Basic Definition: What is Site Planning?

 Site planning is the art of arranging structures on the land and shaping the spaces between, an
art linked to architecture, engineering, landscape architecture and city planning.
 It is the organization of the external physical environment to accommodate human behavior.
 It deals with the qualities and locations of structures, land, activities and living things.
 It creates a pattern of those elements in space and time, which will be subject to continuous
future management and change.
 The technical output – the grading plans, utility layouts, survey locations, planting plans,
sketches, diagrams, and specifications – are simply a conventional way of specifying this
complex organization.
 Site planning occurs within an environmental and cultural context.
 Sustainable approaches to site planning attempt to minimize development impacts both on
the site and off-site.
 Vital environment processes must be protected and, where feasible, degraded ecosystems
restored

Site Planning: Are there benefits? (Site Analysis by James Lagro, Jr., 2001)

Benefits of context-sensitive, sustainable site planning and design.

SOCIETY Pedestrian / bicyclist safety
Opportunities for active living
Sense of community
Attractive surroundings
Safe neighborhoods
Proximity to public services
Minimizes negative impacts on surrounding properties
Protects cultural and historic resources
ECONOMY Attracts investment
Attracts visitors and tourists
Adds property value
Creates marketable “experiences”
Quicker real estate sales and rentals in tight markets
Attracts high-skilled employees and employers
Less time spent Commuting
Uses land efficiently
ENVIRONMENT Conserves energy
Protects biodiversity
Reduces air and water pollution, and urban heat islands
Protects natural processes and sensitive natural areas
Site Planning: Site Investigation and Analysis

Preliminary Site Investigation and Analysis

(Kevin Lynch, 1954)

 It begins with the gathering of basic data

relating specifically to the site under
consideration and the surrounding areas.

 Spatial hierarchy – regions, landscapes, sites

(by James Lagro, 2001)

Methodology

1. Data collection regarding the site

2. All information should be examined and analyzed

 After a thorough analysis of the site and after all conclusions have been studied, it is then
possible to determine whether the land is suitable for the proposed use.
 If the land is found suitable, the data should be analyzed further to establish other specific
parameters of the site.

Site Planning: Physical, Biological, Cultural Attributes

Physical Attributes

E.g. Soils, Topography, Hydrology, Geology, Additional Notes:

Climate - Physical: Flat, Heavy traffic
Biological: Many rodents
Biological Attributes
Cultural: Historic Code
E.g. Vegetation – Existing plant communities, - Synthesis – where examining and analyzing
Specimen trees takes place
Wildlife – Endangered species, etc. E.g. Flat = no need for excavation
Maximize Passive Cooling = orient
Cultural Attributes windows to right direction

E.g. Land Use, Legal, Utilities, Circulation,

Historic, Sensory
Site Planning / Design Process (Kevin Lynch, 2011)

Some steps are iterative.

Revision and iteration according to the development of program

and data analysis

Additional Notes:

Inventory – Get information about the site and the user

Program – Create own brief + Research about site

Schematic Design – Bubble Diagram

Detailed Design Development – Working Drawings

Site Planning and Design Process (James Lagro, 2001)

 Some steps are iterative, mainly on the early stage of process

 Continuous process of analysis and evaluation

Additional Notes:

James Lagro’s design process is similar to creating a “wishlist”, and is more iterative as compared to
Kevin Lynch’s design process.
Planning – Design Process (John Simond, 1998)

 Process is mainly linear.

 Non-iterative compared to previous models.

Sequence in producing a Site Plan (Kevin Lynch, 1984)

Client wants to
develop a site

Technical Team
SITE PLAN
assembled

Key Alternative
issues Site
Planning approval sought by client
identified
is examined

Discussion with Design and Site Management briefs

local planners developed

Present and
Site Inventory
Future User Needs

Environmental Site Potential

Policies Assessed

Alternative Development
Concepts examined
Design – Planning Process: General Activities

1. Research – Program Development, Site Inventory

2. Analysis – Site Analysis
3. Synthesis – Conceptual Design, Preliminary Design, Site / Master Plan

Site Planning: Survey

Initial Personal Reconnaissance

 Notes Additional Notes:

 Sketches
 Photographs - according to your own research and
 Apparent character experience
 Possibilities

Collection of existing data based on available

 Contour maps
Additional Notes:
 Aerial photographs
 Geologic info and maps - Windshield Survey – whatever you see in
 Climatological records front of you
 Ecological studies
 Market reports
 Traffic studies
 Legal documents
 Official proposals
 Historical records
 Current controversies

Summary description of the off-site context and its changes

 Geographic location
 Surrounding population
 Social and political structure
 General economy, i.e., agricultural, industrial, trade, etc.
 Ecological and hydrographic systems, i.e., streams, rivers, plant life
 Land use pattern, i.e., zoning, industrial, residential, etc.
 Access systems, i.e., road networks, transit networks, etc.
 Principal off-site estimation of facilities
Data on site and its immediate context: Physical data

1. Geography and Soil Data

- Underlying geology, rock characteristics and depth
- Soil type and depth
- Value as an engineering medium and as plant medium
- Hills, ledges, land or rock slides
2. Topography
- Pattern of landforms
- Contours i.e., sloping, rolling, level terrain
- Slope analysis
- Visibility analysis
- Circulation analysis
- Unique features i.e., bodies of water, waterfalls, view, etc.
3. Climate
- Regional data on variation of temperature and precipitation, humidity, solar angle,
cloudiness, wind direction and force
- Local microclimates: warm and cool slopes; air; drainage; wind deflection and local breeze;
shade; heat deflection; storage plant indicators i.e., plant cover; atmospheric quality i.e.,
sound levels, smell
4. Sensuous Qualities
- Character and relation of visual spaces
- Viewpoints, vistas
- Visual focal points
- Character and rhythm of visual sequences
- Quality and variation of light, sound, smell, feel
5. Past and future
- Site history and its traces
- Public and private intentions for future use of site conflicts
6. Images
- Group and individual identification and organizations of the site
- Meanings attached to site, symbolic expression
- Hopes, fears, wishes, preferences

Additional Notes:

- Water Table – source of potable water

- High Water Table & Low Water Table
- Cultural Data – population i.e., % elderly % children
- Gentrification – forget the original quality of the site

What are the implications of historical events in future planning developments?

E.g. Conflicts? Territorial disputes? Existence of militant groups?

Data correlation

 Classification of site by areas of similar structures, quality and problems

 Identification of significant key-points, lines and areas
 Analysis of current and likely future changes in the dynamic aspect of the site
 Identification of significant problems and possibilities

When selecting a site

 Future considerations and expansion should be met. Never select a site for its immediate
application.
 How do we come up with a good site analysis?
 Are all information available relevant and important?
 What do we do if there is no available data?
 What is the relation of good site planning to our design?

Additional Notes:

- Good site planning will imply a better design.

- Most important stage of the 3 steps: SYNTHESIS – importance of a certain aspect
processed data