Arab Academy for Science, Technology & Maritime Transport

College of Engineering & Technology – Port Said Branch

B.Sc. Architectural Engineering & Environmental Design
Theories of Architecture (3) : Arch 233

2. Design Process
A. Context Analysis
Dr. Shimaa Ali
Ass. Prof. of Architecture & Urban Planning
Arch. Enas Zien El-abedin

Week 2
 Lecture Content
B. Context Analysis
 Why context analysis?
 General Principals.
Typical Checklist
 Location and Site Access
 Neighborhood Context “Surroundings”
 Size and Zooning
 Natural Physical Features
 Man Made Features
 Circulation
 Climate
 Sensory
 Legislation
 Utilities
 Human & Culture
 After the Architectural Site Analysis.
Site Analysis Diagrams
Context Analysis
 A preliminary phase of architectural and urban design
processes is a site analysis. It takes deep study of the
climatic, geographical, historical, legal, and
infrastructural context of a specific site. As a result of
analytic process is a graphical sketch, which sets in
relation the relevant environmental information with the
morphology of the site in terms of parcel, topography,
and built environment. These results are starting point
for the development of environment-related strategies
during the design process.

 Many graphical tools for site analysis have been

developed to assist designers in this task. Traditional
climate-related site analysis tools are: the Sundial, the
Sun Path Diagram, the Radiation Square, the Wind Rose,
and the Wind Square.
Context Analysis
Context
Context Analysis
Context Analysis
Context Analysis
 Location and Site
Access Context Analysis
Neighborhood Context
“Surroundings”

Size and Zooning

Natural Physical
Features

Man Made Features

Circulation - Site location according to the city.

- District location according to the city.
Climate - Site Accessibility (distances, and time
required to reach the site.
Sensory

Legislation

Utilities

Human & Culture

 Location and Site
Access Context Analysis
Neighborhood Context
“Surroundings”

Size and Zooning

Natural Physical
Features

Man Made Features

Circulation

Climate

Sensory

Legislation

Utilities

Human & Culture

 Location and Site
Access Context Analysis
Neighborhood Context
“Surroundings”

Size and Zooning

Natural Physical
Features

Man Made Features

Circulation

Climate

Sensory

Legislation

Utilities

Human & Culture

 Location and Site
Access Context Analysis
Neighborhood Context
“Surroundings”

Size and Zooning

Natural Physical
Features

Man Made Features

Circulation

Climate

Sensory

Legislation

Utilities

Human & Culture

 Location and Site
Access Context Analysis
Neighborhood Context
“Surroundings”

Size and Zooning

Natural Physical
Features

Man Made Features

Circulation

Climate

Sensory

Legislation

Utilities

Human & Culture

 Location and Site
Access Context Analysis
Neighborhood Context
“Surroundings”

Size and Zooning

Natural Physical
Features

Man Made Features

Circulation

Climate

Sensory

Legislation

Utilities

Human & Culture

 Location and Site
Access Context Analysis
Neighborhood Context
“Surroundings”

Size and Zooning

Natural Physical
Features

Man Made Features

Circulation

Climate

Sensory

Legislation

Utilities

Human & Culture

 Location and Site
Access Context Analysis
Neighborhood Context
“Surroundings”

Size and Zooning

Natural Physical
Features

Man Made Features

Circulation

Climate

Sensory

Legislation

Utilities

Human & Culture

 Location and Site
Access Context Analysis
Neighborhood Context
“Surroundings”

Size and Zooning

Natural Physical
Features

Man Made Features

Circulation

Climate

Sensory

Legislation

Utilities

Human & Culture

 Location and Site
Access Context Analysis
Neighborhood Context
“Surroundings”

Size and Zooning

Natural Physical
Features

Man Made Features

Circulation

Climate

Sensory

Legislation

Utilities

Human & Culture

 Location and Site
Access Context Analysis
Neighborhood Context
“Surroundings”

Size and Zooning

Natural Physical
Features

Man Made Features

Circulation

Climate

Sensory

Legislation

Utilities

Human & Culture

 Location and Site
Access Context Analysis
Neighborhood Context
“Surroundings”

Size and Zooning

Natural Physical
Features

Man Made Features

Circulation

Climate

Sensory

Legislation

Utilities

Human & Culture

 Location and Site
Access Context Analysis
Neighborhood Context
“Surroundings”

Size and Zooning

Natural Physical
Features

Man Made Features

Circulation

Climate

Sensory

Legislation

Utilities

Human & Culture

 Location and Site
Access Context Analysis
Neighborhood Context
“Surroundings”

Size and Zooning

Natural Physical
Features

Man Made Features

Circulation

Climate

Sensory

Legislation

Utilities

Human & Culture

 Location and Site
Access Context Analysis
Neighborhood Context
“Surroundings”

Size and Zooning

Natural Physical
Features

Man Made Features

Circulation

Climate

Sensory

Legislation

Utilities

Human & Culture

 Location and Site
Access Context Analysis
Neighborhood Context
“Surroundings”

Size and Zooning Contour lines and site topography

Natural Physical
Features

Man Made Features

Circulation

Climate

Sensory

Legislation

Utilities

Human & Culture

 Location and Site
Access Context Analysis
Neighborhood Context
“Surroundings”

Size and Zooning

Natural Physical
Features

Man Made Features

Circulation

Climate

Sensory

Legislation

Utilities

Human & Culture

 Location and Site
Access Context Analysis
Neighborhood Context
“Surroundings”

Size and Zooning

Natural Physical
Features

Man Made Features

Circulation

Climate

Sensory

Legislation

Utilities

Human & Culture

 Location and Site
Access Context Analysis
Neighborhood Context
“Surroundings”

Size and Zooning

Natural Physical
Features

Man Made Features

Circulation

Climate

Sensory

Legislation

Utilities

Human & Culture

 Location and Site
Access Context Analysis
Neighborhood Context
“Surroundings”

Size and Zooning

Natural Physical
Features

Man Made Features

Circulation

Climate

Sensory

Legislation

Utilities

Human & Culture

 Location and Site
Access Context Analysis
Neighborhood Context
“Surroundings”

Size and Zooning

Main topographic feature: hills, valleys……
Natural Physical
Features

Man Made Features

Circulation

Climate

Sensory

Legislation

Utilities

Human & Culture

 Location and Site
Access Context Analysis
Neighborhood Context
“Surroundings”

Size and Zooning

Natural features evaluation : keep it or not
Natural Physical
Features

Man Made Features

Circulation

Climate

Sensory

Legislation

Utilities

Human & Culture

 Location and Site
Access Context Analysis
Neighborhood Context
“Surroundings”

Size and Zooning

Natural Physical Soil examination from different depths.
Features

Man Made Features

Circulation

Climate

Sensory

Legislation

Utilities

Human & Culture

 Location and Site
Access Context Analysis
Neighborhood Context
“Surroundings”

Size and Zooning

Natural Physical
Features

Man Made Features

Circulation

Climate

Sensory

Legislation

Utilities

Human & Culture

 Location and Site
Access Context Analysis
Neighborhood Context
“Surroundings”

Size and Zooning

Natural Physical
Features

Man Made Features

Circulation

Climate

Sensory

Legislation

Utilities

Human & Culture

 Location and Site
Access Context Analysis
Neighborhood Context
“Surroundings”

Size and Zooning

Natural Physical
Features

Man Made Features

Circulation

Climate

Sensory

Legislation

Utilities

Human & Culture

 Location and Site
Access Context Analysis
Neighborhood Context
“Surroundings”

Size and Zooning

Natural Physical
Features

Man Made Features

Circulation

Climate

Sensory

Legislation

Utilities Streets use, side streets, determine crosses and squares.

It’s mandatory studying the effect of these features on
the site.
Human & Culture
 Location and Site
Access Context Analysis
Neighborhood Context
“Surroundings”

Size and Zooning

Natural Physical
Features

Man Made Features

Circulation

Climate

Sensory

Legislation

Utilities

Human & Culture

 Location and Site
Access Context Analysis
Neighborhood Context
“Surroundings”

Size and Zooning

Natural Physical
Features

Man Made Features

Circulation

Climate

Sensory

Legislation

Utilities

Human & Culture

 Location and Site
Access Context Analysis
Neighborhood Context
“Surroundings”

Size and Zooning

Natural Physical
Features

Man Made Features

Circulation

Climate

Sensory

Legislation

Utilities

Human & Culture

 Location and Site
Access Context Analysis
Neighborhood Context
“Surroundings”

Size and Zooning

Natural Physical
Features

Man Made Features

Circulation

Climate

Sensory

Legislation

Utilities

Human & Culture

 Location and Site
Access Context Analysis
Neighborhood Context
“Surroundings”

Size and Zooning

Natural Physical
Features

Man Made Features

Circulation

Climate

Sensory

Legislation

Utilities

Human & Culture

 Location and Site
Access Context Analysis
Neighborhood Context
“Surroundings”

Size and Zooning

Natural Physical
Features

Man Made Features

Circulation

Climate

Sensory

Legislation

Utilities

Human & Culture

 Location and Site
Access Context Analysis
Neighborhood Context
“Surroundings”

Size and Zooning

Natural Physical
Features

Man Made Features

Circulation

Climate

Sensory

Legislation

Utilities

Human & Culture

 Location and Site
Access Context Analysis
Neighborhood Context
“Surroundings”

Size and Zooning

Natural Physical
Features

Man Made Features

Circulation

Climate

Sensory

Legislation

Utilities These features can be achieved from the site visit from the
observation, drawing sketches, photos, air photography in
Human & Culture some cases like: noise, smells, pollutes areas….etc)
 Location and Site
Access Context Analysis
Neighborhood Context
“Surroundings” 1.View
Size and Zooning
Natural Physical
Features

Man Made Features

Circulation

Climate
Views into the site
Sensory Views to the site from areas outside the site boundaries,
including streets, walks, other buildings.
Legislation When the site is first seen.
Angles within which it is seen
Dramatic views of the property
Utilities
Best views of the site and areas that are viewable.

Human & Culture

 Location and Site
Access Context Analysis
Neighborhood Context
“Surroundings”

Size and Zooning

Natural Physical
Features

Man Made Features

Circulation

Climate

Sensory
- The legal description for the buildings.
Legislation - The exact allowed built up area, maximum height of
the building, court area, ducts, facades coordinators,
Utilities and architectural pattern.
- Property type, the current owner of the land.
Human & Culture
 Location and Site
Access Context Analysis
Neighborhood Context
“Surroundings”

Size and Zooning

Natural Physical
Features

Man Made Features

Circulation

Climate

Sensory

Legislation Determine the infrastructure places ( gas, electricity,

telephone, water, and sewage) and its distance from the
Utilities site, and determining the best locations to the service.

Human & Culture

 Location and Site
Access Context Analysis
Neighborhood Context
“Surroundings”
Study of the surrounding buildings
Size and Zooning from the cultural and social level.
- Future development areas.
Natural Physical - Culture Heritage Areas.
Features - Residents Level “income,
educational,….etc)
Man Made Features

Circulation

Climate

Sensory

Legislation

Utilities

Human & Culture

 Location and Site
Access Context Analysis
Neighborhood Context
“Surroundings”

Size and Zooning

Natural Physical
Features

Man Made Features

Circulation

Climate

Sensory

Legislation Study of the surrounding buildings from the cultural and

social level.
Utilities - Future development areas.
- Culture Heritage Areas.
- Residents Level “income, educational,….etc)
Human & Culture
After the Architectural Site Analysis
Thank you