Understanding Architectural Drawings and Plans in Sri Lanka
For better design and implementation, understanding architectural drawings and plans in Sri Lanka is essential.
Understanding these two is necessary as it brings construction projects to life and serves as guidelines for the builders, architects, and engineers. This article breaks down various components of architectural drawings to help you ease your tasks.
Architectural drawing is the backbone of any construction project, as it details everything from the layout of rooms to structural elements. We can consider these drawings as a bridge between a client’s vision and the builder’s execution. It also ensures that the design is functional and pleasing.
The primary architectural drawings include site plans, floor plans, elevations, sections, and details. Each of these serves a unique purpose and represents the form of the building, its functions and features. Using modern tools like BIM or Building Information Modeling, revolutionizes the creation and understanding of architectural plans.
Construction projects are booming in Sri Lanka. Hence, it becomes important for people involved in real estate, construction, and property development to gain familiarity with architectural drawings.
Site Plans
The most critical architectural drawing is the site plan. It aims to outline the entire plot of land and show the position of the proposed structure. It includes boundaries, neighboring buildings, roads, and certain utilities. This plan is essential to obtain building permits and planning approvals in Sri Lanka.
Here is what a site plan includes:
- Property boundaries
- Zoning and legal requirements for the land
- The footprint of the building
- External features like gardens and fences
Terrain and climate vary greatly in Sri Lanka. Thus, the site plans take into consideration the slope of the land and the surrounding environment. It also ensures the building fits well into its surroundings. Having a site plan also helps if you have specific requirements for the directions and views from your room.
Floor Plans
A floor plan is nothing but a bird’s-eye view of a building. It shows the layout of rooms, walls, doors, windows, and other architectural features on a single floor. Generally, this is the first drawing the clients see. It gives a clear picture of how the internal spaces will look.
These are the key components of a floor plan:
- Room sizes and dimensions
- Door and window placements
- Circulation paths
- Furniture layouts
- Wall thickness and materials
It is important that the floor plans comply with the local building codes dictating the room size, ventilation, and other design aspects. Such plans help architects and clients to make informed decisions about space usage and designs.
Elevations
The two-dimensional (2D) drawings that show the exterior view of a building from front, back and sides are called elevations. These offer insights into the height, design, and appearance of a building’s façade. These come in handy if you are willing to design an aesthetically pleasing or architecturally appealing building.
An elevation consists of the height of the building from ground level, the design of windows and doors, roof slopes and overhangs, and also terrace and balcony details. It may also include staircases, exterior finishing and materials like stone, plaster, or brick.
For coastal and mountainous regions in Sri Lanka, elevation often consists of design considerations for dealing with natural elements like rainfall and wind. It ensures the resilience of a building.
Sections
A section drawing provides a vertical slice and cuts through a building to show the insides. As per the name, it shows a building section-wise. The drawing shows a building from its foundation to its roof in sections. This allows understanding different levels of the building and the relation of spaces to each other.
Sections become important for a multistory building as they help architects visualize the height differences and space distribution across floors. A typical section drawing includes:
- Height of the ceiling
- Floor levels
- Ramps and staircases
- Beams and columns
- Wall assemblies and materials
Section drawings come in handy in understanding how natural light and ventilation will flow through the building and ensure comfort and energy efficiency.
Details
The details focus on the smaller and more intricate parts of a building that are not fully represented in other drawings. These may include construction joints, door and window frames, staircases, or any other element that may require close attention to its assembly.
The details include:
- Material specifications
- Finishing details like tiling, paintwork, plastering, etc.
- Exact measurements of building components
- Construction methods
Such detailed drawings help the on-site builders to ensure that every element is designed and constructed precisely and it maintains the overall quality of the project. Having such details beforehand reduces errors and confusions. It is necessary to address such details, as we know that once constructed, it becomes difficult to make changes in the buildings.
Therefore, along with various other drawings and plans, having details becomes crucial for the builder, developer, and client.
Building Information Modeling (BIM)
BIM or Building Information Modeling, is a revolutionary technology that has reshaped the way architects and builders work. Do you know what difference this technology makes? Well, it is not like the traditional 2D drawings. Rather, it allows for 3D modeling and offers a comprehensive view of the entire building lifecycle, that is, from design to demolition.
In Sri Lanka, the construction companies are adapting to new technologies. Hence, it is now a necessity for the builders to use BIM to enhance project accuracy and efficiency. Let us go through the key advantages of using BIM:
- You get real-time updates and modifications.
- Enhances accuracy in design and construction
- Improves collaboration among all stakeholders
- Better project management through tracking
- Simulation of environmental impacts
BIM leads to faster and more efficient project execution. This model allows all the participants to interact with a digital model of building and leaves no errors.
Conclusion
Now you know why Understanding Architectural Drawings and Plans in Sri Lanka is important. This helps when you have to construct modern, unique, and durable buildings. From site plans to BIM, each type of architectural drawing serves a specific purpose and contributes to the success of the overall project.
Contact C Plus Design a leading architects in Sri Lanka for architectural drawings and plans in Sri Lanka.
