Interested in studying Architecture? If so, there are some factors that you must take into account; one of them is the architectural plan. With the architectural plan, complete drawings of buildings are projected, which represent the finished project. Also often called a floor plan.
In the case of a structure designed to serve as a residence, it may also be called home plans. It usually includes any changes in elevation, along with a possible bill of materials and design notes.
Any design made on an Site plan will be used by the contractor to build the building. For this to be possible, it must be drawn to a scale that is consistent throughout the document, unless modifications are noted. The scale can be enlarged to show more detail in some cases, but this detail departs from the main planes.
It is often very specific as to what materials a build should use. This is because the designer is looking for a certain look, which requires strict adherence to plans. In case of new proposals or suggestions, these must be approved by the architect before being elaborated.
Some changes may require a whole new set of architectural plans for the overall look to remain pristine, but this is rarely the case. If you want to know more about these plans, keep reading the following article.
What is the importance of an architectural plan?
Each architectural plan has a specific purpose. Therefore, special attention should be paid to their representation. The detailed drawings in it help clients receive a meticulously drafted plan for the proper execution of a construction project.
Its importance lies in the fact that it is like a construction manual. Having an architectural plan provides precise details about the style and aesthetics of the project. Architects use them to transform a design idea into an understandable proposal, communicate concepts, and record the entire construction.
In simple words, architectural drawings are a combination of written and visual descriptions of the structure to be built. The various design details are communicated through notes on the drawing page itself or as an additional page to offset the final construction project documentation.
What should you take into account to understand an architectural plan?
1. Understand the difference between each drawing
Depending on the scale of the job, you may receive a package of architectural plans. Each will provide you with different details and views of the build. Understanding the difference between each drawing is crucial so that you can see the project in its entirety. Typically these are categorized into:
Site plan
Drawings include existing site conditions, boundaries, and building heights.
Floor plan
It describes the locations and dimensions of rooms, structures, and built-ins such as cabinets.
Elevations
In these drawings you will see the elevations and heights of the exterior of your building from all possible angles. Windows, doors and other elements will also be documented.
Internal elevations
As its name implies, it discloses internal elevations, including cabinet materials and dimensions, and fit details.
Sections
The sections show the heights of the building and its structure, including the beams and insulation.
Construction details
These drawings are specifically designed to help the builder understand how the details should be built.
Mirrored ceiling plans
These will show the details of the roof and the electrical elements, such as the location of the lights.
Electrical plans
In them you will see where the lights, switches and outlets are located on these plans.
Doors and windows
These will show the dimension of the door/window and the size of the opening.
Analyze the legend
Before you begin reading architectural plans, it is important to review the drawing legend. Although architects tend to communicate in the same language, there may be some differences in symbols or line design.
Know the new and the old
Knowing what is staying and what is being built will give you a better understanding of how the space is changing. Existing walls typically show as a solid black line or may have a gray shading pattern. Instead, the new job appears as two individual lines that have no fill.
Make sure you know that the drawings relate to each other
You may have noticed a circle containing numbers and letters next to a drawing title or within the layout itself. This references another drawing in your architectural documentation. These are related to each other, so you have to be vigilant.
Discover how each material is represented
Each material is usually represented with different patterns and designs. The legend on the architectural plan will help you understand them better.
When you first look at architectural plans, they can seem confusing and written in another language. However, once you navigate through a set of drawings, you will find that reading them is not that difficult. It’s just a matter of having the knowledge that the architecture career gives you.
