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Multiview Drawings
Multiview drawings comprise the drawing types we know as plans,
elevations, and sections. Each is an orthographic projection of a
particular aspect of a three-dimensional object or construction. These
orthographic views are abstract in the sense that they do not match
optical reality. They are a conceptual form of representation based on
what we know about something rather than on the way it might appear
to the eye. In architectural design, multiview drawings establish twodimensional
fields on which we are able to study formal and spatial
patterns as well as scalar and proportional relationships in a
composition. The ability to regulate size, placement, and configuration
also makes multiview drawings useful in communicating the graphic
information necessary for the description, fabrication, and
construction of a design.
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PLANS
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If we enclose an object within a transparent picture-plane
box, we can name the principal picture planes and the
images projected orthographically onto these planes. Each
orthographic view represents a different orientation and a
particular vantage point from which to view the object.
Each plays a specific role in the development and
communication of a design.
¥ Plans are drawings of orthographic projections on a
horizontal picture plane. They represent a view looking
down on an object, building, or scene from above.
¥ In depicting width and length but not height, plans
emphasize horizontal arrangements and patterns of
function, form, or space. Note especially that plans are
unable to provide precise information about the vertical
dimensions of forms and spaces.
¥ All planes parallel to the picture plane maintain their
true size, shape, and proportions. Conversely, all planes
that are curved or oblique to the horizontal plane of
projection are foreshortened.
¥ In architectural drawing, there are distinct types of plan
views for depicting various horizontal projections of a
building or site: floor plans, reflected ceiling plans, site
plans, and roof plans.
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FLOOR PLANS
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A floor plan represents a section of a building as it would appear if
cut through by a horizontal plane with the upper portion removed. The
floor plan is an orthographic projection of the portion that remains.
¥ Floor plans typically show the configuration of walls
and columns, the shape and dimensions of spaces,
the pattern of window and door openings, and the
connections between spaces as well as between
inside and outside.
¥ The plane of the horizontal cut is usually located
about 4 feet above the floor, but this height can vary
according to the nature of the building design.
¥ The horizontal section cuts through all walls and
columns, as well as through all door and window
openings.
¥ Beyond the plane of the cut, we see the floor,
counters, tabletops, and similar horizontal surfaces.
Digital Plans
In 3D-modeling programs, Òfront and backÓ or Òhither
and yonÓ clipping planes, perpendicular to a vertical line
of sight, can be employed to create a floor plan from a
digital model.
¥ We use a north arrow to indicate the orientation of
a floor plan. The normal convention is to orient floor
plans with north facing up or upward on the drawing
sheet.
¥ If a major axis of the building is less than 45¡ east or
west of north, we can use an assumed north to avoid
wordy titles for the building elevations, as Ònorthnortheast
elevation,Ó or Òsouth-southwest
elevation.Ó
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DRAWING A FLOOR PLAN
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This series of drawings illustrates the sequence in which
a plan drawing is executed. Although this sequence can
vary, depending on the nature of the building design
being drawn, always try to proceed from the most
continuous, regulating elements to those that are
contained or defined by the elements.
¥ Next, give proper thickness to the major walls and
other structural elements such as posts and columns.
¥ First, establish the major lines that regulate the
position of structural elements and walls.
¥ A grid of centerlines is a convenient and effective
means of indicating a structural or modular system.
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MULTIVIEW DRAWINGS / 41
¥ Proceed by drawing such elements as windows,
doorways, and stairways.
¥ Finally, delineate such details as doors and door swings, stair
treads and railings, and built-in furnishings.
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DEFINING THE PLAN CUT
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Critical to the reading of a floor plan is the ability to
distinguish between solid matter and spatial void
and to discern precisely where mass meets space. It
is therefore important to emphasize in a graphic way
what is cut in a floor plan, and to differentiate the
cut material from what we can see through space
below the plane of the cut.
¥ To the left is the first floor plan of the Vanna
Venturi House in Philadelphia, designed by Robert
Venturi in 1962. It is drawn with a single line
weight.
¥ To convey depth in a floor plan, we can use a
hierarchy of line weights.
¥ The heaviest line weight profiles the plan shapes of
cut elements. As a profile line, this cut line must be
continuous; it can never intersect another cut line
or terminate at a line of lesser weight.
¥ Intermediate line weights delineate edges of
horizontal surfaces that lie below the plane of the
plan cut but above the floor. The farther away a
horizontal surface is from the plane of the plan cut,
the lighter the line weight.
¥ The lightest line weights represent surface lines.
These lines do not signify any change in form; they
simply represent the visual pattern or texture of
the floor plane and other horizontal surfaces.
¥ Drawing scale influences the range of line weights
that one can use to convey spatial depth. Smallscale
drawings utilize a tighter range of line
weights than do large-scale drawings.
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POCHƒ & SPATIAL DEPTH
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We can emphasize the shape of cut elements with a
tonal value that contrasts with the spatial field of
the floor plan. We refer to this darkening of cut walls,
columns, and other solid matter as pochŽ.
¥ PochŽ establishes a figure-ground relationship
between solid matter and spatial void.
¥ It is typical to blacken the cut elements in smallscale
plans in order to clarify their figures.
¥ If only a moderate degree of contrast with the
drawing field is desired, use a middle-gray value
to emphasize the cut elements. This is especially
important in large-scale plans, when large areas
of black can carry too much visual weight or
create too stark a contrast.
¥ If such plan elements as flooring patterns and
furniture give the field of the drawing a tonal
value, a dark gray or black tone may be necessary
to produce the desired degree of contrast
Digital PochŽ
When using drawing or CAD software to create
floor plans, avoid using colors, textures, and
patterns to make the drawings more pictorial than
they need to be. The primary emphasis should
remain on articulating the plan cut and the relative
depth of elements below the plane of the cut.
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DOORS & WINDOWS
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We are not able to show the appearance of doors in a plan
view. For this information, we must rely on elevations. What
a floor plan does show, however, are the location and width
of door openings, and to a limited degree, the door jambs
and type of door operationÑwhether a door swings, slides,
or folds open.
¥ Draw a swinging door perpendicular to the plane of the
wall opening and note the door swing with a quarter circle
drawn lightly with a circle template. Be sure that the door
width matches that of the door opening.
¥ Show the thicknesses of doors and door jambs at the
scale of 1/4" = 1'-0" or larger.
¥ Canopy may be straight or curved.
¥ <90¡
Neither can we show the appearance of windows in a plan
view. A floor plan does disclose the location and width of
window openings, and to a limited degree the presence of
window jambs and mullions.
¥ Window sills are not cut through in a floor plan. They
should therefore be drawn with a lighter line weight than
walls, window mullions, and other cut elements.
¥ The operation of a window is usually indicated in an
elevation drawing.
¥ Swinging doors: 1/4" = 1'-0"
¥ Double-acting doors: 1/8" = 1'-0"
¥ Sliding door
¥ Pocket door
¥ Bifold doors
¥ Revolving door
¥ Windows
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STAIRS
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Plan views are able to show the run of a stairwayÑ
its horizontal treads and landingsÑbut not the
height of the vertical risers.
¥ The path of travel terminates where the stairway
passes through the plane of the plan cut.
¥ Use a diagonal line to indicate this cut and to
more clearly distinguish it from the parallel lines
of the stair treads.
¥ An arrow specifies the direction up or down from
the level of the floor plan.
¥ Distinguish between handrails and walls that are
cut through in a floor plan.
¥ Show detail such as handrails and toe spaces
where the scale of a drawing permits.
¥ Dashed lines indicate major architectural
features that occur above the plane of the plan
cut, such as lofts, lowered ceilings, exposed
beams, skylights, and roof overhangs. Dashed
lines may also disclose the hidden lines of
features concealed from view by other opaque
elements.
¥ The common convention is to use long dashes to
signify elements that are removed or above the
plane of the plan cut, and shorter dashes or dots
for hidden elements below the plan cut.
¥ Space below
¥ Straight-run stairway
¥ L-shaped stairway
¥ Return stair leading to a loft space
¥ Spiral stair
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SCALE & DETAIL
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Floor plans are normally drawn at a scale of 1/8" = 1'-0" or
1/4" = 1'-0". Large buildings and complexes may be drawn at
a scale of 1/16" = 1'-0" to fit the size of the drawing paper
or illustration board.
Digital Scale
In computer graphics, a small-scale drawing that
contains too much data can result in an unnecessarily
large file as well as a printed or plotted image that is
too dense to read.
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MULTIVIEW DRAWINGS / 47
Large-scale plan drawings are useful for the study and
presentation of highly detailed spaces, such as kitchens,
bathrooms, and stairways. The larger scale enables
information about floor finishes, fittings, and trim work
to be included.
Conversely, the larger the scale of a floor plan, the more
detail we should include. This attention to detail is most
critical when drawing the thicknesses of construction
materials and assemblies that are cut in the plan view.
¥ 1/8" = 1'-0"
¥ 1/4" = 1'-0"
¥ 3/8" = 1'-0"
¥ 3/4" = 1'-0"
¥ Pay careful attention to wall and door
thicknesses, wall terminations, corner
conditions, and stair details. A general
knowledge of how buildings are constructed
is therefore extremely beneficial when
executing large-scale floor plans.
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CEILING PLANS
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A ceiling plan is a plan of a room as seen from above
but having its ceiling surfaces and elements projected
downward upon it. For this reason, we usually call this
view a reflected ceiling plan.
Reflected Ceiling Plans
¥ Reflected ceiling plans have the same orientation
as the floor plan.
¥ Ceiling plans show such information as the form
and material of a ceiling, the location and type of
lighting fixtures, exposed structural members or
mechanical ductwork, as well as skylights or other
openings in the ceiling.
¥ We typically draw ceiling plans at the same scale
as the floor plan. As with floor plans, it is important
to profile all vertical elements that rise to meet the
ceiling.
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SITE PLANS
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A site plan describes the location and orientation of
a building or building complex on a plot of land and in
relation to its context. Whether this environment is
urban or rural, the site plan should describe the following:
¥ Legally recorded boundaries of the site, indicated by
a broken line consisting of relatively long segments
separated by two short dashes or dots
¥ Physical topography of the terrain with contour lines
¥ Natural site features, such as trees, landscaping, and
watercourses
¥ Existing or proposed site constructions, such as walks,
courts, and roadways
¥ Architectural structures in the immediate setting
that impact the proposed building
In addition, a site plan may include:
¥ Legal constraints, such as zoning setbacks and
rights-of-way
¥ Existing or proposed site utilities
¥ Pedestrian and vehicular entry points and paths
¥ Significant environmental forces and features
Roof Plans
A roof plan is a top view describing the form, massing,
and material of a roof or the layout of such rooftop
features as skylights, decks, and mechanical housings.
¥ Roof plans are typically included in the site plan for
a proposed building or building complex.
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SITE TOPOGRAPHY
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The response of a building design to its context
includes consideration of the physical characteristics
of its site, especially the surface configuration of the
terrain. On a site plan, however, it is difficult to
describe the vertical aspect of an undulating ground
surface. Contour lines are the graphic convention we
use to convey this information.
¥ A contour line is an imaginary line joining points of
equal elevation on a ground surface. For example, a
15' contour line represents every point that is 15'
above a given datum or reference point.
¥ One way to visualize contour lines is to imagine
that horizontal slices are cut through the land form
at regular intervals, the profile of each cut being
represented by a contour line. The trajectory of
each contour line indicates the shape of the land
formation at that elevation.
¥ The contour interval is the difference in elevation
represented by any two adjacent contour lines.
¥ Contour interval is determined by the scale of a
drawing, the size of the site, and the nature of the
topography. The larger the area and the steeper the
slopes, the greater the interval between contours.
¥ For large or steeply sloping sites, 10', 25', or 50'
contour intervals may be used.
¥ For small sites having relatively gradual slopes,
5', 2', or 1' contour intervals may be used.
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