por We define what an architectural plan is, its characteristics, elements, types that exist, and we give several examples.
What is an architectural plan?
A architectural plan It is a geometric and descriptive representation of an architectural project. Different standardized norms are used for its preparation, so that it can be interpreted by any subject who works in the areas of engineering, construction, typography and architecture.
The number of plans needed to execute for a project will depend on its magnitude and the level of detail required. The more detail you have about a project, the easier it will be to carry it out for the people in charge of its execution.
Architectural plans can reflect different types of elements, both the characteristics of the territory where it is going to be built and its orientation, as well as the layout of the foundations, walls, facilities, facades or finishes. There are also detailed plans, where the location of furniture, tables and chairs can be arranged, thus defining the areas of the project.
In every project, the calculation of the structures and the types of materials that will be used in the construction must be included, which must be certified by engineers or specialist calculators in the field.
An important characteristic of architectural plans is that they are part of the necessary documentation for the application for construction permits and financing of the project to be carried out.
Characteristics of an architectural plan
Some of the main characteristics of an architectural plan are the following:
All must include a label
In which information about the architect, the project owner, the content of the plan, the location of the work and the number of the plan must be included, among other relevant technical data for its correct reading.
They are the two-dimensional representation of a three-dimensional structure.
This is done by making projections of each of the views of the structure (lateral, façade, roof or plan). Also, horizontal or vertical cuts of the structure are used, where necessary details for the construction of the architectural project can be projected.
Different types of lines are used to determine the spatial relationship between represented elements
Each line within an architectural plan must be assigned a color, thickness, and type. Each of these types of lines will have a different meaning for whoever interprets it.
are made to scale
The projection of a plane must be done by reducing the dimensions of the project proportionally for all its parts. The reduction in dimension for each representation will depend on the size of the project. The most commonly used reduction scales range from 1:200 to 1:20 outdoors and 1:100 to 1:2 indoors.
are international
Thanks to the standards by which they are elaborated, they can be understood by anyone with technical knowledge of planimetry.
The sizes of the sheets where they are drawn are standard
Plans can be drawn in A0, A1, A2 or A3 formats. Their folding for physical storage is also standardized.
They are governed by international standards
The most common are the ISO and UNE standards.
Elements of an architectural plan
The elements of an architectural plan are the following:
Label
It is the part where the project data is placed, it can be located horizontally or vertically. This includes:
The name of the project.
The owner’s name.
The name of the architect, along with his signature and license plate.
A table to indicate the modifications that the project may undergo.
The observations.
The content of the plan (ground floor, upper floor, electrical, gas, and sanitary installations, among others).
The direction of the project, date and scale of the plan.
The plan number.
The scale of the plan.
The unit of measure for the dimensions.
Table of surfaces
It can be located both on the sign and anywhere else on the drawing. It includes the following information:
Total area of the project.
Areas into which the plan is divided, together with the number of square meters each one has.
convention table
It can be contained in the label or anywhere on the drawing. This tells what each of the figures on the plan means.
General notes
It is used to add notes that are relevant to the understanding of the plan.
Composition
It is the drawing or lifting of what you want to show on the plan, that is, its content. It must be presented logically.
Margin
It is the line that separates the representation from the edge of the page.
dimension
They represent the dimensions of the objects that are part of the composition. It uses lines, numbers and symbols to show relevant information about the content of the map.
Types of architectural plans
Some of the different types of architectural plans are as follows:
Topographic map
It provides information to understand the relief of a terrain. They are mostly necessary when the land where it is going to be built is not homogeneous.
foundation plan
It is one of the most important plans in an architectural project. Contains the details of the pillars and the walls that will support the structure. It also points out the depths of the foundations and the proportions of the concrete mixture necessary for the erection of a structure.
facilities plan
They can be of different types, some of these are:
Electrical installations: are the plans that have the arrangement of the cables, lighting and boxes for switches or outlets
Drinking water installation: These plans specify both the distribution of the pipes (hot and cold water), as well as the distribution of the taps, toilets and sinks of the project.
Installation of gas: refers to the location of the gas pipes and their connection points.
Drain installation: Here, the location of sewage drainage pipes is shown, as well as the arrangement of toilets and drains.
floor plan
It is the representation of the horizontal section of a building, where the provisions of the walls, doors and windows are seen. If the work has different levels, a floor plan is usually made for each one.
Plan of facades
It is characterized by being almost the only representation of the project seen from the outside. The perspective can be both frontal and lateral of the work.
Plan of details and finishes
These plans are responsible for specifying the types of materials with which all the elements of the work are built, such as floors, walls, frames and ceilings.
Examples of Architectural Plans
In the following example you can see a floor plan.
The following example is of a detail drawing.
Here you can see the architectural plan of an apartment: