Finding architectural plans
Find plans in books
Books are an excellent starting point to find architectural plans, sections, drawings and images.
You can use the Library Search to find books about an architect or building. You can also include the keyword plan or plans in your search.
Below is an example search using the terms: Glenn Murcutt plans
Detail Inspiration
Search Detail Inspiration to find project documentation including plans, drawings, elevations, technical specifications and images for over 3500 architectural designs from around the world.
Reference books with plans
In these books you will find floor plans, photography and illustrations relating to buildings from around the world.
The Phaidon Atlas of Contemporary World Architecture by Publication Date: 2004An atlas presenting a global survey of contemporary architecture works from around the world. It includes detailed plans, elevations and images.
Key buildings of the 20th century: plans, sections and elevations by Publication Date: 2010This book features over 100 influential and significant buildings from the 20th century. For each of the buildings it includes a number of plans, floor plans, elevations, sections, images and site plans.
Key Houses of the Twentieth Century: plans, sections and elevations by Publication Date: 2006This book includes residential works by seminal architects such as Le Corbusier, Frank Lloyd Wright, Mies van der Rohe, and Alvar Aalto, as well as houses by more recent masters such as Tadao Ando, Rem Koolhaas, and Glen Murcutt. Scale plans of every floor, together with elevations, sections, and site plans are include for all the works.
Find plans, sections and drawings in journals or magazines
Searching the databases Art and Architecture Source and Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals is a good place to start.
Follow the steps below to locate plans, elevations and sections within journal and magazine articles.
- Navigate to Art and Architecture Source
- In the first search field type the name of the building or architect
- In the second search field enter the terms plans OR section OR elevation, and select Search
- To access the full-text plan or drawing, select the PDF option or Find it @Deakin button
- Repeat this process in Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals
Example
The library record below shows a journal article that contains images of building plans.
Find historical plans on websites
The following websites are a source of plans, drawings, elevations or images in Australia but especially Melbourne or Geelong.
- State Library of Victoria drawings collection
The SLV architecture drawings collection includes mostly Victorian architects’ drawings of the 19th and 20th century buildings. - Victorian Heritage Database
The Victorian Heritage Database is home to the Victorian Heritage Register which lists the state's most significant heritage places. The register includes descriptions, images and sometimes plans of Heritage buildings in Victoria. - Geelong Heritage Centre
Geelong’s archive and resource centre which collects the history of Geelong and beyond. The collection includes maps, plans and photographs of Geelong built environment history. - TROVE
By searching Trove you can find access to, or the locations of, collections from Australian libraries, universities, museums, galleries and archives. This includes images and plans of buildings. Refine your search to Images, Maps & Artefacts to locate plans and images. - Public Record Office of Victoria
Find archives of historic building plans and documents from Melbourne and around Victoria.