Understanding Floor Plans and Design Process

A diagram that shows the layout of a building's rooms and spaces, used for building design, record-keeping, and loan applications.

Bubble diagrams indicate room shapes and how they relate to each other within the building.

Floor plans need to consider the number of users, activities, and furniture to ensure ample space and avoid obstructions.

Walls are depicted by parallel or perpendicular lines, sometimes shaded, with exterior walls typically thicker than interior walls.

Breaks in walls indicate openings like doors and windows; doors are rectangles and arcs symbolizing swing direction, while windows are thin rectangles.

Stairs are lines showing upward/downward direction; dashed lines represent the section where the stairs rise above a certain level.

Fixtures are built-in components (e.g., kitchen cabinets, bathtubs), while furnishings are movable items (e.g., sofas, beds).

Floor plans utilize standardized symbols for elements like fixtures and furnishings, providing scale and context.

Positioning a house based on the sun's path and wind patterns to maximize natural light and energy efficiency.

A visual tool showing the sun's position in the sky at different times and angles, helpful for planning house orientation.

The east side of a house receives morning sunlight, which is gentler and less intense, making it ideal for bedrooms.

The west side gets more afternoon sun, suitable for spaces like kitchens and bathrooms where UV rays are beneficial.

Optimizing house orientation reduces energy consumption, maximizes natural light, and enhances comfort for residents.

Utilizing sunlight to illuminate interior spaces, reducing reliance on artificial light.

The sun's position influences the placement of rooms, windows, and doors to create comfortable living spaces.

Organizing rooms based on their need for sunlight and heat to minimize energy usage throughout the day.

A sliding door that disappears into a wall cavity when fully opened.

A door that opens by folding its panels, often used as room dividers.

A traditional swinging door that is attached to a frame with hinges on one side.

The vertical height between two steps on a staircase.

The horizontal surface of a step that you place your foot on.

A platform on a staircase that provides a break or rest point.

The ideal relationship between the height of the step (rise) and width of the step (tread) for comfortable climbing. The optimal ratio is 17:29.

The slope or angle of a roof, expressed in degrees, percentage, or rise-to-run ratio.

A representation of a 3D object on a 2D surface that mimics how we see it in real life.

A drawing with a single vanishing point on the horizon line, where parallel lines converge.

A drawing with two vanishing points on the horizon line, creating the illusion of depth and width.

A drawing with three vanishing points, used for objects viewed from above or below, showing depth, width, and height.

SketchUp allows you to create and manipulate 3D models, including different perspective views for realistic presentations.

Tools in SketchUp that allow you to navigate and explore the 3D model from different angles and distances.

A saved perspective view in SketchUp, allowing you to revisit specific angles and compositions.

The virtual camera's location in SketchUp, determining the viewing angle and distance from the model.

The viewing height in most architectural perspective drawings, simulating normal eye level.

A perspective drawing from a low viewpoint, looking up at a tall object.

A perspective drawing from a high vantage point, showing an aerial view.

Creates a three-point perspective view in SketchUp, showing elements receding to vanishing points.

Changes how much of your SketchUp model is visible in the modeling window.

Recommended field of view settings differ for exterior (35-45°) and interior (60-70°) perspectives.

A plan that shows the ceiling of a room as seen from above, with elements projected downwards.

A drawing showing the face of a building, projecting the exterior look onto a vertical plane.

A drawing showing a sliced part of a building, revealing the relationship between vertical spaces.

A section drawing showing a cut through the shorter side of the floor plan.

A section drawing showing a cut through the longer side of the floor plan.

A table listing the types, quantities, dimensions, and locations of doors and windows in a building.

The distances between the floor and the ceiling, used for calculating spaces and determining structural requirements.

The distance that the roof extends beyond the walls of a building, providing shade and protection from rain.