I always build around a central staircase, usually not too far out either. I really should switch to a spiral ramp passage but I haven't wanted to perform the extra designations (Yes, I'm
THAT lazy) and such to make sure there are no accidents that end up ruining the thing. Staircases are just easier to set up. make staircase, dig out area around staircase, all the walls can go, don't have to worry about them disappearing... Ramps
are easier to defend...
Anyway, the biggest recurring architectural theme for me is that everything is laid out in odd numbers, I often even measure the halls, setting 1x breaks along their length at 5- or 11-tile intervals on 3x halls which serve as a sort of defense, I only have to build 1 wall to seal off that section. This was originally because of the threat of fire snakes in the magma forges in 40d, but i haven't seen them in 31.# yet, I would make 3 parallel 3x halls of 5x3 rooms with doors connecting each room to it's orthogonal sisters, so that when i got the message that a metal smith was going to rest his/her injuries I could zoom over and lock them in whatever room they were in. Sucks to be you, but it doesn't suck to be the rest of us. (it does actually
)