Site selection and site planning
- 2. 2 TEACH A COURSE SITE SELECTION AND SITE PLANNING SITE SELECTION • Location • Neighborhood context. • Zoning and size. • Legal information. • Natural physical features. • Man made features. • Circulation. • Utilities. • Climate. • Sensory. • Human and cultural. SITE PLANNING Environmental Factors Natural Factors Existing land use
- 3. 3 TEACH A COURSE • Where is the site located? • How is the site approached? • Is it near or farther away from our resources? • Current context – existing buildings, car parking, roads • Look at existing and proposed building uses in the neighborhood • What condition are the buildings in? • Are there activities in the neighborhood that may create strong vehicle or pedestrian traffic? • Any nearby historical buildings, or buildings of particular significance • Sun and shade patterns during the year. • Is the site close to listed buildings? 1. LOCATION 2. NEIGHBORHOOH CONTEXT
- 4. 4 TEACH A COURSE • Site boundary and dimensions • Any rights of way through the site and the dimensions • Any easements location and dimensions • Any building height restrictions • Access to the site – car parking, bus routes, train stations, cycle routes, pedestrian walkways. • Access to site for construction – will there be any obstacles or restrictions that could affect the construction process? • Topography of the site, valleys, ridges, slopes etc. • Vegetation – landscaping, greenery, shrubs and trees, open spaces. • Site levels. How will this affect your design process? How • does the site drainage work, would there be any potential problems with drainage? • Soil types on site 3.Site and Zoning 4.Natural Features
- 5. 5 TEACH A COURSE • What was the previous use of the site? Would there be any pollution concerns? • Are there existing buildings on the site – what is their state of repair? Is there any sign of subsidence or settlement damage? • Are the existing buildings part of the project? • Any walls, retaining walls on the site, or other built items 5. Man made features • Circulation – how do visitors/pedestrians/traffic to or near the site flow around or within it. • Accessibility – current provisions of disabled access to the site and how will this need to be considered. • Vehicle and pedestrian movements in, through and around the site. • Consider the timing of these movements, and duration of heavier patterns. Future traffic and road developments should also be considered. 6.Circulation
- 6. 6 TEACH A COURSE 7. Utilities • Location of all services: electricity, gas, water, sewer, • telephone. • This includes both underground and above ground. • Location of power poles. • Drainage • Sub-stations • Views – where are the best views to and from the site. • What are the views of? • Mark out the positive and negative views. • Which is the most likely feature aspect? • Noise, odor and pollution – is the site in a particularly noisy area? Or near industrial buildings that produce levels of pollution. Is it near a facility that creates smoke? 8. Sensory
- 7. 7 TEACH A COURSE • Negative neighborhood issues such as vandalism and crime. • What are the attitudes towards the site and the potential build? • What are the general neighborhood attitudes about the area? • What is the cultural, psychological, behavioral and sociological aspects of the surrounding area. • What is the population, density, family size, ethnic patterns, employment, recreation activities etc. 10. Human and Cultural • Orientation of the site. • Weather – how does the weather affect the site? Is it well shaded, exposed? • How does the temperature, rainfall vary throughout the year? • What are the prevailing wind directions throughout the year? • What is the sun path throughout the different times of the year, and day. 11. Climate
- 8. 8 TEACH A COURSE Environmental study for architectural design involves collection of data, reconnaissance survey, creative ability and imagination, and the design of solutions to solve building problems. When an architect is given a design assignment, there are many environmental factors that are to be considered. The site is the major factor that has to be considered. Site means the area or the land that is meant for the construction of the proposed project. Site Planning is the art and science of arranging the various portions of a particular piece of land according to their uses. The site planner decides on the uses of the site in detail by selecting and analyzing it for the various characteristics of soil, slope, vegetation, etc. The landscape involves the design of outside space. This should be thought about carefully to make an architectural design complete. The climate at the location at the site is very important as it affects the building that is to be constructed. Services such as water supply, drainage, sanitation, electricity, fire protection, air-conditioning system, etc. also have to be Environmental Factors Geology Topography-slope analysis Hydrography-streams, lakes, swamps Soil – classification of types and uses Vegetation Wildlife Climate factors – solar orientation, summer, winter winds, humidity, precipitation Natural Factors
- 9. 9 TEACH A COURSE Geology The type of rock below the surface of soil, the depth, and the characteristic features of rock should be identified. Such rocks could act as a foundation for many buildings. These are natural and could form visible landforms. The stability of such geological formations is also important. Topography Its all about level of the land whether its plain and flat or is it sloppy We must check stability of the slope, whether it is strong enough or not for the construction. Do you have any hills or mountains nearby? Will it affect the movement of the sun or the wind? Any water bodies? Can you enjoy the view of the water body from your site? Hydrography Hydrography provides information about all types of water bodies present in and around the site: lakes, streams, any marshy land(swamps), or natural wells. It also reveals the availability or otherwise of a groundwater table and the depth at which it is available.
- 10. 10 TEACH A COURSE Soil Soil analysis in important element for frame construction in buildup. Type and size of foundation will be decided with respect to its soil bearing capacity. As a building is supported by its foundation, the foundation is supported by soil. The strength and stability of soil depends on its physical properties. Vegetation Landscape planning can reduce the amount of sunlight heating building surface. Prevent reflection of solar radiation from entering the house. Can also reduce are temperature near the house and provide evaporative cooling. If they are in the way on construction, they should be removed Vegetation and natural features should me marked onto the site plan so that it will assist during the design stage: I Location of trees ii. Type of trees iii. Size of the trees - diameter or spread of the branches iv. Heights of the trees Wildlife This is an important consideration when choosing sites for parks and recreation. Fishing and hunting are major recreational activities. The selection of land suitable for such activities depends on natural wildlife present in the area. Wildlife also adds form, color and movement to the landscape. One might also want to be informed about the wildlife present in the area to preserve it and not disturb the animals natural habitats due to the construction.
- 11. 11 TEACH A COURSE Climatic Factors Across a piece of land, the elevation difference, character of topography, vegetation cover, and water bodies influence the climate of that area. On the other hand, precipitation and temperature are the major factors affecting vegetation. In cool and temperate climates, vegetation may be used to block winter winds. Cultural Factors Existing land use – ownership of adjacent property and off-site nuisance Linkages Traffic and transit-vehicular and pedestrian circulation on or adjacent to site. Density and floor area ratio Utilities – sanitation , water, gas, electricity, storm water drainage. Existing buildings Historic factors – historic buildings and landmarks.
- 12. 12 TEACH A COURSE This implies a survey of the present status of the land-whether it is residential, commercial, industrial or recreational. The ownership of the adjacent site will also affect the land being surveyed. Offsite nuisances: Disturbances from outside and around the site have to be studied. Visual nuisance elements: Power lines, water tower, certain industrial complexes, highways, advertisement boards, junkyards(waste dumps), etc., are some examples of eye-sore elements that have to be taken into account. Possible auditory nuisance: Noise produced by heavy automobiles, trains, air traffic etc. and the surrounding population has to be studied. Olfactory nuisance: Dumps, chemicals, other wastes in and around the site have to be taken care of. Existing land use
- 13. THANK YOU TEACH A COURSE 13