Basics of Mechanical Drawing

Architectural Drawings All great constructive projects must have began with a mental image of that structure. To bring that mental idea intro fruition, a medium is needed to help model the mental aspects into something more concrete. The purpose of this essay is to examine and discuss some of the more important qualities associated with the architectural drawing. Specifically, this essay will address the difference between floor plans and site plans and some of the aspects about those differences will be highlighted.

Next, the essay will address some other key concepts that deal with the architectural drawings and their modeling capabilities. The essay will conclude with ideas on how to best incorporate the use of architectural drawings into a real and solid project, manifested in the world. Floor Plans and Site Plans Floor plans and site plans have some differences and require different information and data. A floor plan is used by the architect to model his or her idea to a scale.

Modeling to scale means that dimensions represented on the model are the exact same as the one that will actually be built. In other words, if that paper drawing was blown up, in proportion, it should eventually reach the desired scale of the building. Floor plans are viewed from a top-down visual standpoint, 90 degrees and approximately 4 feet in height from the line eye site. This is not exactly a bird's eye view, but more represents a human's eye view.

Floor plans are loaded with information that is to be used in guiding the builders on the right proportions and dimensions their creations should take shape. Floor plans include such concepts as bathrooms, showers, bathtubs, sinks, windows, doors, appliances, dishwashers, fireplaces, gyms, tennis courts, pools, bedrooms, dens, living rooms, and just about any other concept that can be appropriately modeled. Floor plans also contain other important information that is necessary to communicate to the builders of the project.

These notes may include some safety issues, special instructions and other extraordinary measures that may need to be taken to ensure the project is safely and accurately constructed within the framework of the legally accepted standards. Site plans differ from floor plans mostly in their scope or breadth of representation. Site plans are models of larger projects that could include many floors, or smaller sub-unit projects. Site plans are more extensive in their modeling capabilities and incorporate much more involvement.

These graphic representations of future sites inherently contain many of the communal or collective commodities that go into such large projects. Site plans may include such specific items as driveways, utilities, telephone poles, sewers, streets, alleys, pathways, parking lots, parking complexes, buildings, sheds, storage facilities, garages, utility components facilities, easements, and many other such items. Other considerations in site planning are zoning, large scale logistics and security and shelter for those employed in the construction of such a site.

Specifics of The Architectural Drawing Architect's drawings differ from artists due to the technical aspect of the work entailed in a design. While art may indeed play a large and accomplished role in the drawing, the work itself is used as a tool for construction of the building or project itself which is the true work of art. The drawing lays out the purposes, design, specification and boundaries of the project and includes many important details used to guide the builders of the project into the right manner of construction.

The architecture profession has ensured that certain standards are incorporated within the practices of all of its members as conventional building techniques and approaches have been included in education and practices for many years. Essentially, drawings must convey certain qualities of the building, most importantly size and scale. Size and scale gives dimension and form to the project and allows a communication of invisible and abstract ideas into tangible and real material output.

Builders can read the mind of the architect through a well designed drawing that conveys the essence of the ideas at hand. Other important ideas within architectural drawing include elevation and section. Elevation is a concept the describes a quality of height in relation to another known point or distance from the ground. Elevation is important in an architectural drawing because it adds a third dimension which cannot be accurately represented on two dimensional pen and paper or computer print out.

By representing all three axis's of the Cartesian Plane, the model takes one step closer to manifestation. Section is another concept used in architectural drawings to create boundaries, space and eventually shapes and forms. Sections are divisions of the larger base of foundation and may include walls, windows, doors, floors and other such types of structural divisions. These are important.