Draufsicht

Draufsicht is the German term for the top view or plan view used in technical drawing and architecture. It refers to an orthographic projection of an object as seen from above, showing the shape and features in the horizontal plane. In a Draufsicht the visible dimensions are width and depth; the vertical dimension (height) is not directly represented, though it may be indicated by dimensions or in accompanying views.

It is one of the standard orthographic views, alongside Vorderansicht (front view) and Seitenansicht (side view). In German drawing conventions and ISO/DIN standards, the Draufsicht is drawn with consistent line types: visible edges are solid, hidden features are dashed, and center lines are used where appropriate. Scales, tolerances, and annotations follow the same conventions as in other views to ensure accurate interpretation when the views are combined into a complete drawing set.

Applications of the Draufsicht span engineering, manufacturing, architecture, product design, and furniture drawing. It is used to convey the footprint or outline of an object, show features visible from above such as holes, slots, and cutouts, and to coordinate with other views that describe depth and height. In architecture, the term Grundriss is often used for a floor plan specifically; the Draufsicht, by contrast, emphasizes the top-down outline of a structure or component rather than the interior room layout.

Etymology: the term derives from the German words drauf (on top) and Sicht (view). In English, the equivalent concepts are top view or plan view.