Drawing the perfect architectural floor plan is essential to any building project. A well-executed floor plan will help you to convey your design intentions and ensure that the construction process runs smoothly accurately and effectively. In this blog post, we’ll explore the steps you can take to draw the perfect architectural floor plan.
Gather information
Before you begin drawing your floor plan, you need to gather as much information as possible about the site, including the measurements, orientation, and any existing structures. You should also consider any planning restrictions or building regulations/codes that may impact your design.
We recommend a topographical and building survey are commissioned at the earliest opportunity, where applicable.
Establish the scale
Once you have all the necessary information, you need to establish the scale for your floor plan relative to the building size and what paper size and the amount of detail you want to convey. Common scales for architectural floor plans are 1:200, 1:100 and 1:50 for general arrangement and 1:20 or 1:5 where we want to pick up highly detailed elements.
Start with a rough sketch
Before you start drawing the final floor plan, it’s a good idea to create a rough sketch of your design. This will allow you to experiment with different layouts and configurations without committing to anything. It allows you to work in a fluid way testing every possible option. Once you have a rough sketch, you can begin to refine it into a more detailed drawing.
Draw the walls
The next step is to draw the walls of the building. Start by drawing the exterior walls, using straight lines to create the corners and curves where necessary. Then, draw the interior walls, taking care to include any doorways or windows.
Add doors and windows
Once the walls are in place, you can add the doors and windows. Be sure to include the correct dimensions and placement for each opening. As best practice it is at this stage that we begin applying brick dimensions to our plan which sets a grid to work to.
Label rooms and spaces
Now it’s time to label the rooms and spaces in your floor plan. Use clear and concise labels that accurately reflect the function of each space.
Our course The Perfect Floor Plan covers the essentials in a series of conscience video tutorials and focusing on line weights and the final graphical representation.
Include fixtures and fittings
To complete your floor plan, include any fixtures and fittings, such as sinks, toilets, and appliances. Again, be sure to include the correct dimensions and placement for each item.
Review and refine
Before you finalise your floor plan, take the time to review and refine it. Check that all the measurements are accurate and that the layout is functional and efficient.
Create a digital version
Finally, create a digital version of your floor plan using software such as AutoCAD, SketchUp or Revit. This will allow you to easily share your design with others and make any necessary changes.
Drawing the perfect architectural floor plan takes time and attention to detail, but by following these steps, you can create a plan that accurately reflects your design intentions and sets your project on the path to success.
It is often essential to draw your floor plan in conjunction with the elevations and with an appreciation for the buildings cross section. This can be immediately coordinated using Revit and SketchUp or in AutoCAD we recommend using Xrefs.
