wandlage

Wandlage is a term used in architecture, construction, and carpentry to describe the planned alignment and placement of walls within a building. The word combines the German words Wand (wall) and Lage (position or orientation) and is commonly used to refer to how walls run relative to building axes, grids, and adjacent structural elements.

In planning and execution, wandlage governs the geometry of spaces, the direction of load paths, and the exterior form of the building. It is established on floor plans and set out on site with surveying tools to ensure walls are built in the designated directions, parallel to reference axes, and with the intended offsets or alignments from other walls and structural elements. Tolerances for deviations are defined by local building codes and project specifications and are checked during construction through field measurements and leveling.

Typical wall alignments include straight, grid-aligned walls that run parallel to main axes, and offset or offsetting layouts where consecutive walls are not collinear. In more complex buildings, angled or curved wandlagen may occur to accommodate irregular footprints or architectural intent. The wandlage also differs for load-bearing walls and partition walls, affecting detailing, jointing, and connection methods.

The concept is relevant across disciplines, including masonry, timber framing, and dry construction, where the alignment of walls influences structural performance, acoustics, thermal bridging, and interior space planning. Proper management of wandlage ensures consistent joints, accurate facade alignment, and efficient assembly of building systems. See also related concepts such as floor plan layout, axis lines, and construction tolerances.