Architectural plan

The architectural plan is the most fundamental architectural drawing. The building is cut by an imaginary horizontal plane, usually at a height that passes through doors and windows, and the drawing shows what you would see looking down with the top removed. Wall thicknesses, door swings, window positions, stairs and the relationship between rooms all read at a glance.

How to read a plan

• Elements that are cut, such as walls and columns, are drawn with heavy lines; things seen below the cut use lighter lines.
• Items above the cutting plane, such as beams or ceiling edges, are shown dashed.
• Dimension strings, levels, room names and areas add layers of information.
• Section marks and a north arrow tie the plan to the other drawings.

Types of plan

A site plan shows the building on its plot, floor plans show each level, and a roof plan shows the roof from above. Furniture layouts and reflected ceiling plans answer more specific questions about furnishings and lighting.

Plans are powerful for professionals but abstract for most clients. Turning a plan into a 3D model and renders lets people genuinely picture the space. Our article on 3D house drawings explains that step.