Architects need to be able to produce a wide range of drawings and diagrams. These site plan drawing and diagrams are useful both in the design of a structure and the conveyance of a design to construction professionals, stakeholders, and clients. Here is a very brief rundown of the drawing and diagram types that need to be mastered by architects. Modern software makes mastering multiple diagram and drawing styles far easier than it used to be.
Concept Drawings
Concept drawings are rough initial sketches that help architects explore ideas before they have been formalized. Like any other creative, an architect will often work with a sketchbook or digital tablet to sketch out ideas as they pop into their heads. Initial sketches sometimes bear a remarkable similarity to finished buildings – as is the case with The Shard and the Millennium Dome.
Floor Plan
Floor plans are one of the most important kinds of architectural drawing and also among the easiest to understand. They may be part of the design of a building or part of the illustrations used for instructing construction professionals. They show a structure from the top down – illustrating a single floor and all of its rooms and fittings. It is far easier to create floor plan designs in the digital age. Modern software enables architects to draw up plans in hours using a set library of symbols.
Block Plan
A block plan shows a future building as it will look on a standard map. This gives architects a better understanding of how their design may look in relation to the buildings around it. No building is a complete island: they typically have a close relationship to the structures and environmental features that surround them. In most countries, there are strict guidelines for how a building is built according to its relationship to the structures around it. Local governments also impose building guidelines that are aimed at preserving the atmosphere and heritage of the area.
Elevations
An elevation plan is essentially a floor plan reversed. Instead of projecting the floor spaces of a building into a 2D plan, elevations project the exterior facades of a structure into a measured and symbolically keyed 2D plan. These documents are usually provided alongside floor plans. Each side of a future building is illustrated using an elevation plan.
As Built Drawings
It is very common for changes to be made to an initial design during the construction process. These changes are often made in order to maintain practical schedules or create safe structures. As a result, it is important to produce a drawing of what is actually built. If this does not happen, there will be no accurate record that differs from the design drawings, and any future auditor or construction engineer will have outdated information about the building.
Site Plan
A site plan shows more than the structure that is due to be built. It conveys the entirety of the site on which the structure will be constructed. This enables construction professionals and engineers to be prepared for environmental conditions that may impact their work. It also allows for the contracting of landscape gardeners and other outdoor workers. Finally, the site plan clearly shows the boundaries of the property on which the structure will be built. This prevents any infringements onto other properties – something that typically leads to complications during and after a build.
Installation Drawings
Construction teams regularly need to bring in specialist tradespeople to install machinery, plumbing, and electronics. Installation drawings contain information necessary for – you guessed it – the installation of these features. An electrical diagram is considered to be one kind of installation drawing. Electricians refer both to the floor plan and the installation drawing when ordering materials and actually installing electrical wiring and fittings.
Engineering Drawings
Engineering drawings capture all of the geometric features of a future structure. This is in order to convey the engineering requirements that need to be considered before construction. All structures need to be looked over by an engineer before they are built in order to confirm that they will be safe and durable.
Perspective
Perspective diagrams aim to show what a building might look like in 3 Dimensions. These use ‘vanishing points’ to create a sense of space. These days, perspective diagrams are largely being replaced with 3D renderings and Virtual Reality renderings. These digital manifestations of future structures allow architects, clients, construction managers, and stakeholders to get a better idea of a building that has not been built than ever before.