Architect's jobs require a lot of work with drawings and models, starting from large scale to detailed rendering, so scale is an important factor that architects and planners always pay attention in his work.

The work of architects and planners as a graduate can take on a wide variety of forms, from urban planning to home renovation, from megacity scale to interior design but generally work on drawings and models.

Whatever the project may be, drawing is a way of expressing reality, ideas, speculations and conceptions. Scale, an element that establishes the level of reading one must produce in order to represent, determines the link between the real world and the dimensions of the drawing or model. For example, 1:1 ratio is also known as full size.

More than just a relationship between two numbers, the ratio acts as a guide to the level of detail and/or indicates which stage of the project (since the natural tendency of the design process is to start from scratch). an overarching thought process, which requires a smaller scale, and for a more detailed examination, a larger scale). However, how do you determine what is the ideal ratio for a particular rep?

1:50,000 to 1:2000

The small scale range of drawings, i.e. drawings that are greatly scaled down from reality, are often applied to large dimensions: cartographic drawings, urban, regional or even map drawings. small towns because they can handle data comprehensively.

This type of scale is also used in urban and regional plans, such as master plans or aerial photometric surveys.

1:1000 to 1:500

This is the ideal scale for most sites when zooming in on projects that require reading of the context without showing large plots of land.

An overview of the building and its location in an urban network, such as a block or a neighborhood, can use this scale. It is also possible to highlight other important factors such as the availability of infrastructure, among others.

When the ratio is used for learning and research, it is very effective for surveys of building height, land use,...

1:250 to 1:200

When the design goal stops at the surrounding context and begins to focus on the design, it is necessary to scale up. Scales 1: 250 and 1: 200 are suitable for processing such types of premises.

Design elements become more apparent, from form to volume, entrance, roof features and the relationship between building spaces and voids. These scales can also serve plans, sections and elevations in larger buildings to read proposals more broadly. They may even consider spatial and compositional components.

Even when it comes to small interventions, this ratio can be used as a first-line approach, steady use in the early stages of discussions and decision-making that, over time, will directing the development of more precise engineering and construction problems.

1:150 to 1:100

As the scale grows larger, it is necessary to evaluate the level of performance and the size of the work to be presented. Scales from 1:150 to 1:100 can also be used for first approaches of works and small works. In the case of larger buildings, architects will envisage more detailed drawings and models, including more defined structural and layout elements.

In any case, it's important to consider the representations intent, be it two- or three-dimensional, to prioritize which elements should be highlighted.

1:75 to 1:25

Similarly, this ratio works with textures, layouts and relationships between floors.

In some cases, they are also valid for flooring, wall covering designations and interior design. The 1:50 to 1:25 scale can also magnify rooms for more detail on specific components, such as plumbing, electrical, or textures.

1:20 to 1:10

A more specific use of the 1:20 and 1:10 ratios is to represent furniture. It is common for both architects and interior designers to show the workings of components and their structures. Since these are smaller subjects, the need for larger proportions is obvious.

In construction, this scale is used to represent detailed drawings.

1:5 to 1:1

When the goal is no longer to present the spatial organization of projects, but to the constructive aspects and its components, the large proportions are those that allow us to convey technical details. technique with higher accuracy. It requires special drawing development when it comes to materials, fixtures and fittings, i.e. the function of the components and the way in which they are made. This is common in advanced stages for example in an operational project.

Large-scale three-dimensional models are better suited as prototypes for solutions that emerge during the design process that may or may not be used in the construction site.

The attempt to systematize a guide to using proportions in architecture highlights the importance of thinking and decision-making when it comes to choosing what will be represented in a project. Adjusting reality to deal with varying degrees of complexity in the design process is part of the development of architects and is also a daily work.

Note: the examples presented in this article are not necessarily made to the scale mentioned.

Archdaily/Anh Tuan/ Designs.vn
Tags scale, scale, design