One of the most useful conventions is the incorporation of scale. Ideally, the title of an architectural drawing should describe the scale used, but if not a measuring rule can be drawn at the side of the drawing as a reference. Information about a drawing’s scale provides the viewer with a better understanding of the scheme’s proportions and helps to communicate the proposal’s information clearly.
A north point that indicates the orientation of the building is an essential aspect of a site or ground plan. The direction and flow of natural light into a space and how it is modified, are important considerations for architects. Understanding the building’s orientation will also explain many aspects of the internal layout and spatial organisation shown in the plan.
In architectural drawings the thickness of the drawn line has a meaning that communicates a design intention.
The general rule in an architectural drawing is that the thicker the line the denser the material, or the more permanent the object being described. Thinner lines are used for furniture and variable elements in the plan, and are often used to communicate additional information about the scheme.
Thick lines will be more legible and read as a primary layer of information, whilst the thinner lines read as a secondary layer.
If creating a section drawing, the standard convention is to make the lines thicker at the point where the building has been ‘cut’. This distinction allows the viewer to identify where the cut has been made in relation to the plan (the corresponding plan drawing has lines that will indicate where the section drawing has been taken).
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Project: Drum House Location: Conceptual Architect: Pierre d’Avoine Architects Date: 2005 |
The Drum House is a prototype model of vertical living, which continues the genre of octagon houses established in the midnineteenth century. It was argued then that the advantage of the octagon form was that it could provide more sunlight, ventilation, and good views from every room, and made more efficient use of internal space.
In this prototype, the house is elevated above ground level, and has an inner and outer envelope, with a circulation stair attached to the outer envelope. The freestanding, self-contained structure can be rotated to suit any orientation, making it highly adaptable.
The plan shows the elevated ground floor, containing children’s bedrooms or a separate flat. Other floors include the first floor, containing a double-height living space, second floor, with study and winter garden, third floor, containing the master bedroom suite opening onto a deck, and roof levels.
Staircases exist between two or more floor levels, and they need to be communicated on a plan drawing. The standard convention is that the staircase is drawn as a solid line up to 1200mm above floor level, and as a dotted line above this level. An arrow is used to indicate the direction of movement up a staircase.
Materials and their intended use in a building are also communicated in architectural drawings, specifically the plan drawing, which will explain layout and spatial organisation. Different materials are denoted by variations in shading and hatching conventions.