipality of Rotterdam

Commissioned by the Municipality of Rotterdam, Bureau for Monuments and Cultural History, I created a Rotterdam skyline featuring various monuments. I also illustrated a composition of three post-1965 buildings. These illustrations will be used for brochures, the website, bags, and events, among other things.



Over the past year, I have illustrated many monuments for the Rotterdam Municipality, Bureau for Monuments and Cultural History.
Not only to capture them, but especially to let people look at the city and its buildings in a new way.

- A collage that brings the layering of Rotterdam to life in the form of a skyline.
- Iconic buildings after 1965, such as the Sun Staircase, Tropicana and the Akragon.
- A mosaic of religious buildings, where all the lines come together in one illustration.
- Historic school buildings that I drew from the inside out, so that their hidden interiors become visible..

Illustrations reveal what a photograph sometimes can't. They bring together perspectives and add an extra dimension to the city.

Buildings illustration: Skyline Rotterdam

This illustration clearly shows the layering of monuments in Rotterdam: from buildings from the early 20th century and the 1930s to post-war buildings, buildings from after 1965, and also some modern icons such as Central Station and De Rotterdam, which are truly part of Rotterdam.

They are used, among other things, in communication materials from the municipality of Rotterdam, such as in brochures and on the website.


Post 65
For the municipality of Rotterdam, I developed an illustration depicting three iconic Post 65 buildings: the Zonnetrap, Tropicana, and Akragon. This unique drawing was also printed on linen bags, which were distributed during the opening of the Rotterdam Cultuurstad exhibition at OMI Rotterdam.


Opening of Omi Rotterdam (photos Aag Hoogendoorn)

A mosaic of religious buildings in Rotterdam, where all lines come together in one illustration

This illustration does not focus on religion, but on the interplay of architectural lines of various religious, monumental buildings in Rotterdam. For me, it was a fascinating process and a wonderful challenge to bring together diverse styles and eras in a single hand-drawn illustration, executed entirely in black ink.

Historic school buildings, drawn from the inside.
In this illustration I have literally drawn characteristic Rotterdam school buildings inside out, so that their hidden interiors become visible.

Most of the special details (such as stairs, arches, and windows) are located inside the schools. By working with twelve different perspectives, I was able to visualize these interiors while preserving the exteriors of the buildings.

I also incorporated artworks characteristic of the period in which the schools were built, often found in and around these buildings. The result is a single, composite illustration: a visual overview of this architectural period.

Let's Meet!


Would you like to commission a building illustration and are you curious about my style and working methods? Illustrations and architecture inspire me immensely, and I'd be happy to help.
Contact me today to discuss the possibilities for your project. I'd love to brainstorm with you!


info@melaniedrent.nll


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Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences - Real Estate Studies


For the Real Estate Studies programme at Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, I created aseriesof illustrations that bring together the different layers and themes of the city. This projectcombinesmy passion for architecture with my interest in urban planning. After all, how do all thedifferentelements of a city work together?

At the heart of the project is a large, three-dimensional skyline of Rotterdam, in which existingbuildingsand locations have been reconstructed to reveal different aspects of the city. In addition, Icreatedfive standalone illustrations, including two architectural illustrations, each exploring specificthemeswithin Real Estate Studies in greater detail. More about these below.

The illustrations are used, among other things, in the programme's new study guide. The largeRotterdamskyline has also found a permanent home at Rotterdam University of AppliedSciences'Academieplein location.


From the initial sketches to the final result: this video takes you behind the scenes of the creativeprocess,showing how the illustrations and skyline for the Real Estate Studies programme came to life.

In the first stage of the creative process, I incorporated the six key themes of the programme: theclimate-adaptive and biodiverse city, the healthy and inclusive city, the connected network city,the sustainablecity, technical network layers, and soil, water and the city's bearing capacity.

Dit leest professioneler en natuurlijker in een Engelstalige projectbeschrijving.


The final illustration is a detailed skyline of Rotterdam, designed as an overview map of the city. It washand-drawn in black ink, combined with the red PMS colour from the visual identity of the Real EstateStudiesprogramme at Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences. The illustration measures 60 × 80 cm.

Layers:

The different themes are visible both above and below ground. Water flows, soil layers andtechnicalinfrastructure, among other elements, are incorporated into the illustration. My aim wasto bring allthese details together in a clear way, allowing the different elements to complement oneanotherand form a cohesive whole.

I also included Rotterdam landmarks from different periods in history. This creates a layeredrepresentationof the city, spanning from its past to its future. These different layers and contrastsare what makeRotterdam unique.


The skyline of Rotterdam

Rotterdam signed for the weekly photo column Was Getekend in the newspaper Vers Beton.

Delicious. Doetinchem (Lekker. Doetinchem)

I've had a wonderful collaboration with the city of Doetinchem (Lekker. Doetinchem) and created a drawing of the city. It's not an exact representation of Doetinchem, but a collage of all the hotspots and beautiful buildings, so you can see Doetinchem from a new perspective. The illustration was available in limited editions at various businesses in Doetinchem.

Building illustration: the city of Doetinchem drawn in a new way. The IJssel River is in the foreground.

This is a video in which I explain more about the creation of the illustration of Doetinchem.

Building illustration: An article appeared in De Gelderlander and Algemeen Dagblad about the limited-edition illustration I created for Lekker Doetinchem.

Building illustration: The illustration can also be printed on a wall at a later stage using a special printer. This is also one of the possibilities. An illustration can even be enlarged to a wall size of up to 2 meters, with every detail remaining clearly visible on the wall.

Do you have something like this in mind? Feel free to contact me to discuss the possibilities.

Villa Ruimzicht Doetinchem

I created a drawing for Villa Ruimzicht in Doetinchem. This video shows both Villa Ruimzicht and the process by which I drew the building, even from within the building itself.
Villa Ruimzicht has a special meaning for me because I took drawing lessons here in high school.
Nowadays Villa Ruimzicht is a hotel and restaurant, but I have captured it in this drawing.

Den Bosch - St. John's Cathedral

I drew St. John's Cathedral in pen for the story of the Pea Man in the book "Brabantse Volksverhalen" (Brabant Folktales). The original drawing was drawn in A2 format and scaled down to fit a book.

The Hague Bluff in The Hague.

Drawing of the Hague Bluff
For this illustration, I've combined the various facades of the Haagsche Bluf, which are actually separate, into a single, continuous street. By connecting them, a new whole is created, where old and new blend harmoniously.
The drawing is made in A2 format and is also available as a fine art print.
Haagsche Bluf in color building illustration with a Dutch sky
This building illustration of the Haagsche Bluf has been scanned and digitally enhanced with a typical Dutch sky and seagulls in the background. This gives the drawing added atmosphere and movement with a blend of reality and imagination.

Breda in the snow.

Breda's architecture captures the imagination, with charming windows and numerous turrets. These unique buildings give the city a unique character. Below you'll find a selection of my illustrations, both in black and white and in color. These works showcase the diversity and beauty of Breda's architecture.
Buildings illustration of the port of Breda in the snow
I made this sketch last winter, shortly after a few hours of snow. I later developed it into a full-length illustration.
Illustration of the port of Breda in the snow
This illustration started as a sketch from my dummy. I scanned the drawing and added color, adding a delicate snow pattern to emphasize the wintery atmosphere.
Breda building illustration on the wall of the Night Mayor
A skyline of Breda, complete with all the turrets, which I created on the wall of Breda's Night Mayor.

Buildings that appear in my (book) illustrations

Besides building illustrations for brands, government agencies, and private individuals, buildings and houses also regularly appear in my book illustrations and in individual, free-form works created from my own imagination. Below you'll find some examples.

Illustration of the Cingelstraat in Breda
Cingelstraat is one of Breda's most beautiful streets, with its characteristic facades and charming atmosphere. I've now drawn this street in snow, which adds an extra special and peaceful atmosphere to the image.

Breda Castle

This illustration shows Breda Castle as it once looked. With its impressive architecture and rich history, it's one of the city's most recognizable buildings. I've tried to capture the castle's charm and grandeur in this illustration.
Illustration of Breda Castle
This illustration of Breda Castle is included in the book Bredase Volksverhalen.

The future of The Hague in pictures
I created this illustration of The Hague for the magazine of area developer BPD. The drawing shows how the city could develop, with a focus on sustainable infrastructure, green spaces, and urban renewal.

The Binnenhof in bird's-eye view

This illustration shows the Binnenhof in The Hague, drawn from a bird's-eye view. The drawing was created for the children's book "Who's the Boss?".

Building illustration Key West

During my trip to Key West, I immediately noticed that the houses are often white. This is for good reason: the white color helps reflect the bright sun's rays, keeping things a bit cooler inside. It also gives the houses a fresh look that contrasts beautifully with the green palm trees and the blue sky.

Let's Meet!


Would you like to commission a building illustration? And are you looking for my style and approach?

Discuss the possibilities for your project today. I'd love to brainstorm with you.


info@melaniedrent.nll


Email for more information Call for more information