Which drawing is typically used to illustrate general building design?

A floor plan is typically used to illustrate general building design because it provides a detailed view of the layout of a building from above, showcasing the arrangement of rooms, spaces, and design elements. It captures essential aspects such as walls, doors, windows, and sometimes even furnishings, allowing for a clear understanding of how different areas within the building relate to one another. This makes it an invaluable tool for planning and assessing the functional use of space, which is crucial in fire safety and building compliance evaluations.

While elevation drawings offer a view of the building's exterior appearance and vertical elements, and site plans depict the entire property layout along with landscaping, parking, and access points, they don't convey the internal organization as effectively as a floor plan. Section drawings provide a cut-through view of the building to comprehend vertical relationships and structural elements, but again, they do not serve the purpose of illustrating the overall building design in terms of spatial layout like a floor plan does.