Landscpe Design

Site analysis
Ar.Shruti.H.Kapur

LANDFORMS-CLASSIFY FOUR TYPICAL

BUILDING SITES
Hilly site --------------contours are major plan factors. The areas of
relatively equal elevation are narrow bands
lying perpendicular to the axis of the slope.
sizable level areas are non existent.
the essence of slope is rise and fall.
the slope is a ramp.
The slope grade is perhaps too steep for
wheeled traffic.
The pull of gravity is drawn the slope.
The slope site has a dynamic landscape quality.
The dramatic quality of a slope is its apparent
chamgein grade.
A slope inherently emphasizes the meeting of
earth and air.
The top of the slope is most exposed to the
elements.
A sloping site affords interest in views.
The slope is oriented outward.
A sloping site has drainage problem.
a slope brings out many of the desirable
qualities of water.

LANDFORMS-CLASSIFY FOUR TYPICAL

BUILDING SITES
on level side -----------a level site offers a minimum of plan
restrictions.
a level site has minor landscape interest.
a flat site is essential a broad-base plane. a flat
site has no focal point.
Lines of approach are not dictated by the
totpography.
The dome of the sky is a dominate landscape
element of infinite change and beauty.
the sun is a powerful design factor.
a level site has natural landscape quality.
the site offers little privacy.
the flat site offers no obstruction to lateral
planning.
a flat site tends toward monotony.
the horizon is an insistent line.
Flat landscape under the open sky is often
oppressive and lacking in human scale.

LANDFORMS-CLASSIFY FOUR TYPICAL

BUILDING SITES
City lot
Area is a premium
Space is limited
The city environs impose a sense of
confinement and oppression
Areas and spaces are minute in scale
City streets and pedestrian walks are
major lines of approach.
The city street is a source of noise
,fumes and danger.
The city is climatologically speaking ,a
desert of pavement and masonry.
Natural features-trees, interesting
ground forms, rocks and water are
scare and therefore have increased
have increased valve and meaning.
City materials and forms are ,at their
best , sophisticated.

LANDFORMS-CLASSIFY FOUR TYPICAL

BUILDING SITES
Rural site
Land area is plentiful
Freedom ,with open view of fields , woods, and
sky.
The choice of a rural site would indicate a
desire to be at one with nature.
The major landscape features are established.
The landscape is dominant(in character and
mood).
Earth and ground forms are strong visual
elements.
The pleasant landscape is one of agreeable
transitions.
Structures become elements imposed on the
landscape.
The rural landscape is a landscape of
subtleties of foliage shadings, sky tints, and
cloud shadows.
Ina rural site ,one is more exposed to the
elements and the weather-rain, storms,
sun ,wind, snow,frost,wintercold and summer
heat.

SITE ANALYSIS
Site analysis
Site analysisis an inventory completed as a
preparatory step to site planning, a form of urban
planningwhich involves research, analysis, and
synthesis. It primarily deals with basic data as it
relates to a specific site. The topic itself branches
into the boundaries of architecture, landscape
architecture, engineering, real estate development,
economics, and urban planning
Site analysis is an element in site planning and design.
Kevin A. Lynch, an urban plannerdeveloped an eight cycle
step process of site design, in which the second step is
site analysis, the focus of this section

To achieve a successful design, site

analysis is a must & should be done
carefully
Site Analysis involves taking an
inventory of site elements and
analyzing these factors relative to the
clients needs & aims
Gather relevant information about the
properties of the site, from
topography to climate to wind pattern
and vegetation
Analyze these features and
incorporate them into the design

GOAL OF SITE ANALYSIS

Process
The site design process is
divided up into three sections;
researchphase, analysisphase,
and synthesisphase. These
three phases are divided into
the eight chronological steps in
the design process.[
Research phase: The first step
is defining the problem and its
definition. This is part of the
research phase. The site design
and site planning process
begins with the initial problem
to be solved. This is started by
a client contractinga planner to
work with a particular site.

Analysis phase: The next step involves

programming the site as well as site and
user analysis, which is focused on indepth below. There are numerous site
elements related to the analysis during
this phase. This is part of the analysis
phase in site planning.
Synthesis phase: From the analysis, a
program is developed, which is part of
the synthesis phase. The third step deals
with schematic designof a site planas
well as a preliminary cost estimate for
the site. Step four involves more
developed designs and a detailed cost
estimate. Step five is the construction
documentsfor the plan. Bidding and
contracting for the project follows as
step six. Construction then will take
place as step seven. The final step, step
eight, in the site design process is
occupation and management of the site

PROCESS OF SITE

ANALYSIS

 SITE ANALYSIS AND ASSESSMENT

The process of calculating the degree of resource
use and the degree of disturbance of existing natural
systems required to support a development begins
with site selection
The most environmentally sound development is one
that disturbs as little of the existing site as possible .
Building projects also require connections to
1.mass transit,
2.vehicular infrastructure,
3.utility
4.telecommunication networks .

ACCESSMENT OF SITE
ANALYSIS

collected and analyzed

Site data on
1.climate,
2.topography,
3.soils,
4.water,
5.vegetation,

ACCESSMENT OF SITE
ANALYSIS
and other factors should
be collected and analyzed
to assess a site's
compatibility with the
proposed program from an
energy and resource
conservation perspective .

 Climate
a. Temperature variation over the
months of the year including the
maximum highs and lows and the
maximum and average day-night
temperature swing for the days of
each month.
b. Humidity variation over the
months of the year including
maximums, minimums, and
averages for each month and for a
typical day of each month.
c. Rainfall variation over the months
of the year in millimeters. Should
include the maximum rainfall that
can be expected in any one day.
d. Snowfall variation over the
months of the year in millimeters.
Should include the maximum
snowfall that can be expected in
any one day (if any).

CLIMATE

Climate
e. Prevailing wind directions for the
months of the year including velocity
in meters per minute or Kilometers
per hour and variations that can be
expected over the course of the day
and night. Should also include the
maximum wind velocity that can be
expected.
f. Sun path at the summer and winter
solstice (high point and low point)
including altitude and azimuth at
particular times of the day for summer
and winter (sunrise and sunset,
position at 9 a.m., noon and 3 p.m.).
g. Energy related data such as degree
days or BTU's of sunlight falling on
our site.
h. Potential natural catastrophes such
as earthquakes, hurricanes and
tornados. May include documentation
of earthquake zone that our site lies
within and history of natural
catastrophes in the area.

CLIMATE

Topography
Site topography and adjacent landforms influence building
proportions ,wind patterns, drainage strategies, and key
gravity-fed sewer-line corridors .
Level information should be gathered early in the planning
process.
Sloping ground can pose problems for site development but it
can also provide opportunities to create landscape interest

TOPOGRAPHY

Soil Characteristics :
Soil texture and loadbearing capacity
determine building
location and the type of
footing required for
stability. Site-grading
processes are
alsodictated by the soil's
potential for erosion .
These factors influence the
overall energy
and resource consumption
for design and
construction .

TOPOGRAPHY

Geographical latitude (solar

altitude)and solar
access :
Exposure to solar radiation
determines orientation of
buildings for maximum
use of passive solar
resources for
heating,
daylighting, and
photovoltaics

Wind Patterns
Air-movement, both annual
and diurnal, particularly
influence sitingof multiple
structures, to avoid
damming of cold moistureladen air, or blocking
favorable cooling breezes
during
periods of overheating .
Properly measured wind loads
and pressure differentials
are essential for designing
interior air-handling
systems or use of passive
solar cooling strategies .

GEOGRAPHICAL
LATITUDE& WIND PATTERN

Groundwater and surface runoff

characteristics: Surface
drainage
: Site drainage determines
building locations as well as
natural channels for diverting
storm runoff and locations of
runoff detention ponds. Use of
the existing drainage system
minimizes need for additional
infrastructure .
The opportunity to incorporate
sustainable drainage
measures should be explored
wherever possible to
accommodate surface water
run off from buildings and
hard landscape areas

Vegetation :
Existing vegetation should
be inventoried to identify
significant plant
communities . This may
influence building
location, surface runoff
characteristics, and
solar access to the site .

GROUND WATER
&VEGETATION

 Adjacent land uses :

Neighboring
developments and
proposed future
developments may
influence site design or
proposed uses .
Neighboring uses
should provide support
services that compliment
the proposed
development in order to
minimize transportation
needs of residents and/or
employees .

Location
a. Location of the city in
the state including
relationship to roads,
cities, etc.
b. Location of the site
neighborhood in the city.
c. Location of the site in
the neighborhood.
d. Distances and travel
times between the site
and locations of other
related functions in the
city.

NEIGHBORING LAND
USES&LOCATION

MAN MADE FEATURES

Man-Made Features
a. Size, shape, height and location
of any on site buildings. If these
are to remain, the exterior
character and interior layout
should also be documented. If the
buildings are to be part of our
project, we must do a detailed
building analysis of each facility.
b. Location and type of walls,
retaining walls, ramadasor
fences.
c. Location, size and character of
exterior play fields, courts, patios,
plazas, drives, walks or service
areas.
d. Where it may be important to our
design we should record the
paving patterns of man-made
surfaces.
e. Location and size of curb cuts,
power poles, fire hydrants or bus
stop shelters.

f. Off site man-made features may

include any of the on site items listed
above and/or may involve a detailed
analysis of the existing architectural
character surrounding our site. This
is particularly important where the
architectural character will be a
factor in the design of our facility
(historic district, etc.).
Some factors to consider in analyzing
surrounding architectural character
include scale, proportion, roof forms,
window and door patterns, setbacks,
materials, colors, textures, open
space versus built space, visual axes,
landscaping materials and patterns,
paving textures and patterns,
porosity (extent of openness) and
assertiveness (ins and outs) of wall
forms, connections, details and
accessories, exterior lighting,
outdoor furniture and car storage
methods.

TEMPRATURE
The concept of relating temperature and humidity
conditions to design for human
comfort is referred to as bioclimatic design .
Bioclimatefundamentals can be used to develop a site
plan and design that meets
the needs of its occupants, while minimizing energy
consumption
Bioclimatic design creates site patterns and applies
materials and structural forms which are suitable for the
region in general, and the site in particular.
summarizes various techniques for each climatic region

TEMPRATURE
Characterized by dry, hot summer temperatures [>20C
(68F)] and mild to cool winters [>0C (32F)] .
Annual precipitation is low, however seasonalflashfloods may occur. While freezing temperatures are
uncommon, extreme diurnal temperature fluctuations are
typical .
Site planning and design should seek to balance daily
temperature extremes by storing energy, increasing
humidity, and diverting desiccating winds

TEMPRATURE
1 . Use moisture conserving plants.
2 . Prevent heat build-up on structures (thick walled, inground architecture is useful) .
3 . Deflect hot winds with walls, screens,and earthwork .
4 . Trap cool air for convection .
6 . Use pergola and trellis structures on south and southwest
walls.
7 . Use large overhang calculated for winter sun .
8 . Avoid large exposed glass .
9 . Avoid heat absorbing materials .
10 . Position structure to benefit from durnalair currents .

HOT HUMID REGIONS

HOT HUMID REGIONS :
Characterized byhot
summer temperatures
[>20C (68F)] and mild to
cool winters [>0C (32'F)] .
Annual precipitation and
humidity are high, with
frequent rain showers .
Freezing temperatures are
uncommon, and relatively
minor diurnal temperature
fluctuations are typical .
Site planning and design
should seek to increase
shade, cooling from
evaporation,andbreezes .

TEMPRATURE
HOT HUMID STRATIGIES:
1 . Maximize breezes and
evaporation with high canopy trees
and loose open planting patterns .
2 . Avoid tall solid walls that block
winds.
3 . Seek high ground or rising slopes
facing prevailing winds .
4. Avoid topographical depressions .
5 . Use large overhangs calculated
for severe sun angles (east and west)
6 . Covered pergolas, or screened
terraces adjacent to structure will
help draw air currents .
7 . Avoid excessive earth mounding
which might trap moist, stagnant air.
8 . Use high ceilings, and vent all
roof systems .

TEMPRATURE
TEMPERATE REGIONS
Characterized byhot, often humid, summers [>20'C (68F)] and
cold winters [<0C (32'F)] . Annual precipitation is fairly high .
The region is subject to repetitive freezing/thawing action, and
significant seasonal temperature fluctuations are common.
Site planning and design should seek to promote shade and
evaporative cooling in warm periods, and block winds and promote
heat gain in cool periods, without disrupting favorable summer
wind pattern

COLD REGIONS:
COLD REGIONS:
Characterized by mild summer temperatures [>10-20o C (50-68o F)]
and very cold winters [<0C (32F)] . Annual precipitation is typically low.
Region is subject to extreme freezing/thawing action .
Site planning and design should seek to control winter winds, and
promote solar gain and storage .

TEMPRATURE
TEMPERATE AND COLD REGIONS
Promote solar gain in winter season .
Seek southern slopes (SSE to SSW) 5-15%.
Block wind chill with mixed deciduous and coniferous plants .
Maintain openings for cooling summer breezes .
Provide afternoon shade with deciduous trees .
Use garage, earth, and plantings to divert severe NE or NW winter winds .
Provide architectural entry lock to block cold air infiltration in winter
Grade and plant for cold air drainage around structure .
Earth sheltered architecture is useful in these regions .

TEMPRATURE
ILLUSTRATES A TOPOGRAPHICSECTION SHOWING THE
THEORETICAL "MOSTFAVORABLE" MICROCLIMATE LOCATION FOR
EACH CLIMATE REGION .

THANK YOU