FLOOR PLANS
Afloor planrepresents asection of abuilding as it would appear if
cut through by a horizontal plane with the upper portionremoved. The
floor plan is an orthographic projection of the portion that remains.
• Floor plans typically show the configurationof walls
and columns, the shapeand dime
nsions of spaces,
the pattern of window and door openings, and the
connections between spaces as well as between
inside and outside.
• The plane of the horizontal cut is usually located
about4 feet above the floor, but this height can vary
according to the nature of the building design.
• The horizontal section cuts through all wallsand
columns, as well as t hrough all door and window
openings.
• Beyond the plane of the cut, we see the floor,
counters, tabletops. and similar horizontal surfaces.
Digital Plans
In 3D-modeling programs, "front and back" or "hither
and yon" clipping planes, perpendicular to a vertical line
of sight, can be employed to create a floor plan from a
digital model.
We use a north arrow to indicate the orientation of
afloor plan. The normal convention is to orient floor
~.
plans with north facing up or upward on the drawing
'Vi>~
sheet.
~..t-~'9
~"" ~~=- ...-... ~ If a major axis of the building is less than 45° east or
......-,west of north, we can use an assumed north to avoid
wordy titles for the building elevations, as "northnortheast elevation," or "south-southwest
elevation."
MULTIVIEW DRAWINGS / 39