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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