Section-Elevation Examples – Iconic houses

• Ground Floor Plan: Alvar and Aino Aalto’s House in Helsinki, 1935.

• Shows section reference markers A-A, B-B and C-C, indicating cut and view shown in sections (note line of jogged section A-A indicated at Dining Room).

• Metric scale of 1:100 (similar to 1/8”=1’-0”) is noted, and matches the scale of the sections (would be nice to have a graphic scale, and a North arrow).

• 1st Floor Plan: Alvar and Aino Aalto’s House in Helsinki, 1935.• Shows section reference markers A-A, B-B and C-C, as shown on ground floor,

indicating cut and view shown in sections.• Note section reference line does not actually cut through the plan (except the short

jogged section line), but indicates where the cut is located.

• Basement Floor Plan: Alvar and Aino Aalto’s House in Helsinki, 1935.• Shows section reference markers A-A, B-B and C-C, as shown on ground and 1st floor

plans, indicating cut and view shown in sections.• Note section reference line does not actually cut through the plan (except the short

jogged section line), but indicates where the cut is located.

• Section-Elevation A-A.• Section cut and view as indicated by section reference marker A-A shown on plans. • Note decision to cut section through solid wall at double height studio instead of

window (cutting through windows would have been a better decision, but at least the location of the studio windows is indicated by dashed lines).

• Section-Elevation B-B (although it is just called a Section).• Section cut and view as indicated by section reference marker B-B shown on plans. • Another option would be to poché the structure that is cut (and the earth it is cut into

as well), although the line weights make the section fairly clear.• Note: the section doesn’t actually slope, just the image.

• Section-Elevation C-C.• Section cut and view as indicated by section reference marker C-C shown on plans. • Note this section would be considered a transverse section, as it is cut the short way along

the building whose longer axis is in the opposite direction. It is generally a good idea to cut sections perpendicular to each other, to get a better idea of the space.

From “The Houses of Louis Kahn”

Shapiro House, Narberth, PA 1958 - 1962

• Hand Drafted Section-Elevations of Shapiro House and stair section details.• Note the referencing of Section B-B from Section A-A (as opposed to referencing the

section from the plan), this is another effective way of referencing sections.• Note also these drawings are drafted by Anne Tyng, an important figure in Kahn’s office

and work (and in her own right).

Vanna Venturi House, Chestnut Hill, PA 1959 - 1964

• Hand Drafted Section-Elevation – Pencil on vellum, July, 1959 (early scheme)• Note material indications (brick, stucco), and the very clear and delicate delineation of line work

emphasizing the section cut as distinct from the elevational elements.• The line work is clear enough that poché is not required (although, since the plan is pochéd, it

would make sense to poché the section).

• Hand Drafted Section-Elevation – Pencil on vellum, July 19, 1959 (early scheme IIA).• Note material indications (brick, stone), the scale figure, the graphic scale at lower right, and the

very clear and delicate delineation of line work emphasizing the section cut as distinct from the elevational elements.

• Note also that poché is employed here despite the clear linework of the section. The two work well together.

• Hand Drafted transverse section – Pencil, color pencil study on diazo print, 1962.• Note again clear section line work (and scale figure).• Note also the use of the section to identify areas of detail for further study.• The site plan is included here, but we don’t know exactly why (fit?).

• Final presentation section-elevation of Scheme VI, ink on mylar.

• Note that ink is not as subtle as pencil, but still provides clear delineation.

• Notice that the ground plane is indicated by a single line, while the structure is pochéd solid (it might make better sense to poché the ground as well) .

• Working Drawing Sections: Sepia print of pencil on vellum, May 24, 1963.• Note clear section linework, material indications, block coursing indications, curve radius

origination indication, detail reference markers, balanced placement of sheet.• Note also indication of ground line in sections to demarcate basement level from above

grade spaces.