Site Analysis (10) Design Deveopment

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Sustainable site planning entails five actions. These are as follows:

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Protect the environment from unnecessary impacts (for example, soil, air, water)

Restore environmentally degraded areas (for example, habitats, soil, air, water)

Reuse already developed sites (for example, shopping centers and brownfields)

Build compact, distinctive, walkable places (for example, smart growth)

Conserve resources (for example, use of energy, water, building materials)

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Open Space / Creating Space

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Buildings,landforms, trees, and other physical elements enclose space and create outdoor ‘‘rooms’’and ‘‘corridors.’’

Spatial Plane / Design Function

Ground place: Separation, Orientation, EnclosureLinkage

Vertical plane: Screening, Enclosure, Background, Direction, Transition, Framing, Buffering

Overhead plane: Screening, Enclosure, Shading, Weather protection

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Three fundamental principals of aesthetics in the built environment

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Unity

Balance

Emphasis

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1. UNITY

Achieved by

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Repetition of similar qualities (for example, color, form, texture) and similar elements(for example, buildings)

Simplicity, limiting the number or ‘‘palette’’ of different qualities and elements

Rhythm (placing elements in an ordered arrangement)

Proportion (relating sizes of elements to each other)

Fibonacci sequence (1:1:2:3:5:8:13:21...)

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Vernacular landscapes

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a cultural landscape that evolved through use by the people whose activities or occupancy shaped that landscape. Through social or cultural attitudes of an individual, family or a community, the landscape reflects the physical, biological, and cultural character of those everyday lives.

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2. BALANCE

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Balance refers to the visual ‘‘weight’’ associated with color, form, texture, and other visiblequalities of the built environment.

Balance is a relative term, with the ‘‘weight’’ of anelement or composition being important in relation to a reference point or line (or axis).

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Balanced composition successfully manages what two things?

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Weight of visible attributes [for example, a symmetric or asymmetric combination ofelements in relation to a line or point; symmetry may be bilateral (axial) or radial (point)]

Scale (for example, the size of certain elements correspond to the average size of thehuman body)

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3. EMPHASES:

What is it and how is it accomplished

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Established when a buildingor other design element is distinct, in some way, from other nearby elements.

Contrast adds interest or creates focal points (for example, unique, eye-catching focalpoints created by contrasts in color, form, size, number, line, texture, or placement inrelation to its surroundings)

Hierarchy (establishes visually dominant and subordinate elements)

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Creating order with Geometric framework: There are three primary themes

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Rectilinear Theme (most common)

Straight lines (line),

Right angles (line and texture)

Squares and rectangles (form, color, texture)

Angular Theme:

Points

Radiating lines and acute or obtuse angles

Triangles and hexagons

Curvilinear Theme:

Generative points

arcs and tangents

circles and semi-circles

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Types of Open Space

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Conservation open space

Woodland, Grassland, Water

Developed‘‘hard’’ openspace

Plaza, Promenade, Courtyard

Developed‘‘soft’’open space

Lawn, Garden, Park

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Livablecommunities provide the following:

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• Transportation choices (for example, walking, bicycling, and transit)
  
• Interconnected transportation modes
  
• Networks of streets with high levels of connectivity and short blocks
  
• Concentrated activity centers around transit service
  
• Sidewalks in all new developments
  

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Use of plants in built environment/

ARCHITECTURAL

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• Defining (enclosing) space
  
• Creating linkages between buildings or spaces
  
• Controlling or directing circulation
  
• Marking the location of an entrance (for example, way finding andorientation)
  
• Separating incompatible activities
  
• Screening undesirable views
  
• Framing desirable views or focal points
  
• Softening building corners and walls
  
• Providing scale (human)
  

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Use of plants in built environment/

ENGINEERING

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• Controlling erosion
  
• Shoreline stabilization
  
• Slowing and filtering stormwater runoff
  
• Intercepting and facilitating stormwater infiltration
  
• Reducing wind velocity
  
• Buffering noise
  
• Shading solar radiation
  

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Use of plants in built environment/

ECOLOGICAL

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• Creating wildlife habitat (for example, food, cover, and shelter)
  
• Providing corridors for wildlife movement
  
• Improving air and water quality
  
• Ameliorating microclimate (for example, shading, wind buffering)
  
• Reducing urban ‘‘heat-island’’ effect
  

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What is the max distance people are willing to walk for transit

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people are willing to walk a maximum of onehalfmile (.804 km) for ‘‘premium transit and rail service’’ and one-quarter mile(.402 km) for other bus service (Kulash, 2001). In safe and easily walkable neighborhoods,basic services are located near homes, jobs, and transit—and vehicle trafficis ‘‘calmed’’ by the design of the transportation infrastructure.

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Pedestrian circulation Systems perform three functions that make sites safer and more comfortable for pedestrians

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1. Access to site

2. mobility within site

3. Outdoor spaces for socializing and individual activities

Nodes, providing opportunities for social interaction

Oases, providing opportunities for quiet respite

Niches, providing opportunities for prospect with refuge

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A convenient, safe and fully functional pedestrian circulation system must meet the following design criteria:

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Separation

Connectivity

Capacity

Accessibility

Amenities

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1. SEPARATION

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1. Separate pedestrians from vehicles and, where systems intersect, identify the walkwaywith paving changes, markings, or refuge islands to reduce pedestrian crosswalkdistances
   
2. Minimize pedestrian conflicts with vehicles, transit, and bicycles.
   
3. Minimize pedestrian risks to natural hazards (for example, steep cliffs) or other dangers.
   
4. Provide vehicle-free zones for pedestrians, especially in commercial centers, multifamilyhousing developments, schools and campuses, and other areas with largenumbers of pedestrians.
   

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2. COMMECTIVITY

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1. Satisfy pedestrian ‘‘desire lines’’ with convenient linkages between common destinations(for example, building entrances, transit stops, parking lots, plazas).
   
2. Minimize the number and distance of walkway interruptions (for example, acrosslarge parking lots).
   

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3. CAPACITY

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Provide a hierarchy of pathways, each with sufficient width to accommodate expectedpedestrian traffic.

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4. ACCESSIBILITY

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1. Provide disabled users direct access from parking spaces to pedestrian walkways andfrom walkways to building entrances (Figure 10-19).
   
2. Ensure that all walkway gradients are safe to navigate even in inclement weather(Figure 10-20).
   

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5. AMENITIES

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1. Special paving (to define entrances to buildings and sites, and at major pedestrianintersections)
   
2. Lighting (human scale fixtures and adequate lighting)
   
3. Furniture (seating in sun and shade), kiosks and signs, trash receptacles, drinking fountains
   
4. Seating areas (nooks, niches, and scenic overlooks)
   
5. Vegetation (trees, shrubs, annuals, and perennials)
   
6. Public art (Figure 10-21)
   
7. Decorative fountains
   

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BICYCLE CIRCULATION

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low-speed or low traffic streets or drives (safe to occur in the existing traffic lanes)

higher volume and speeds required dedicated bicycle lanes

off-streetbicycle paths or bicycle/pedestrian paths should be added wherefeasible

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VEHICULAR CIRCULATION

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1. Provide alternatives for pedestrian, bike and transit riders.
   
2. Shorter blocks (300-500ft) improve walkability
   
3. Interconnected street networks instead of concentrating traffic onto arterial highways reduces traffic.
   

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Entry and arrival sequence

(vehicular circulation)

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Corner lots at street intersections are particularlyimportant locations because of their high visibility. Hides parking lots

Vehicle parking: surface lots, parking structures, stand along structures, underground structures beneath buildings, upper levels that have commercial on lower levels. Accommodate more vehicles in smaller footprint

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Organize Vehicle Circulation and Parking

(vehicular circulation)

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Parking bays and aisles are best organized by non-paved surfaces; primarily peninsulas from parking lot edges and interior landscape islands.

* minimizes pedestrian/vehicle conflicts and minimizes the lot’simpervious surface areas. lighting, walkways important

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Integrate green space into parking areas. advantages:

(vehicular circulation)

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Stormwater Management

By intercepting precipitation, filtering stormwater runoff,and facilitating groundwater infiltration, planted areas help toreduce development impacts on the local hydrologic system.

Trees provide shade (Reduce heat island)

recommended min. width of peninsulas (9')

Terracing using parking lot islands run parallel to contours "take up the grade"

If the lot is graded to encourage surfacerunoff into the islands, these green spaces can serve as bioinfiltration swales or rain gardens thatretain stormwater and promote groundwater recharge

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Disconnect Impervious Surfaces

(vehicular circulation)

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Parking lot edges that arecurbless or have openings in the curbs allow stormwater runoff tofilter into turf or bioretention areas. Porous paving is another fine-scale method for disconnecting impervious surfaces

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BUILDINGS

Factors to consider when placing building:

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• terrain
  
• climate
  
• proximity to nearby streets and buildings
  

scale (determined by placement of buildings and distances between them) very important

example:

Development "Pod" on concept plan is designated as

single family housing.

next step might be: add walkways, individual building lots or parcels

Multi family housing:

size, shape, and location of footprint for the building.

Uban infill:

mimic the massing, scale, proportion or other design attributes of nearby buildings.

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Building Uses - mixed use development: Combining residential, commercial and civil uses and outdoor recreation in close proximity.

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Residential and commercial uses combined: restaurants and retail on 1st 1 or 2 stories, residential uses on the stories above.

Commercial may be in same building or close by.

locate near transit

Mixed use redevelopment / higher density infill development

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Affects of Building Massing:

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Building scale is a function of both massing and articulation. (first 2 floors has biggest impact on pedestrians)

Tall buildings create Microclimate:

shade, downdrafts and funnel wind, wind tunnels. BUT 2-4 story buildings add sense of enclosure without creating overwhelming edifices.

Break larger buildings into clusters to minimize impact

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Affects of Building Articulation:

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Transparency: lots of windows on first floor provides interest.

Facade openings—windows and doors—create more inviting streetscapes

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List of site conditions that influence building design (rural and suburban setting)

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Topography (Slope, Aspect, and Elevation)Structural wind loading

Architectural elevations

Soil Types, Textures, and Load-Bearing Capacity

Foundation location and engineering

Vegetative Cover and Existing Native Plant Populations

Solar load access and avoidance

Construction boundaries and site drainage

Maintenance strategies

Wildlife Migration and Nesting PatternsFootprint location and site clearing

Geologic and Seismic Conditions

Foundation type and location

Structural specifications

Parcel Shape and Adjacent Land Uses and Buildings

Capacity to accommodate a proposed building size

Building access points

Utility Easements or Corridors, Lines, and Sizes

Footprint location

Location of building tie-in to utilities

Micro-Climate Factors (For Example, Solar and Wind Loads)

Layout for solar orientation

Location of entrances, windows, and loading docks

Location of air inlets and exhaust

Circulation Networks For Pedestrians, Bicycles, Vehicles, and Transit

Walking distance and orientation to other pedestrian destinations

Fire protection

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The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) GreenBuilding Rating System

What are the fiver areas of focus

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1. Sustainable Site Planning
   
2. Safeguarding Water and Water Efficiency
   
3. Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
   
4. Conservation of Materials and Resources
   
5. Indoor Environmental Quality
   

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Principals for siting buildings

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Reuse previously disturbed sites to conserve open space, and minimize site-clearing,excavation, and disturbance of natural habitats, to reduce costs and minimize soilcompaction.

Preserve existing vegetation, which can reduce landscape maintenance costs, addcharacter to the site, and provide energy-conserving shade and wind protection;select plants that are appropriate for the soil type and microclimate and restore naturalhabitats.

Take advantage of natural site features, such as topography, sunlight, shade, andprevailing breezes, to promote energy conservation and natural ventiliation.

Maximize benefits for building and site occupants (for example, thermal comfort,access to fresh air, acoustic privacy, aesthetic views, functional outdoor space).

Orient the building with the long side on the east-west axis to allow for the greatestwinter solar gains and to minimize cooling loads from excessive solar heat gain.

Minimize stormwater runoff and mitigate erosion to reduce topsoil loss and protectsurface water quality; minimize groundwater and surface water pollution byeliminating supplemental irrigation and fertilizing.

In colder climates, locate driveways, parking, entrances, and loading docks on thesouth side of buildings to minimize snow and ice build-up; minimize ground-levelwind loads with vegetation, walls, fences, berming, or earth sheltering to act aswindbreaks and to minimize snow build-up.

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Regulatory requirements for siting buildings

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Building Setbacks

Build to lines

Floor area ratio (FAR) - zoning requirements that limits size and site coverage of new building

"Form-Based" development codes (provide goals and standards for architectural design and site plannting)

Design Guidelines

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brev·i·ty

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"for the sake of brevity" ...has been excluded...

shortness of time or duration; briefness : the brevity of human life. 2. the quality of expressing much in few words; terseness: Ironically, it is long-winded Polonius in Shakespeare'sHamlet who famously says that brevity is the soul of wit.