SITE STUDY _lecture on 120210

2/12/2012

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SITE STUDY & SITE

ANALYSIS

“Creating a sense of place (genius loci) hinges on

understanding and responding to site context (the

site’s unique character). A sense of place can be

strengthened by using or adapting the forms or

elements that are common around the place.”

Planning & Design Process

� Planning & design occurs as a process

� Logical sequence of actions that must be carried out to reach a viable solution

� We are concerned with SITE STUDY / ANALYSIS

Detailed Design

The Need for Site Study / Analysis

� Studying and analyzing the site and its

surrounding context is an important step in

site planning & design

� Site attributes / characteristics must be

analyzed in order to adapt the proposed

building to the specific / unique conditions of

the site

� Site condition will have a CONSIDERABLE

INFLUENCE on the direction of the design

Component of Site Study / Analysis

2 distinct steps but interrelated:

� Site inventory – collecting information / data

relevant to the site and surrounding area

(doing an inventory)

� Site analysis – Data is analyzed in terms of

its implication on the proposed building on

the site

Elements of SITE INVENTORYPhysical, Biological and Cultural elements combined

� LOCATION

� NEIGHBOURHOOD CONTEXT (site and its neighbours)

� SIZE & ZONING

� LEGAL CONSTRAINTS

� NATURAL FEATURES

� MAN MADE FEATURES

� CIRCULATION AROUND SITE

� UTILITIES & FACILITIES

� VIEWS

� SENSORY

� HUMAN & CULTURAL

� CLIMATE

Elements of SITE INVENTORY

1. LOCATION

� Site related to major

roads / landmarks

� Aerial photos

� Distance and proximity

to major places + time

taken to travel

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Elements of Site Inventory

2. NEIGHBORHOOD CONTEXT (site and its neighbors)

� Zoning / land use of neighborhood

� Predominant architectural pattern, character of immediate surrounding + condition of building

� Reaction of surrounding buildings towards site

Elements of Site Inventory

3. SIZE & ZONING

� Site boundaries,

dimensions, set-backs,

height limitation,

allowable site coverage

(plot ratio) parking

requirements

Elements of Site Inventory

4. LEGAL CONSTRAINTS

� Legal property restrictions,

rights of way, subdivision

regulations, etc.

� What legally can or cannot

be done to the property

� Most can be found at Land

Office or other Govt.

authorities

Elements of Site Inventory

5. NATURAL FEATURES

� Topography / slopes

features of site –

contour map

� River, Lake, Drainage

pattern, water table,

flood data

� Trees & vegetation,

ground texture

� Soil condition

Elements of Site Inventory

6. MAN MADE FEATURES

� Existing buildings, walls, bus shelter or other structures on the site

� Size & location to be noted and measured

� Some info can be sourced from local authority

Elements of Site Inventory

7. CIRCULATION AROUND

SITE

� Uses of streets, roads,

alleys, sidewalks, plazas

are important to be noted

� Circulation of vehicular and

pedestrian movements to

be mapped (public transport

routes, pedestrian

pathways)

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Elements of Site Inventory

8. UTILITIES & FACILITIES

� Information on availability of

water, sanitary, storm

drainage, electricity,

telephone line, etc.

� Availability of public

facilities, recreational

centers, transportation

terminal, etc. near the site

Elements of Site Inventory

9. VIEWS

� Visual study of on-site and

off-site views

� Study is useful to determine

visual character of the site

as this will impact on

proposed building design

� Views taken from: inside

out; outside in and across

site including immediate

surrounding

Elements of Site Inventory

10. SENSORY

� Sensory elements of

sound/noise,

smell/odour,

smoke/pollutant, must

be observed through

first hand experience

Elements of Site Inventory

11. HUMAN & CULTURAL

� Information on activities of

people around the site –

observe the different age

groups

� Cultural / local historical

attributes of site

� Cultural / historical features

may be important

consideration as a link

between the proposed new

development and the past

Elements of Site Inventory

12. CLIMATE

� Macroclimate – rainfall, wind pattern, temperature, sun path throughout year

� Microclimate – refers to the variation to the general climate due to site features of topography, plants, structural elements on or around site, etc.

� Shade / shadow patterns created by existing structure / plants are important to analyse

Format of Site Inventory

� To prepare base map of the site – include

site boundaries & key site information and

surrounding

� Base map will be the template for mapping

each attribute / element studied

� All these onsite / offsite observations must be

documented on inventory maps or through

sketches/photographs, written notes, etc.

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Site Inventory Map

SITE ANALYSIS

� Next step after inventory mapping is to analyze

its implications for proposed development i.e.

looking at STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES and

developing OPPORTUNITIES &

CONSTRAINTS/POTENTIALS (SWOC/SWOP

Analysis) provided by the site on each element

� Done on separate map/plan or may be

combined with site inventory information on

same drawing

Site Analysis Map or Diagram

Site Analysis Map or Diagram

Site Analysis Map or Diagram

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CONCLUSION

� End product of Site Study / Site Analysis is a composite analysis map (sometimes called opportunities & constraints sheet)

� Analysis map highlights positive elements of the site that should be enhanced

� Composite analysis map provides clear justification to designer on what form and where the development should occur that offers the most advantage and minimum environmental impact.

Further reading:

� LaGro Jr, James A., Site Analysis: Linking

Program and Concept in Land Planning and

Design, New York: John Wiley and Sons, 2001.

� White, Edward T., Site Analysis: Diagramming

Information for Architectural Design, Florida:

Architectural Media, 2004.

� McBride, Steven B., Site Planning and Design,

The Web Book of Regional Science, 2006