Designing a Space of Your Own

Terms Used in Activities
Software Based Project # 475

accuracy
Freedom from mistake or error.

advanced
Being beyond others in progress or ideas.

blueprint
A copy of an architectural drawing, a blueprint is shown as white lines on a blue background.

detail
A close view or additional information about part of the whole object.

dimension   
A measure of spatial extent, especially width, height, or length.

distance
Amount of separation between two points, lines, surfaces, or objects.

elevation
In architecture, an elevation shows what a vertical surface looks like if someone is standing directly in front of it.

floor plan
A diagram of a room or building, drawn to scale.

flow
A smooth uninterrupted movement or progress.

furnishing
An object that tends to increase comfort or utility; especially, an article of furniture for the interior of a building.

geometric
Designs - related to math - that explore the relationships and measurements of lines, angles, curves, points, solid objects, and surfaces.

key
Something that gives an explanation or identification or provides a solution.

materials
Something that may be worked into a more finished form. Raw materials come from nature and are used in their natural form, such as stones or wood. Manufactured materials are created by humans and include items such as vinyl siding or aluminum windows.

roof plan
A drawing of the roof of a building, think of a roof plan as how the top of a building would look if you were a bird flying directly over it. Roof plans include such items as skylights, vents for plumbing and air handling, and lines to show where there are peaks.

room
An area that is defined by walls or by partitions (for example, a counter can act as a partition).

scale
A way of measuring blueprints and other drawings. Most architects use a scale where 1/4” on the drawing equals 1'. A scale is also the instrument used for measuring drawings. It looks like a triangular shaped ruler. The term scale also applies to maps (1" = 40 mi.) and models (scale 1:20). Simply put, something that is in scale is an exact miniature of what it represents.

section
A drawing similar to an elevation, except that a section is drawn as if the wall has been sliced. In a section, you can see how the wall is constructed, and how windows and doors are framed in.

site plan
A drawing that shows the building and the landscape around it. A site plan might include trees, a creek, or a parking lot. This type of plan is drawn from a bird's eye view.

space
A particular area; or, an unlimited extension of width, space, and height.

square feet
Multiply length by width to determine how many square feet are in an area. For example, if a room is 10' x 10', it has 100 square feet.

technique
A method of accomplishing a desired aim.

three-dimensional
Giving the illusion of depth or varying distances. Viewing or being viewed in well-rounded completeness.

traffic
The movement through an area or along a route.

visualize
To see or form a mental image of an object.

Lisa Hamilton-Hill, designer, graduate student, Department of Architectural Studies,College of Human Environmental Sciences
Department of Architectural Studies