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Metric Data 08 – Standard Furniture Sizes

Living Room, Dining Room, Bedroom In metric data 08 we will be looking at standard furniture sizes. To make it more useful, we have put together a reference PDF with all of the sizes that you can download for free. On top of that you can get all of the CAD...

Best Books for Architectural Concepts and Design Process

Here I have put together a list of my best books for architectural concepts and the design process. I hope that some of these books will be useful to you as you develop your designs and your architectural concept thinking. If you are interested in purchasing any of...

Metric Data 07 – Wheelchair accessible living areas

Wheelchair accessible living areas In this post, we will explore the necessary requirements to design a wheelchair accessible living area. We will look at living spaces that will enable a wheelchair user to enjoy the spaces and be able to socialise with their friends...

Architectural Line Weights and Plotstyles

Architectural Lineweights and Plotstyles Over the years I have written a couple of items about line weights, plotstyles and the like, and somewhere in the depths of YouTube there is a video tutorial too, with terrible sound. I continue to get so many questions about...

How to calculate slopes and gradients

You can download a pdf of this guide by clicking on the button below.As an architect you will need to know how to calculate slopes and gradients in differing situations. The most common occurrence of this is working with ramped access to buildings, groundworks, car...

CAD Blocks Trees CT02

This set of CAD blocks features trees in elevation. We have put together a set of tree cad blocks that include beech, silver birch and more. Hopefully they will be useful to you, and keep checking back as our collection continues to grow. This set of tree cad blocks...

Ideas for Architectural Concepts

Ideas for Architectural Concepts To develop an architectural concept we must first gather a set of information before we can start any sort of design process. We can categorise these initial findings into three distinct areas: Site Building Requirements Building Type...

Site Analysis Site Visit

Site Analysis Site Visit Prior to carrying out your site analysis site visit you will have undertaken your site analysis desktop study. It is important you go to site prepared, so make sure you check out that blog post before you continue with this one. The...

CP04 Dining Room Furniture CAD Blocks

This set of dining room furniture cad blocks from the First In Architecture Cad Block database. I hope you find them useful. This set of dining room furniture cad blocks includes: dining tables dining chairs sideboard shelving unit accessories Blocks are in AutoCAD...

Site Analysis Desktop Study

Site Analysis Desktop Study There are many aspects to carrying out a site analysis and the desktop study makes up an important part of the site analysis. We have made a short video all about carrying out a desktop study for your site analysis. Check it out...

CP03 CAD Blocks Bedroom Furniture

This set of bedroom furniture cad blocks from the First In Architecture Cad Block database. I hope you find them useful. This set of cad blocks includes: bed cad blocks bedside table cad blocks ottoman cad blocks occasional chair cad block objects and...

CAD Blocks Trees CT01

This is the first of a new set of cad blocks trees we are developing. We have put together the first of a very specific set of trees. Hopefully they will be useful to you, and keep checking back as our collection continues to grow. This set of tree cad blocks...

What is an architectural site plan?

What is an architectural site plan? A site plan is a really important part of any set of architectural drawings. The site plan will often show information like existing and proposed buildings, access, landscaping, site boundaries and much more. There are, however,...

Metric Data 06 Wheelchair Accessible Dwelling

Metric Data 06 - Wheelchair Accessible Dwelling Approach, Entrance and Circulation In Metric Data 06 we look at the approach to dwellings, entrance and circulation for a wheelchair accessible dwelling. This includes details such as requirements for ramps, car...

CP03 Bedroom Furniture CAD Blocks

What is a Construction Drawing?

What is a construction drawing? A construction drawing or set of construction drawings form part of the pre-construction information that is used to construct a building. Before we dive in to construction drawings, what they look like and what they include -...

Metric Data 05 Approach Entrance and Horizontal Circulation

Metric Data 05: Approach, Entrance and Horizontal Circulation In Visitable Dwellings In Metric Data 05 we look at the approach to dwellings, entrance and circulation. This includes details such as requirements for ramps, steps, corridors and sanitary facilities...

Straw bale construction

What is straw bale construction? Straw bale construction uses the renewable material of straw, in bale form to act as an infill material to timber frame structures or as a load bearing structure to buildings of no more than two storeys. The construction method...

What is a Passivhaus?

What is a Passivhaus? The Passivhaus standard, developed in Germany, is a low energy design standard. It was developed in 1990, over 25 years ago and some estimates suggest there are well over 50,000 Passivhaus buildings around the world. Some of the key...

Metric Data 04 Circulation and Space

Metric Data 04: Circulation and space In Metric Data 04 we look at the circulation and space. This includes details such as space requirements for people next to each other, in a queue, corridor width requirements, wheelchair passing space and much more. These...

Understanding Passivhaus is out now!

I am delighted to announce that the long awaited Understanding Passivhaus - A Simple Guide to Passivhaus Detailing and Design is now available! The book explores the Passivhaus key principles and looks at the various building methods that can be employed to achieve...

Best Laptop for Architects 2019/2020

What is the best laptop for architects? Every year I take a look at the requirements of popular software that we use in architecture (AutoCAD, Revit, Rhino, 3DS Max etc) and check out all the latest in computing and laptops in order to recommend some of the best...

Metric Data 03 Average dimensions of wheelchair user

Metric Data 03: Average dimensions of man and woman in wheelchair In Metric Data 03 we look at the average dimensions of a wheelchair, and average dimensions of a wheelchair user. This includes details such as average height, average width, average reach...

Pine Forest Texture Pack

I am really excited to bring you a free texture pack for your creative work. These images are free to use, in both your commercial or personal projects. The textures available are all from a pine forest, and include the following: Pine tree bark Pine forest trees Pine...