Architecture cheat sheet

Drawing scale

A scale is a ratio of drawing length to real length, using the same units.

At 1:100, 1 cm on the drawing represents 1 m in reality.

Plan, section and elevation

A plan describes a horizontal cut or view; a section cuts through the building; an elevation shows a vertical face.

Use more than one drawing to understand a space’s height and depth.

Circulation

Circulation describes movement through spaces and the connections between them. Distinguish movement routes from occupied destinations.

A corridor connects rooms; the rooms serve different activities.

Site and envelope

Orientation, climate and surrounding conditions affect a building. The envelope separates and mediates between interior and exterior.

A window affects light, heat transfer, views and enclosure.

Passive environmental design

Orientation, shading, openings and the building envelope influence heat and light. Their effects depend on climate, season, use and surrounding obstructions.

A shading device should be evaluated against relevant sun angles, rather than described as effective in every season.

Structure and load path

A load path describes how forces pass through elements to supports and the ground. Architectural form and structural behaviour must be considered together.

Trace a floor load through its slab, beams, columns and foundations in a schematic section.

Spatial hierarchy

Public, shared and private spaces can be organised through thresholds, adjacency and circulation. A diagram of relationships is different from a scaled construction drawing.

An adjacency diagram can show which rooms need direct connection without fixing their dimensions.

Materials and assemblies

Material properties, joints, weather exposure, movement and maintenance affect an assembly. The performance of one material does not establish the performance of the whole wall or roof.

Distinguish a surface finish from the continuous layer responsible for controlling water penetration.

Worked example: drawing scale

At 1:100, 1 cm on a drawing represents 100 cm, or 1 m, in the building. A drawn length of 4.2 cm therefore represents 4.2 m.

Convert both measurements to the same unit before applying the scale ratio.

Common mistake: a universal dimension

Accessibility, fire safety and construction requirements depend on jurisdiction, building use and current codes. A conceptual diagram cannot establish compliance.

Use the project’s applicable code and professional documentation when checking actual dimensions.

Check your understanding

At 1:50, what real length is represented by 6 cm?

300 cm, or 3 m: 6 × 50 = 300.

Curriculum connections

Sources