Welcome to the launch of an exciting new series – the Site Analysis Series. This series is meticulously crafted to delve into the intricacies of site analysis in architecture. As we embark on this journey, we will unravel the layers of information essential for shaping architectural designs that seamlessly integrate with their surroundings.
As previously discussed in our Preliminary Design Stage Series, site analysis is an important aspect in design and planning as it exposes the opportunities and limitations of a proposed site which affects the overall outcome of a building. This makes it necessary to fully investigate the features on and off the site. The purpose of this series is to learn about the site features in a more in-depth manner.
Throughout the upcoming episodes in this series, we will explore the following components of site analysis, each playing a crucial role in the prelude to architectural design:
Wind in Site Analysis
Solar Orientation and Its Impact
Understanding the Site Neighborhood
Site Utilities and Services Assessment
Topography and Vegetation: Nature’s Blueprint
Climate Factors: Temperature, Humidity, and Precipitation
Stay engaged as we navigate through the diverse facets of site analysis, providing you with insights into how these components influence architectural decisions and design outcomes.
Feel free to share your expectations for this series in the comments below. If you’re a student or a design enthusiast, have you ever engaged in site analysis? What aspects do you find intriguing or challenging?
Your feedback is invaluable; drop your comments or reach out via email with any suggestions. Engage, learn, and let’s create architecture that resonates with the environment!
Site analysis in architecture is an enriching journey. Though it may pose challenges, the profound understanding gained is worth the effort. Stay tuned for the first episode coming soon.
Site analysis is the process of analyzing the existing context of a proposed site which includes the climate, geography, history, and infrastructure of the site. The purpose of a site analysis is not only to be familiar with the above factors, but also it determines the starting point for the development of the actual design ideas and concepts. That simply means that the majority of the subsequent steps in the preliminary design stage are based on the information obtained from site analysis.
Site analysis is usually presented in a diagrammatic format where all the features of the site are discussed or represented by a sketch. This can usually stretch to 5 sheets or more, depending on the level of details that are required. The features that are mostly … are discussed below:
An Example of Site Analysis An Example of Site Analysis
Climatic and Geographical Features
These are the largest features discussed under site analysis as they form majority of the physical features of the site. Below is a list of items which fall under these features:
1. PREVAILING WINDS (Trade Winds)
Direction.
Maximum, minimum and average velocities.
Special forces e.g storm, tornado, hurricane
2. SOLAR ORIENTATION
Sun angles
Days of sunlight
Cloud cover
Shading of or from adjacent structures, natural features and vegetation.
3. TEMPERATURE
Ranges of variation.
Maximums and minimums.
4. HUMIDITY
Ranges of variation.
Maximums and minimums.
5. PRECIPITATION
Peak period tables.
Annual and seasonal totals.
6. TOPOGRAPHY
Legal property description, including limits of property, easement, rights of way and north indication.
Topographic maps and aerial photos.
Slopes: percentage, aspect and orientation
Erosion channels.
Extent, location and general configuration of rocks, ledges, ridges, drainage, and some other unique features.
Visual characteristics.
Potential problem areas during construction.
Analysis of physical features and their relationships within, into and off the site.
Existing access and circulation; vehicular and pedestrian.
Vegetation.
Existing water bodies: Location, size, depth and direction of flow.
Water quality: Clean, polluted, anaerobic conditions etc.
Basic surface soil: sand, clay, silt, rock, gravel, loam, limestone etc.
Rock and soil type: character, formation and origin, geologic formation process and parent material.
Inclination.
Bearing capacity.
Bedrock: depth to bedrock and classification.
Environment hazards.
Historical and Infrastructural Features
These are features that deal with the history of the site, what it was previously used for and the site’s infrastructure, which is mostly dealing with existing infrastructure on and off the site, or the proximity to off site infrastructure. Below is a list of items that fall under these features:
1. UTILITIES
Portable water.
Electricity
Sanitary sewer service.
Storm drainage (surface and subsurface)
2. IMMEDIATE SURROUNDINGS
Neighboring structures: buildings, satellites, dishes etc.
Shading and solar access
Noise from streets, emergency services, aircraft etc.
Odours
Views and Vistas
3. GENERAL SERVICES
Fire and police protection.
Hospitals/clinics
Trash/refuse removal services.
Electricity services.
Site analysis usually goes hand in hand with site zoning which will be the next episode. It gives a better understanding of the information obtained during site analysis. A good site analysis is based on a comprehensive site visit. All these details can only be obtained through a proper site visit. I hope this post gives you a better understanding on site analysis and why it fell into The 3 Most Neglected Steps in Design.
Thank you for reading and stay tuned for the next episode!
(NOTE: My designs were done before the establishing of Quif Studio. These current blog posts are written in line with research, my experience and through consultations. Any mistakes, omissions etc. that have been noticed in my designs, were made a few years ago. The sole purpose of sharing them is to give you an idea of what each and every step should look like)
