Site Analysis
An Outline for Architectural Pre -design
Covering
• Resource Analysis
• Land Use
• Regulation
• Land Form
• Circulation
• Utilities
• Landscape Design
• Sample Project
1
Table of Contents
•
Context
Natural & Cultural Elements
Climate
Hydrology
Soils
Flora
•
14
15
16
19
Topography
Grading
Site Analysis: Architectural Pre-design
20
22
26
28
Landscaping:
Design Concepts
Materials
•
24
25
Utilities:
Services & Distribution
Drainage & Waste Systems
•
Land Form:
Circulation:
Pedestrian
Vehicular
•
Regulation:
Zoning Codes & Ordinances
Accessible/Barrier-Free Design
•
3
4
5
7
9
12
Land Use:
Historic Elements
Design Elements
•
•
Resource Analysis:
30
32
Sample Design Project:
Program
Available Sites
Design Solution Format
© 2007 · Mark A. Comeau, AIA · All Rights Reserved
34
35
38
2
Context
•
Cultural:
– Ethnicity
– Religion
– Social Structure
– Political Structure
– Economic Structure
Site Analysis: Architectural Pre-design
•
Natural:
– Land Form
– Geography
– Climate
– Flora/Vegetation
– Fauna/Animals
© 2007 · Mark A. Comeau, AIA · All Rights Reserved
3
Elements
Natural
Cultural
•
•
•
•
•
•
Ethnicity:
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lineage
–
traditions
–
heritage
–
customs
Religion:
–
value systems
–
beliefs
–
burial rites
–
rituals
Social Structure:
–
language
–
community
–
values
Political Structure:
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democratic
–
socialist
–
monarchy
–
dictatorship
Economic Structure:
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tradition
•
command
–
market
•
•
•
–
Aquatic;
• estuarine
• marine
• riverine
–
•
• palustrine
• lacustrine
Terrestrial;
• forest
• savanna
• grassland
• desert
• tundra
Fauna (animal):
–
mutual or democratic
–
•
•
Landform:
–
topography
–
composition (soils, stones, water bodies)
–
features (streams, rivers, coast, seas, mount’n)
Geography:
–
elevation
–
region (n/s/e/w, hemisphere, lat/longitude)
–
characteristics (island/land mass)
Climate (affected by):
–
sun
–
earth’s rotation
–
earth’s surface characteristics
–
location on earth
–
time of year
Flora (vegetation):
Habitat;
•
•
1. Food
3. Cover
2. Water
4. territory
veiled power or physical coercion
supply/demand and a striving for universal upward
Site Analysis: Architectural Pre-design
© 2007 · Mark A. Comeau, AIA · All Rights Reserved
4
Climate
•
–
–
•
•
•
–
•
•
macro (global, affected by sun and earth))
mese (intermediate variations influenced by land mass, bodies
of water, etc.)
micro climate of a particular region of distinct characteristics)
Climate conditions:
–
–
–
1. Sun
2. Temperature
3. Precipitation
Albido is the % of solar radiation reflected by the earth;
Sun position described by:
•
•
•
•
Degree days:
–
–
•
measured by wet bulb and dry bulb
given - a base temp. of 65°: take the difference between the
base temp. and the average temp for the month and multiply
by the number of days in the month.
This is used in calculating fuel requirements as the number of
BTU’s gained by a unit of fuel is relative to the number of
BTU’s required to offset the degree-days above or below the
base temp.
Factors that affect Temperature:
–
landform and affects on temp.:
•
•
•
4. Humidity
5. Wind
Sun: affects the water cycle and along with winds, forms clouds
and rain - a key factor of life cycle through photosynthesis. The
sun produces electromagnetic energy, reaching the earth as
direct radiation which gets reflected and refracted.
–
–
Temperature:
–
climatology
meteorology
Weather - a brief event
Climate - an ongoing accumulation of weather at a place over a
number of years
Dr. Koppen’s scales of reference:
–
–
•
•
Atmosphere:
•
•
•
•
altitude (angle of measure off the horizon {horizontal})
azimuth (lateral angle of measure in relation to compass)
isogonic maps (corrected 14.5° east of north for magnetism)
glare: primary (direct solar glare) and secondary (reflected
off biotic {natural/alive} or abiotic {man-made/not alive}).
Site Analysis: Architectural Pre-design
© 2007 · Mark A. Comeau, AIA · All Rights Reserved
air movement
temp decreases 3.5°/1000 ft. of elevation rise
water bodies and valleys posses natural ventilation as humid
air can become warmer and cool air sinks
aspect or orientation of slopes
leeward side of water bodies can be cloudy - clouds insulate
against both insolation and evening radiational cooling
(macro=north American jet stream, mese=great lake region,
micro=Buffalo, NY)
flora, through “transpiration” affects temp through various
ground-cover characteristics
albido (reflectance), i.e. snow cover (95%) water (3-10%),
meadows and fields (1-5%)
5
Climate Cont’d ...
•
–
–
rain
snow (1” rain = 10” snow)
hail
freezing rail
–
•
Factors that affect precipitation:
•
•
•
•
temperature at the cloud strata
temperature at the ground strata
relative humidity
landform: it directs air masses, windward slopes are cool and
humid, leeward slopes are warm and dry
•
–
–
–
relative humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air
relative to the temperature and the amount required for
saturation (100% saturation is called the “dew point”
humid air effected by plants (evaporation)
human body comfort both physical and mental and effected by
temperature, air movement, radiation and humidity - the body
tries to maintain 98.6° through radiation & evaporation.
human comfort zone can be accomplished through ideal
combinations of temp. and humidity as described on the
psychometric chart.
Site Analysis: Architectural Pre-design
destruction of life and property
discomfort (wind chill)
erosion
Advantages:
–
–
–
•
direction (indicated by the direction which it comes from)
speed(indicated in mph or knots; 1 knot=1.15 mph)
Disadvantages:
–
–
–
•
6 semetrical wind belts globally
jetstreams - upper-level air currents moving from the equator
to the poles, usually around 200 mph
local winds - controlled by micro-climate affects previous
Properties:
–
–
Humidity (the amount of water vapor in the air)
–
Wind (natural movement of air by earth energy)
–
–
types of:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Precipitation (falling condensation):
increased thermal comfort
recreational activities
natural wind-borne life cycle (disbursing seeds)
Architectural affects:
–
–
–
venturi effect: negative pressure on leeward side of wind
obstruction
5-20xh=non-wind effected area
upward lift on building materials
© 2007 · Mark A. Comeau, AIA · All Rights Reserved
6
Hydrology
Earth Realms:
•
atmosphere
•
lithosphere
inorganic alone, together they’re biosphere
•
hydroshpere
Hydroshpere (the entire water realm of the earth’s surface, earth’s
surface ground water and water held in the atmosphere:
•
97% oceans and seas
•
2% atmosphere
•
.97% soils
•
.03% streams, rivers, lakes
Hydrology (the science of the behavior of water)
Hydraulic cycle (the waters of the atmosphere, land and ocean moving
in a great series of interchanges
•
two shifts 1. Location 2. State (phases)
•
evaporation: water moisture (rain, snow, water bodies)
evaporates and goes back into air
•
transpiration: surface plants move moisture through their roots
to their leaves and thus transpire moisture into air
Paths back to the ocean
•
subsurface
–
gravity driven infiltration
–
–
soil-water belt (where plants get their moisture)
ground water belt (aquifers - limit of use ½ mile but depths up
to 10 miles)
aquifer (fully saturated pocket of water)
water perch (a source of water located above the water table)
•
–
–
porosity (volume of air), permeability (ease to move thru)
Site Analysis: Architectural Pre-design
Paths back to the ocean cont’d….
•
Surface
–
two kind of flow 1. runoff (over land) 2. flow (stream)
Drainage (occurs through networks of overland flow & channels):
•
coefficient of runoff=the fraction of precipitation which is not
lost to infiltration, the whole #1=100% (note handout)
•
flow: always perpendicular to the contours, the closer the
contours, the faster the flow (never going uphill)
•
vehicles: creeks, streams, rivers respectively
–
–
–
1st order=no contributaries
2nd order=two contributaries
3rd order=2nd contributaries
•
drainage system: a specific boundaried area containing 1st, 2nd
and 3rd order contributaries, usually bounded by a topographic
divide and powered by the movement of gravity
Hydrologic Factors:
•
functional (for drinking, bathing, waste removal, washing)
•
aesthetic (moral, senses, ordering element)
•
usage (one person uses 100 gal./day ave.)
•
eutrophic process (the natural and unnatural aging of a water
body where sediments collect on the bottom and algae blooms
at the top, thus using up O2 and killing living organisms)
•
erosion (the stripping, carrying and placement of sediments)
–
–
–
–
type & texture of soil
type of ground cover
slope geometry
runoff volume
© 2007 · Mark A. Comeau, AIA · All Rights Reserved
7
Hydrology Cont’d ...
Flooding (positive occurrence of nature):
•
riverine: all water moving over land draining slopes into the
ordered networks or systems - flooding occurs when channel
capacity is exceeded.
–
–
•
BFE = base flood elevation
dealt with through: dams, levies, water storage, banks, wetlands
coastal: all ocean and sea fringes impacted by tidal wave
movement
–
–
–
B Zone: special permission required for development
A Zone: same as above and subject to flooding
V Zone: same as above and subject to high winds and waves
Water: has vital effect on human and animal emotion.
•
Emotional: recreational aspects include fishing, skiing,
swimming, boating, etc.
–
•
•
•
water transpires negative ions and this is felt emotionally
Aesthetic: every culture has its own values of beauty yet water
can be perceived through he senses
Symbolic: water symbolizes life, birth, rebirth and is related to
rites and passages
Religious: closely related to symbolic as it represents
purification, washing away of sins, protecting.
Ecosystem (a system formed by the interaction of a community of organisms
within their environments)
•
Aquatic Ecosystem:
–
–
–
–
–
estuarine
marine
riverine
palustrine
lacustrine
Site Analysis: Architectural Pre-design
forest
savanna
grassland
desert
tundra
Dilution is the solution to pollution!
© 2007 · Mark A. Comeau, AIA · All Rights Reserved
8
Soils
Soil: the transition between air, water, and life on the
surface of the earth and the bedrock of the
subsurface. The breaking-up of bedrock is the
creating of soil, occurring rapidly or over hundreds
of years.
To: engineers, it supports structures;
farmers, it’s a plant growing medium;
geologists, it’s an instruments to understand the
underlying bedrock.
Changes:
•
apparent material;
•
climate
•
living organisms
•
relief
•
time
–
sediment
–
regolith
–
bedrock
Sediment: organic material with sediments;
Regolith: solid rock mineral of same material as bedrock
Bedrock: the parent material
Comprehensive Soil Classification System:
SCS-Soil Conservation Service; an international
effort to classify all types of soils (in the 1950’s) into
six classification categories:
1) Orders, 2) suborders, 3)great groups, 4) subgroups, 5)
familiar groups, 6) series.
Series: have similar profiles; morphology: a general
term for the form or structure of something.
Series>phases.
Soil Composition (soils of organic/inorganic)
•
water
•
air
•
organics
–
–
•
mineral particles
–
–
–
–
Site Analysis: Architectural Pre-design
plants
animals
gravel 2mm Ø +
sand 2mm to .05mm Ø
silt .05mm to .002mm Ø
clay .002mm Ø <
© 2007 · Mark A. Comeau, AIA · All Rights Reserved
9
Soils Cont’d ...
Gravel & Sand - increase ariation and little moisture
containment;
Silt & Clay - good moisture containment capacity and
contains nutrients.
Soil Morphology Cross-Section: described in terms of
layers (horizons) assumed parallel to the earth’s
surface. Major horizons have been given specific
code designations (see board illustration)
•
O = organic material form this layer “O horizon” and
range from unadulterated upper level layer (duff-that
which falls upon the forest floor) down to the humus
layer (formed by decomposition of duff).
•
A = the uppermost layer of the mineral profile and
holds the most organic matter of the horizon.
•
Ap = topsoil layer borders between A & B horizons.
•
B = subsoil, very fine particle and mineral
accumulation
•
C = substratum, layer of unconsolidated material and
formed from the breakup of bedrock and uninhibited
by organic materials (regolith).
•
R = underlying consolidated bedrock (bedrock).
Site Analysis: Architectural Pre-design
•
•
Texture classifications based upon particle size,
effects include bearing capacity, drainage, and
erosion.
Unified Soil Classification System (based on texture
and performance) is broken down into three basic
groups;
–
–
–
•
coarse grain soils
fine grain soils
highly organic soils
(see USDA texture triangle handout)
clay
silt
–
•
sand
Bearing Capacity:
–
–
–
rock
coarse grain soils (sand and gravel)
fine grain soils (clay and silt)
© 2007 · Mark A. Comeau, AIA · All Rights Reserved
10
Soils Cont’d ...
Engineering Drawing Symbols:
Boring Symbol
Test Hole Data
Three types of organic soils:
•
humus
•
loam
•
peat (muck)
Engineering Factors:
•
shrinkage & swelling, bendenite is clay sandwiched
by cardboard and when moisture gets in it expands
the clay thus sealing a foundation joint
•
frost penetration expands clay
•
subsidence (the sinking of land)
–
–
–
•
Slope stabilizing Techniques:
•
plantings
•
rip-rap
•
mulch
•
retaining walls
erosion is the process by which the surface is warn
away by action of the natural elements.
Two major soils in S.E. New England:
•
glacial till
•
outwash
caused by loose fill, organic soils
voids created by subsurface sedimentation
sliding of materials
bearing capacity determinants
Site Analysis: Architectural Pre-design
© 2007 · Mark A. Comeau, AIA · All Rights Reserved
11
Flora
Flora: plants of a particular region.
Biosphere
•
Aquatic:
–
–
–
–
–
•
Biotic Community: a local association of plant and
animals which are inter-dependent and often
found together.
Habitat: a type of physical environment which has
a characteristic biotic community.
•
Connecticut: a forest biome - mid latitude,
predominantly disciduous, concentrations of
conifer.
Vegetation (flora):
•
floristic: (Latin {botanical} names of plants.
•
Structural elements:
estuarine
marine
riverine
palustrine
lacustrine
Terrestrial:
–
–
–
–
–
forest
savanna
grasslands
desert
tundra
Biome: a complex or assemblage of plant and
animals characterized by a distinct type of
vegetation.
Site Analysis: Architectural Pre-design
–
–
–
–
upper story (trees)
under story shrubs/herbs/grasses)
size stratification
coverage (barren or continuous coverage)
© 2007 · Mark A. Comeau, AIA · All Rights Reserved
12
Flora Cont’d ...
Physical Relationships:
•
environmental regulation (provide oxygen)
•
climate control
•
productivity
•
visual quality
•
emotional satisfaction
Symbiotic Relationship:
•
trees clean the air (4 tons of dust/year)
•
“ provide oxygen
•
“ water containment
•
enhance micro climate through transpiration
•
bear fruit (provide sustenance)
•
provide paper & other goods
•
the eye is most sensitive to greens/yellows
–
•
500 microns
Architectural Uses:
•
direction
enclosure
•
screen/barrier
connect
•
focal point
frame a vista
Arrangements:
•
natural (Frank Lloyd Wright)
•
classical (Versailles)
•
topiary (specific sculptural shapes)
Habitats:
•
open land, wood land, wet land
–
–
–
–
–
–
wild areas (hundreds of sq. mi.’s)
wild patches (20-40 sq. mi.’s)
wild enclaves (marsh, swamp {palustrine})
wild corridors (rivers, power line corr.)
exotic means artificial man-made landscapes)
wild life parks specifically built f/wildlife)
spatial modulation & defining borders
Site Analysis: Architectural Pre-design
© 2007 · Mark A. Comeau, AIA · All Rights Reserved
13
Historic Elements
Land Use Study
Behavioral Analysis
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
inventory uses, identify constraints & opportunity;
master plan, a flexible guideline for land use;
gather data: remote sensing, formal field study, plat
maps and insurance maps (Sanborn/FIRM)
Land Use Inventory
•
•
•
•
•
•
cover: vegetation, soils, water bodies/channels;
circulation access: interstates, arteries, tributaries;
utilities: water, waste, gas, elect, communications;
ownership: private, municipal, corporate;
nuicances: visual, auditory, safety, odors;
linkages: of people, goods and waste.
Humanity Elements
•
•
social: pertaining to life & welfare of humans;
economy: pertaining to production & distribution of
goods and services, income & wealth
Site Analysis: Architectural Pre-design
indirect observation
direct observation
direct communication
participatory analysis
Patterns of Development
•
goods
–
–
–
–
•
farming
mercantile commerce
textile manufacturing
assembly plants
services
–
–
–
–
technology
professional services
educational institutions
entertainment
© 2007 · Mark A. Comeau, AIA · All Rights Reserved
14
Design Elements
Visual Elements
•
size/shape of spaces
•
degree of visual enclosure
•
features/views/vistas
•
sense of place
Spatial Factors
•
planes: base, overhead, vertical;
–
–
–
•
•
Natural
•
geography
–
•
base: ground, floor
overhead: sky, ceiling, forest canopy
vertical: vegetation, topo, walls
enclosure: sense of enclosure defined by
natural and cultural elements;
definition: light, color, texture, form
Site Analysis: Architectural Pre-design
topography
–
•
location to water bodies, transportation routes,
natural resources;
mountains, planes, rolling hills
climatology
–
–
–
temperate humid
hot arid
tropical
Cultural
•
forms
•
materials
•
densities
© 2007 · Mark A. Comeau, AIA · All Rights Reserved
15
Zoning, Codes & Ordinances
Regulation: land use controls and management
techniques with legal constraints to maintain
public health, safety and welfare.
Zoning Regulation: commenced in NY city in
1916 as a form of control by power of local,
state and government regulation for the
health, safety and welfare of society.
•
Controls include:
–
–
–
–
% of lot coverage;
FAR (floor area ratio), a function of the entire
living space in a structure to the size of the lot;
building height;
bulk restrictions for lot density - front, side
and rear setback.
Site Analysis: Architectural Pre-design
Site Planning Aspects
•
use: each zone within a municipality has a
coded use recommended for development;
•
configuration: refers to front, side(s) and rear
setbacks and regulates % lot coverage, lot
dimensions, height limitations.
•
intensity: FAR (see description left);
•
access & parking: moving of people, goods,
services and waste.
Definitions
•
setbacks: physical dimension, creates a
prescribed horizontal envelope which
structures can be built within;
•
FAR: a ratio of total building floor area to
total lot size;
•
height: physical dimension, creates a
prescribed vertical envelope;
•
density: unit land/dwellings, dwellings/unit
•
parking: #spaces/dwelling or /sqft. Bldg.
© 2007 · Mark A. Comeau, AIA · All Rights Reserved
16
Zoning, Codes & Ordinances Cont’d ...
Regulation Flexibility
•
variances: formal relief granted by a zoning
board to vary from the regulations;
•
zone change: formal change in “zone”
designation for a prescribed area of a
particular town
•
re-zone w/conditions: “spot zone” allowed
when the town receives an amenity in
exchange for zoning relief;
•
cluster development: standard massing and
density for a particular site;
•
planned unit development: varying massing
and density but the aggregate site must
conform to zoning regulations;
•
historic districts: preserve the historic &
cultural heritage through dev. Control;
•
aesthetic controls: “deed restrictions” which
control architectural intent
Site Analysis: Architectural Pre-design
Modern Zoning
•
most zones are modeled after zoning already
in place in other areas, countries, etc.;
•
many zones designed to create a particular
characteristic in an area;
•
good zoning is always flexible to holistic
change in a town’s fabric, impacted by:
–
–
–
–
•
the power base
social factors
economic factors
political factors
town fabric is part planning - part luck.
© 2007 · Mark A. Comeau, AIA · All Rights Reserved
17
Zoning, Codes & Ordinances Cont’d ...
•
Zoning Analysis
•
Identify constraints:
–
–
–
•
–
•
–
identify proper zone within town’s districts;
inventory zone’s parameters;
identify assessory regulations to zone.
–
towns are broken up into zoned districts which
derive from and support development of the
town’s master plan;
sometimes parcels exist within two or more
zones - the more restrictive of the zones would
apply.
Inventory zone parameters:
–
–
General Regulations, usually a mission-style
statement which outlines the town’s intent for
the overall development of that zone;
the General Regulations also outline major
uses recommended and prohibited in a zone.
Site Analysis: Architectural Pre-design
Uses, this section of the regulations defines
uses which are allowed in particular zones:
•
•
•
Identify zone:
–
Inventory zone parameters:
Bulk Requirements, defines the 3-dimensional
construction envelope of a site including:
•
•
•
•
•
permitted uses;
assessory uses;
uses by special use permitting.
set-backs, front/side/rear;
lot coverage (build’g imprint as a % of lot area)
FAR (floor area ratio - total sum of living area
as % of total lot area)
maximum height/flood planes/etc.
Assessory Regulations:
–
–
–
–
parking requirements;
landscaping requirements;
buffer requirements;
site-lines, safety issues
© 2007 · Mark A. Comeau, AIA · All Rights Reserved
18
Accessible/Barrier-Free Design
ADA: enacted to provide for equal treatment of
disabled people. As it relates to architecture,
it provides for equal access and barrier-free
environments for the disabled (ANSI 117.1).
Three basic areas of regulation include:
•
ingress
•
barrier free environments
•
egress
Ingress: pertains to site accessibility, mobility and
building ingress:
•
parking planning to normal standards;
•
parking spaces min. 8’ wide w/5’ aisle;
•
curb-cuts w/detectable surfaces required;
•
level changes < ¼”, sloped 1:2 if > ¼”;
•
side walks < 1:20, if > handrails are required;
•
ramps cannot exceed 1:12 & 30’ long before
5’ x 5’ turning area;
•
24” clearance req’d on pull-side of door.
Site Analysis: Architectural Pre-design
Barrier Free Environment:
•
power actuated egress doors required;
•
7’ deep double door vestibules;
•
36” min. corridors; w/48 return or 42”/48’
wide w/smaller return;
•
32” min. doors, 24” on pull-side;
•
thresholds same as prev. level change defin.
•
tactile privacy door hardware;
•
interior ramp same as ext. (see rail handouts);
•
see handouts for:
–
–
bathroom design regulations;
other public area regulations.
Egress:
•
areas of refuge required on upper floors;
•
power actuated egress doors;
•
audible alarms w/strobes.
© 2007 · Mark A. Comeau, AIA · All Rights Reserved
19
Landform
Geomorphology: The study of the origins &
characteristics of land form (contour).
Earth’s cross section: atmosphere;
hydrosphere; lithosphere +/- 25 miles thick.
Lithosphere:
•
•
Continental crust
Oceanic crust
– They’re dynamic masses broken down into 12
“plates floating on the mantel.
• Collision: plates coming together;
• Subduction; ocean plate sliding under
the continent plate;
• Opposing: plates going in opposite
direction;
• Accretion: mantel comes up through
two opposing plates;
• Transform boundary: two plates slide by
each other (San Andreas fault).
Site Analysis: Architectural Pre-design
Tectonic activity: bending, breaking and sliding at
the boundary of plates;
Volcanic activity: the upheaval of magma between
opposing plates;
Mercalli intensity scale: (not Richter) measures
damage on a scale of 1 thru 12, Richter
measures earth movement magnitude at a
logarithmic rate;
Sequential landform: denudation – the forces
influential in shaping landform, i.e.. Weather,
erosion, mass-wasting, etc. or the
transformation of matter brought upon by an
agent (water, glacial ice, wind, gravity.
© 2007 · Mark A. Comeau, AIA · All Rights Reserved
20
Landform
Rocks: any aggregate of minerals in a solid state
(lithosphere) ages from now to billions of
years old.
Rock Categories:
•
Sedimentary (shale, limestone);
–
•
Igneous (lava, granite);
–
•
Formed by sedimentation (transporting by
stream) and makes up 75% of lithosphere.
Formed by the solidification of magma and
makes up 18% of lithosphere.
Metamorphic (slate, marble).
–
Denudation: shaping of the earth’s surface by
weather, erosion, mass-wasting, etc.
Weathering:
Mechanical (disintegration) i.e.. Frost heaves;
Chemical (decomposition) i.e.. Changing rock
compounds (mechanical simply rearranges).
Erosion: materials are transported from one place
to another by stream, ice, water, wind, etc.
Mass-wasting: materials settling through gravity
and angle of repose (depends on mass and
coarseness of material) i.e.. slump, mudflows.
Formed by a combination of the other two and
makes up 7% of lithosphere.
Site Analysis: Architectural Pre-design
© 2007 · Mark A. Comeau, AIA · All Rights Reserved
21
Landform
Landform agents:
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Wind-laid: Aeolian, i.e.. loess;
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Water-laid: fluvial (water transports
sediments);
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Terrain: a product of landform.
Landscape: assemblences of terrain.
Riverine: flood plain, delta;
Alluvial: sand-bar;
Fresh water formation: lake beds;
Marine formation: tidal flats, coastal plains.
Glacial: 30% of all land surface has been
glacial at one point;
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Alpine: mountain ranges, tarns (small hills);
Continental glaciation: (all of Greenland)
20,000 years ago the last North American
glacier receded through 1/3 of the U.S. and
was 300-400’ thick over Rhode Island.
Site Analysis: Architectural Pre-design
© 2007 · Mark A. Comeau, AIA · All Rights Reserved
22
Landform
Topography: two dimensional drawing illustrating
surface configuration and relief features
pertaining to a specific area of land.
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Contour interval: the vertical dimension
between the contour elevation (usually
uniform);
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Developed in Holland in 1730 but utilized for
practical use in the 19th century.
Existing contour is a dashed line;
Proposed contour is a solid line;
Contour elevation always placed on the uphill;
Every 5’ or 10’ interval is a heavier line
Hypsometric: above sea-level;
Bathymetric: below sea-level.
Site Analysis: Architectural Pre-design
Slope: the inclination of terrain defined either by
ratio, percentage or degree inclination.
Ratio: the ratio between the horizontal and vertical
datum, i.e.. 40:20 or 2:1.
Percentage: attained by dividing the vertical datum
by the horizontal datum and getting a decimal
percentage (multiply by 100).
V
G
H
G=V/H x 100
Degree: is the angle the hypotenuse makes with
the horizontal.
© 2007 · Mark A. Comeau, AIA · All Rights Reserved
23
Access
Access: A path or route used for travel, recreation,
and movement of goods, and services.
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Paths include;
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- Walks;
- Rails;
- Air.
Pedestrian;
Boats;
Plane/Balloon;
•Ave walking speed = 2.5 mph
•Individual space = 4’ dia. Zone
•Human movement: site and timing
•Walks:
•3’ wide, two-way traffic 4’;
Forms for access include;
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Trails;
Streets;
Water;
Some Stats.:
- Auto;
- Monorails;
- Escillator, etc.
•1-5% grade, ramps 5-8%, steps 20-50%;
•Ramps 5’ wide, rests @ 30’ intervals;
•2 risers + 1 tread = 25
Human movement must conform to design
standards for helath, safety and welfare.
Concerns include visual, spatial, sequence,
line and path.
Site Analysis: Architectural Pre-design
© 2007 · Mark A. Comeau, AIA · All Rights Reserved
24
Access
Planning: well planned systems enhance the
processional experience and takes advantage
of natural topography, vistas, and site lines.
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Examples include;
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Ronchamp;
Versailles;
Spanish Steps;
- Egyptian architecture;
- Roman Forum;
- Acropolis, etc.
Safe automobile planning includes:
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Visual access;
- Smooth fluent paths;
Focal points;
- Conflict avoidance;
Utilizing rhythm;
Orientation;
Aesthetic enhancement.
Additional concerns include:
•Codes/regulations
•Costs
•Signage
•Technique
•Ergonomics
•Historical reference
•Engineering, including:
•System heirarchy
•Vertical/horizontal movement
•Drainage
•Utilities
•Performance.
Site Analysis: Architectural Pre-design
© 2007 · Mark A. Comeau, AIA · All Rights Reserved
25
Utilities
Utilities: provided as a public service, costs are
direct (cable) and indirect (taxes).
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Examples include:
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Systems which dispose of human waste;
Systems which supply:
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•Domestic & industial needs
•High pressure fire protection
•Closed municipal systems
•Open (well) systems
Water
Electric power
Fuel
Communications
Sanitary systems:
•Gravity and pump sewers (2000 yrs. old)
Systems which dispose of storm water;
Services, i.e. snow & trash removal, recycles
Design values include:
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Water systems:
Influence of patterns
Influence land use – development potential
Channel characteristics
3 dimensional space
Common rights-of-way
•Requires solids and effluent
•Closed system in street flows to municipal
treatment station
•Septic systems
•Settling tank > flows to distribution box >
flows to leaching chambers or trenches
•Locate 100’ min. down-grade from well suplies
•Grade <15% over septic systems
•Grey water to separate dry-well
Site Analysis: Architectural Pre-design
© 2007 · Mark A. Comeau, AIA · All Rights Reserved
26
Utilities
Storm drainage systems.
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Closed – subsrface piped systems:
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Expensive hradwares (pipes, basin structures)
Removes standing water
Requires discharge point
Time consuming to install
Open (overland flow systems):
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Swales (utilizing topo)
Inexpensive, use detention basins
Returns water to ground sooner
Easier to install, more capacity
Fuel systems:
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Fossil - non renerable
Biomass – timber, crops, methane, solid waste
Electricity – includes all above
•
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Overhead vs. underground
Urban or campus steam plant systems (2 mile service)
Communication systems:
•Wired: telephone, security, fire protection, traffic
controls, catv
•Wireless: telephone, security, fire protection, tv
•Channel distribution:
•Fiber-optics
•Low-voltage wires
•Satelite
•Coaxial cables
Power systems:
•Generation plants>
•Sub-stations>
•Distribution channels>
•Phase requirements
•Service entrance
•Internal distribution systems
Site Analysis: Architectural Pre-design
© 2007 · Mark A. Comeau, AIA · All Rights Reserved
27
Landscaping
Site Plan:
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Property description (graphic)
Structures
Topo
Setbacks
Easements
Utilities
Circulation
Landscaping
Parking
Lighting
Drainage
Landscape Quality Elements:
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Color
Texture
Enclosure
Form
Organization
Space
Time
Plane
Site Analysis: Architectural Pre-design
Landscape
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Site structure
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Design exterior “rooms”
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Usable spaces
Vista
Organize circulation
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Orientation
Views
Vistas
Define edges
Path organization
Design landscape areas including:
•
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Surfaces:
• Lawns
• Patios
• Teraces
Gardens
• Natural
• Formal
Edges
• Fences
• Walls
• Streets
• Structures
• Natural features
© 2007 · Mark A. Comeau, AIA · All Rights Reserved
28
Landscaping
Planting Inventory:
Plants to inventory:
•
•
Layout a story board which illustrates a plant
inventory to be used when design landscapes. The
board shall be minimum 18” x 24” (portrait) or 24” x
36” (portrait). Section the board by plant catagories,
showing pictures, illustrations, and descriptions.
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Pictures:
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Common and botanical name
Type of plant
Landscape use
Hardy conditions (preferred exposure, soil conditions,
moisture, etc.)
Site Analysis: Architectural Pre-design

Ornamental shrubs
Foundation fronting shrubs
Hedge and avenue shrubs
Flowers:
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Description:
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Write a brief description of each plant, including:
Ornamental trees
Shade trees
Flowering trees
Evergreen trees
Fruit trees
Shrubs:
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Use pictures from magazines, i.e. Better Homes &
Gardens, Martha (Stewart), etc.;
Or use illustrations from a book or by you;
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Trees:
Vine flowers
Perennials
Annuals
Bush flowers
Natural (wild) flowers
Ground and wall covers:
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Creeping ground covers
Climbing vines
© 2007 · Mark A. Comeau, AIA · All Rights Reserved
29