I had asked in my last post a question that was must have been skimmed over, and I have a few others to ask so here it goes:

1. I have four buildings that will be complete in their structure I have palnned the first floors would encompass the whole area they would be standing. The question is the upper levels do you all think they should also be complete or as they go up, should the floors be foreshortened ( a 1/2" may be less) to allow the viewer better access to see the lower floors?

2). European electrical work: A number of of references, moives, documentries, and such often time show the electrical wiring and switches on the outside of the walls, was this common place? If so, the ones I have seen (photo's) a round switch with a turn knob?

3). Design of european shop/houses: The upper levels being the living area's of the owners, The bedrooms were located on the upper most levels? with the "living space" (kitchen, bathrooms, livingroom-sittingroom) in between the shop and the bedrooms?

Any answers or opinion's would be greatly appreciated, Thank You.

A visual trick Shep. offers is to shorten the 'floor' heights as you go up. Visually, you are used to looking up at buildings and your impression is that they are shorter because they are farther away from you. You could shorten your scale on the second floor.
I get the sense that you are thinking leaving the ND floor true to scale and 'cutting off' it off 1/2 way up the wall. If you choose to do this I would do it in a curved smooth line and paint the edge black or red or something like that to make no mistake of the desired affect.
As far as 'should you do it' - after reviewing your base with the building skeletons - I would say No. There is (IMHO) sufficient viewpoints and open access to all the buildings and streets that the second floors would not impeded a viewer.

As far as electrical - I think you're on the money with the turn knob.

I think you have to consider how many stories you have in your buildnigs to consider a middle floor for kitchens/bathrooms. I would agree with you if 3 stories were available.

Thanks for the insight, I had shortend the buildings because the cafe was really towering over the others (and still is a bit). I too, had read the Shep Paine"s book and thought it was a good idea. I'm still not sure about the electrical with the wiring to the outside of the walls the only reference I have, shows the wire going up the wall, but did it go into the ceiling or did it lead directly to the ceiling light?

2.) Fix the wire to the ceiling the same way as you fix it to the wall. Some wires are under plaster, some not. Same for tubes. It depends on the amount of money, the owner invested. Both methods are still seen in France.

3.) That also depends on something : Is the house "deep" enough, living room and kitchen will be located in the basement, bedroom on the first floor. Smaller houses will be as you described with bedroom on the 2nd floor. The toilet can even be placed in the backyard of the house ! (well, not in your case, since shop owners have more money).

CU

Frank

Thank's Frank.

You're welcome !

As far as the wiring and knobs goes, I´m sure practises differ between countries quite a bit.
In parents´house, which was built in the 40´s, the wiring was on the outside of the wall right at the intersecting edge of the roof and wall.
The light switches were a dark red brown colour, round. The actual switch as a simple up-down lever.