Architectural Plans Explained

Architectural plans require training in order to read, understand, and produce. Mastering their codes can unlock the most powerful tool that architects have to imagine and construct new buildings. It is not only important to learn the intricate formal and geometric operations to produce these types of drawings, but also to interrogate the traces they leave on the buildings we design. In this video, architecture professor and designer, Stewart Hicks talks about the basics of architectural plans: where they came from, how they are made and used, and what they are good at representing. Using a three-dimensional model of a basic house, he goes through the steps of transforming it into a plan projection while discussing the implications of each step and offering precedents to reveal their nuanced implications.
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#architecturalplans #architecture

[MyFatherLooksLikeAPallasCat]

I don’t have anything to add, just a comment to help out with the algorithm so more young architects would see these videos!

[venerablebastard]

I really love how you put snippets of The Sims 4 (judging by what objects used). I played The Sims series since I was little and most of the time I spent playing them is building things...ofen trying out designs of my dream house.

This is just my two cents but the benefits of The Sims building mode is that you get to live it. Akin to what your mother did with houseplans, but in a more tangible way, I'd say. Using the sims character as an extension of your own self.

Really love your video, mate!

[christopherstephenjenksbsg]

I became interested in architecture as a kid because I lived in a Greek Revival brick house, built in 1831. The walls on the first story were about 12 inches thick, but they stepped back to about 8 inches on the second floor, so the second-floor rooms were slightly bigger than the corresponding first-story rooms. This gave me my first insight into structure, the support of floor joists, etc. I also became fascinated by the plan books you mention, although in my case they were plan books of the 1960s and early 70s. I think I figured out how to read floor plans when I was about 8 years old. I know I was drawing floor plans by age 9 -- usually plans for the totally over-the-top mansion from my favorite "Gothic" soap opera, "Dark Shadows", with all its hidden rooms and secret passages. Another favorite drawing activity was trying to match the interior sets of TV sit-com houses to the exteriors shown on the shows. I came up with some <ahem> "creative" solutions, since the set designers rarely made any attempt to match the exterior and interior.

I can tell I'm a lot older than you. When you were playing Super Mario Brothers, I was in grad school!

[teeseeuu]

I just want to say, I've been a draftsman/BIM manager for 12 years, and your videos have convinced me to obtain architectural accreditation. Thank you!

[alan.garcia.gonzalez]

This explanation of how architecture plans are achieved and how we get all the relevant information is key for learning how to develop an architecture project as a starter. We use to think that plans are more relevant than sections, but in reality a plan is a section itself. Your channel is fresh air for all of the architecture beginners, keep it up. Thanks for your content.

[jx_nathan]

as a young architect. this is beautifully explained....

[bradleydilks]

House plan books were my comic books growing up. Still have a few pages of home plans that I liked but not sure how they have aged.

[mralexcheek]

This is fascinating! Can you do another video about how 3D modelling is changing how the next generation of architects think spatially?

[waynemartin]

When I was a kid I bought loads of those house plan books, I loved imagining living in those beautiful houses, I even used to draw my own plans on the back of a roll of old wallpaper. I was quite good at mechanical drawing too but life and a few bad experiences had a different path for me. I hope to build my own house back in Ireland one day.

[michaelowen]

As an architecture student, I appreciate your inspirational and educational videos. They explain various aspects of architecture in a simple language.

[kappagrapes]

These videos are so charming and informative! Definitely one of the best resources I've ever found for my hobby of designing imaginary buildings.

[VocaFanever]

Finally an architecture channel that informs instead of impress

[hazed.gassan]

I do the same things like your mom when I was younger. Looking at plans for hours, visualizing all the spaces, like how lights would hit every nooks and corner, visualizing how the people would interact inside etc.

[glycerinfarmer]

This video is an excellent way to communicate to clients what they can expect from plans. Thanks!

[brentfisher]

Fun, fun...(and informative) video. Every budding architecture student, product rep and building code person should be made to watch Stewart's video! I too was smitten at an early age by building plans in those magazines and it led to my being able to understand, by age 9, plans for more complex commercial buildings that my family was involved with. I can't recall precisely when I first realized I was now fluent in these pages of lines and figures, but it definitely was rooted in the dreamy like aspect of gazing at magazines of house plans.

[matarratas]

Me at 1 am watching a beautiful man explaining architecture:

Interesting.

[ejewart]

This kind of content is so diverse for YouTube too. I am no architect anx have zero interest in actually building a house, but I AM a horror author. How can one write a book about a haunted house without first knowing the layout of the house? Architecture and architectural plans can permeate into a staggering number of interests and fields, and you have done a wonderful job talking about them, you truly deserve more subscribers!

[Ty-vkpb]

Your videos lately have been home-run after home-run. Really great content

[JordanSullivanadventures]

Fantastic video! I loved the whole digression about perspective and dolly zooms and the shadow tracing :)

[AskAW]

Wow. You're the real deal. At first, the algorithm sent me one of your videos and I didn't know you were a professor. Three videos later I see that you are trained in the art of making anything interesting.

I'm glad you make these videos because people like me wouldn't have access to your content.