Doors are a fundamental part of Art Deco house designs. This type of house design is characterized by its linear shapes and symmetrical doors, usually in bichrome. Rectangular and angular frames are usually seen featuring these doors, creating a distinct aesthetic. Some popular door symbols of the Art Deco era are sunflowers, a lion’s head, and swords. These can be found decorating the garages of most Art Deco houses. Sunflower symbols are a particularly fine example of Art Deco design, with their delicate curves and classical shapes. Lion’s Head is another popular door symbol which was used to symbolize strength and courage. A carved wooden lion’s head can be found on many doors throughout Art Deco homes, adding a touch of elegance. As for Swords, these were often found at the top of the door frame, again, symbolizing courage. Such shapes may also be found surrounding the door’s edge. House Designs: Doors Symbol
Windows feature prominently in Art Deco houses, with symmetrical designs and intricate details. These windows may take the form of distinct geometric shapes such as triangles, circles, and squares. Some popular Art Deco window shapes include arches, pointed arches, and ovals. These windows are usually surrounded by artwork, often featuring carved designs such as stars and geometric shapes. Other popular Window Symbols found in Art Deco homes are stylized Art Deco font. These fonts feature sharp angles and unique shapes, often mimicking the shape of the window itself. Stylized animals can also be seen decorating the windows, continuing the Art Deco motif. Additionally, some windows may also be stained glass, adding a touch of color to the Art Deco house design. House Designs: Window Symbol
The electrical system of the Art Deco house can be one of its most distinguishing features. Electrical symbols were often carved into the wooden wiring of the home, which were illuminated in the dark. The complexities of the wiring system usually complimented the intricacies of the architecture, making it look like a work of art. The most common electrical symbols from the Art Deco era include stars, arrows, and circles. These symbols were usually placed around the electrical components and wiring, and often during the 1930s and 40s. They were meant to symbolize electrical energy and fluidity, as well as to draw the eye to the intricate wiring of the house. House Designs: Electrical Symbols
Plumbing symbol is another decorative feature of Art Deco houses. These symbols often depict various water-related figures such as mermaids, dolphins, and fish. These figures were meant to portray the importance of water to the Art Deco era and were often carved into the plumbing pipes connecting the bathroom and kitchen. Plumbing symbols can also be seen on other areas of the home such as the facade or entryway. Some popular plumbing symbols include the wildcat, a creature which is often associated with water as a symbol of fecundity and fertility. Fish, dolphins, and mermaids were also popular, each of these having a specific meaning and purpose. The wildcat was meant to represent strength and bravery, while the fish and dolphins represented joy and abundance. House Designs: Plumbing Symbol
Furnaces are essential for both comfort and safety in the home. In an Art Deco house, the furnace symbolizes the warmth of the home, both literally and figuratively. The furnace symbol can be seen in various forms, such as carved lines, shapes, and patterns. The most typical furnace symbol is a triangle, representing the fire that is created when the furnace is in use. Other artistic forms of the symbol include flames, stars, and circles. The artistry of the furnace symbol in an Art Deco house reflects the importance of fire and warmth in a home. These symbols were often surrounded by carvings of other abstract shapes and images, giving it a unique and distinctive look. The furnace symbol was meant to signify safety, security, and protection, while also creating a sense of style and luxury in the Art Deco home.House Designs: Furnace Symbol
Air conditioning is an essential part of modern Art Deco house designs. In the Art Deco era, air conditioning was becoming increasingly popular, so it was important that designers created a way to visually represent the residence's air conditioning system. This is where the air conditioning symbol became important. This symbol was often carved into the side of the air conditioning unit, and usually featured a complex pattern with flowing lines and shapes, such as zig-zags and lightning bolts. The air conditioning symbol was also often flanked by other abstract shapes, such as circles, squares, and stars. It was meant to signify the power and strength of the air conditioning system, all while adding a touch of art and modernity to the Art Deco house design.House Designs: Air Conditioning Symbol
Heat pumps are an essential part of Art Deco house designs. These are usually represented by a symbol of a windmill, a symbol which has been used to represent air movement since ancient times. The windmill symbol is usually flanked by abstract shapes, such as stars, circles, and spirals. The combination of these shapes is meant to represent the airflow of the heat pump, while it also adds a touch of artistry to the design. Aside from the windmill heat pump symbol, some Art Deco houses may also feature other artistic symbols associated with heat pumps. These include spirals, lightning bolts, and stars, all of which are meant to represent energy and motion. These symbols are often combined to represent the power and strength of the heat pump in the Art Deco house design.House Designs: Heat Pump Symbol
Structural symbols are an important element of Art Deco house designs, as they help to create a sense of strength and stability. Common symbols featured on the exteriors of Art Deco homes include arched doorways, rectangles, columns, and triangles. These shapes are often decorated with additional symbols, such as stars, circles, and lightning bolts. The use of structural symbols was meant to symbolize firmness and stability in the design of the home. Frequently, these shapes are surrounded by intricate patterns or decorations, all of which are meant to signify the importance of strength in the Art Deco house design.House Designs: Structural Symbols
Floor plans are an important element of Art Deco house designs. Floor plan symbols help to create a visual representation of the home’s layout. The typical Art Deco floor plan usually featured a number of interlocking geometric shapes, such as circles, rectangles, and triangles. These shapes were often interconnected, allowing for a visual representation of the home’s various rooms, corridors, and stairways. Along with these basic shapes, floor plan symbols featured a number of additional symbols. These included stars, spirals, and lightning bolts. The meanings of these symbols were varied, though they usually represented energy, movement, and stability. These symbols were meant to provide a visual indication of how the home’s interior was laid out, while still being aesthetically pleasing.House Designs: Floor Plan Symbols
Appliance symbols were an important element of Art Deco house designs. Appliances symbols have a long history, being found in homes for hundreds of years. In the Art Deco era, these symbols were designed to represent strength, power, and fluidity. Usually, these symbols featured arrows, circles, and spirals. These shapes were typically surrounded by abstract decorations, such as stars, lightning bolts, and geometric shapes. The most common appliances symbols during the Art Deco era were found around ovens and stoves. These symbols were usually designed to represent the heat and power of the oven or stove, symbolizing the strength and power of the appliance itself. Other symbols, such as lightning bolts, were used to signify energy, while stars were meant to represent luck and good fortune. House Designs: Appliances Symbols
Understanding Mechanical House Plan Symbols
When it comes to house design, it's important to have a thorough understanding of mechanical house plan symbols . These symbols help to communicate and illustrate what pieces of equipment, appliances, and other components will go where in a particular blueprint. When used correctly, these symbols help to make the drafting process much smoother and speed along the overall design process. But, without an understanding of what these symbols mean, it can be difficult to make sure the blueprint is complete and accurate.
When drafting a house plan, symbol placement is arguably the most important aspect. This is because different appliances and features require specific spacing for safety reasons. An example of this would be logically placing smoke detectors in a home. Placing them too close to where the stove or other heat sources might be could result in false alarms. Figuring out the correct placement can take some time, but it's well worth the effort.
One of the more common house plan symbols you may encounter is the circle. This symbol usually signifies a light fixture, appliance, or other electrical feature. The symbol looks like a circle with a cross inside the middle, resembling an electrical outlet. In the example above, the circle can be used to denote the location of a light switch or outlet.
Another common symbol is a line that looks like a water droplet. This symbol means there is a water connection in that particular part of the home. This symbol may also be used to determine the location of a sink, a bathroom, or even an outdoor irrigation system .
While these are only two examples of mechanical house plan symbols, they are by no means the only symbols you will encounter. It is important to become acquainted with all possible symbols prior to starting a project. This way, you can easily understand what the symbols are used for and make the process of drafting much smoother.
Benefits of Understanding Mechanical House Plan Symbols
Mastering the use of house design symbols can have huge benefits in terms of design accuracy. When these symbols are used properly, they can give the designer a much clearer picture of a particular blueprint. This can save time on the process of designing a house as well as knowing the exact fixtures and equipment location that can save costly mistakes.
Another benefit of understanding the symbols is the ability to have a much better understanding of what kinds of electrical requirements an area may need. Knowing the importance of knowing the electrical requirements of a certain area can ensure that the design complies with current building codes and regulations. This can not only give a great peace of mind but also save money in the long run.