g. FACTORS and ISSUES RELEVANT TO THE SITE
CHECKLIST OF SITE DATA From Site Planning by Kevin Lynch
M.I.T. Press, Massachusetts. 1979
a. INITIAL PERSONAL RECONNAISSANCE – observation of the site’s apparent character, problem and possibilities presented through notes, sketches, photographs, etc.
b. COLLATION OF EXISTING DATA such as contour maps, aerial photos, geological soil and water surveys, climate records, ecological studies, engineering reports, boring tests, census materials, histories, social studies, market reports, traffic studies, legal and public control documents, official proposals, records and current controversies
c. SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE OFF-SITE CONTEXT AND ITS CHANGES – geographic location, surrounding populations, social and political structure, general economy, ecological and hydrographic system, land use patterns, access system, principal off-site destinations and facilities
d. DATA ON THE SITE AND ITS IMMEDIATE CONTEXT
A.
PHYSICAL DATA1. Geology and soil
• Underlying geology, rock character and depth
• Soil type and depth, value as engineering material and as plant medium
• Fill, ledge, slide and subsidence 2. Water
• Existing water bodies - variation and purity
• Natural and man-made drainage channels - flow, capacity, purity
• Surface drainage patterns, amounts, blockages, undrained depressions
• Water table - elevation and fluctuation, springs
• Water supply - quantity and quality 3. Topography
• Pattern of landforms
• Contours
• Regional data on variation of temperature, precipitation, humidity, solar angle, cloudiness, wind direction and force
• Local microclimates: warm and cool slopes, air drainage, wind deflection and local breeze, shade, heat reflection and storage, plant indicators
• Sound level, atmospheric quality, smells 5. Ecology
• Dominant plant/animal communities - location and relative stability
• Their dependence on existing factors, self-regulation, sensitivity to change
• Mapping of general plant cover, including wooded areas
• Specimen trees to be retained: their location, spread, species and elevation at base
6. Man-made structures
• Existing buildings: outline, location, floor elevations, type, condition, us
• Circulation facilities (roads, paths, rails, transit, etc.): location, capacity, condition
• Utilities (storm and sanitary sewers, water, gas, electricity, telephone, steam, etc.): location, elevation, capacity
7. Sensuous Qualities
• Character and relation of visual spaces
• Viewpoints, vistas and visual focal points
• Character and rhythm of visual sequences
• Quality and variation of light, sound, smell and feel
B.
CULTURAL DATA1. Resident and using population
• Number and composition
• Social structures and institution
• Economic structure
• Political structure
• Current changes and problems
2. On-site and adjacent behavior settings: nature, location, rhythm, stability, participants, conflicts
3. Site values, rights and restraints
• Ownerships, easements, and other rights
• Legal controls: zoning and other regulations
• Economic values
• Accepted “territories”
• Political jurisdictions 4. Past and future
• Site history and its traces
• Public and private intentions for future use of site, conflicts 5. Images
• Group and individual identification and organization of site
• Meanings attached to the site, symbolic expression
• Hopes, fears, wishes, preferences
C.
DATA CORRELATION1. Classification of site by areas of similar structure, quality, and problems 2. Identification of key points, lines and areas
3. Analysis of current and likely future changes - the dynamic aspect of the site
4. Identification of significant problems and possibilities Thesis Manual.2006
References:
University of the Philippines Masters of Architecture Guide for Thesis-writing Draft of Far Eastern University Architecture Thesis Manual
C. BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS
1. ACTIVITY FLOW DIAGRAM
As your project will cater mainly to its users, it might be useful to your study to look into their patterns of activities as these would help determine the characteristics of spaces which will be provided for them. The pattern of activitiy will also create a basis for the interrelationships of spaces and, consequently, structures.
For some projects, the activity flow diagram may be governed by a given schedule. This is true for schools, for example, where the activities of the users as based on the scheduling of classes. For others, the pattern may have to be determined through direct observation, interviews or any first-hand procedure. It is also important to note the less obvious details in the pattern aside from those which are based on a given program or are easily discernible through observation.
2. ENVIRONMENT-BEHAVIOR STUDIES
Should your thesis have the behavior of the users as its main thrust, you should expand this part and have a thorough and in depth output. You may not only be dealing with the activities of the users for the time being but would most probably extend your analysis to the culture of these people. Moreover, this would entail a comparative analysis of your users’ behavior with that of other paradigms.
Again, this is an analysis and so you would not just list the activities. Apart from identifying the activities and behavior of your users, whether individual or group, you are to give your readers a hint of why you’re discussing these things. How will these affect the overall concept of your thesis? In what way can these behaviors be a tool in designing an effective working environment? Do you need to apply your knowledge in space engineering?
The concepts of territoriality, defensible space and space bubbles are very helpful tools in analyzing the behavior of people in relation to the environment. In the end, this procedure will help you understand how the environment shapes behavior and vice-versa.
3.
INTERRELATIONSHIP ANALYSIS
This is the simplest part of space programming-- but not quite. If you think that doing matrices and bubble diagrams would be too easy for you to do, well unfortunately, they’re not. Although such graphical instruments help facilitate the organization of spaces, they may be too flexible, and so you’ll have the tendency to overlook at the appropriate circulation. To avoid this, it is recommended that you have to go further and create alternative schemes or bubbles (variations of your design) and even zoning (based on the result of matrices) with circulation diagrams of various types of users. The results of your case studies would probably be applied here. Again, you are encouraged to draw various schemes to present probable solutions- and it will not stop there. You have to orient your readers of the variances
and indicate the advantages and disadvantages of each scheme so that you would not have the difficulty of explaining the design of your choice when later on tested against the concepts. Remember to include the services and utilities.
There are different methods in programming spaces. It can be a matrix which allocates specific variable depending on the activity e.g. pivotal and then coming up with the area. You may also use basic standards from the National Building Code or other building standards and multiply these with the number of users. Another way is to layout a scheme containing the furniture, spaces, and circulation (of course in scale). This may be most helpful for rooms requiring specific furniture as in hospitals, laboratories, factories and the like.
D. VIABILITY STUDIES
Viability studies are undertaken to ascertain the possibility of the project getting implemented. They are used to determine probable impediments to project realization and to identify measures by which these impediments may be minimized or eliminated.
a. TECHNICAL VIABILITY & ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT
The Technical Design Constraints - All designers must work within a set of parameters based on the following:
Technology
The project must be realizable based on the available systems, infrastructure and know-how. Production, replication, testing must be possible within the existing framework of expertise and tools by which the processes can be carried out.
Propositions must be grounded on theories that are sufficiently backed up by past research undertakings.
It’s also possible that the proposed project is illustrative of new technology. In this case, the research output must include recommendations on the development of the proposed technology.
Cost
Project Cost - these are expenses that are directly attributable to the completion of the project. Examples are: design development cost, construction/ development/
production cost
Capital - this covers all initial, one-time expenditures. Examples are: construction of production plants, equipment purchase, land acquisition
Operating - regular/periodic expenses such as utility bills, salaries for personnel, rentals
Maintenance - periodic or one-time expenses for repairs and facilities upgrading
Time
Timeframe - a schedule showing how the project will progress over a projected duration must be shown. Schedules may be in the form of a bar chart, an S-curve or a PERT-CPM diagram
Phasing - project completion may be done in phases or in distinct time frames
Gestation - a lead-time or preparatory period may be needed before a project can fully take-off
Resource Requirements
Materials - the types, sources and availability of needed building or product components need to be firmed up
Manpower - the labor component, required expertise, organizational requirements also need to be identified
Equipment - pieces of light and heavy equipment needed for the production and operating stages must be available
Site Conditions
Location/ Surrounding Areas Land Area and Configuration Access
Climate Landforms Topography Geology Soil Type Water Bodies Hydrology Oceanography Vegetation
Atmosphere/Air quality Fish and Wildlife Visual Resources
Danger/ Hazard prone areas Existing Structures
Infrastructure Utilities
Water
Power
Drainage Communication
Environmental Impact Assessment- An EIA is undertaken to compare scenarios with and without the proposed project. The results are used to weigh favorable
N
against unfavorable impacts of the project on the environment. The word
‘environment’ here refers to both the physical and non-physical dimensions.
The physical dimensions cover ecological and technological concerns while the non-physical dimensions cover the social, cultural, economic and political concerns.
The Environmental Impact Statement outline prescribed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.