Site Analysis & Diagram
1. Site Study = research and preparation phase of design.
– Must become familiar with the site so a design solution can later be developed to suit the
particular conditions of the site.
– “Design program” = culmination of the research and preparation phase.
– Site study steps
2. Inventory = gathering of facts and information about a site.
o Identifying and recording location, size, material and condition of existing elements such as
walkways, terraces, fences, utilities, and plants.
o Should also take into account utilities, prevailing wind, sun and shade patterns, and specific
views of importance.
Site Analysis = evaluation of this information as to its importance.
o Questions to ask in synthesis of analysis data
i) Is this information important?
ii) Does it create a problem or offer potential?
- How might the problem be solved?
or - How might it be used as an advantage?
Evaluation and Action = SWOT study of the site
Strength / Weakness / Opportunity / Threat
a. General: microclimate, sun orientation and prevailing wind direction.
Set 1 point on each side of the proposed site
Each point should be identified with different criteria: i.e.
o Open area
o Partly shaded
o Shaded
Assign group member to do data collection as per site inventories based one the selected
points.
Follow the micro climate chart
b. Accessibility: entrances, exits, site circulation (both pedestrian and vehicular
traffic).
Identify all the entrances and exits plus indicate the user
Go through each of the circulation system from entrance and exit point; identify all the path
for each mode of transportation
Mark them with different color or line type
Identify the condition of each path :
physically – size of road or walking corridor/ pedestrian walkway, shaded etc
psychologically – distance of journey, view etc
c. Existing site features: buildings, site topography, drainage pattern, water
elements and vegetation.
Indicates all the existing structures on site and mark them in your site plan
They can be permanent or temporary structure; differentiate them in your plan
Indentify the massing and height for each structures
Study the topography of the site as per attached topography-map ; does the existing
structure sit on :
flat ground –naturally
flat ground due to leveling of slope / hill
hilly slope area
cut and fill area
Sketch a simple cross-section of the site as a profile indicating all the surrounding contexts
By indentifying the gradient of the site; you should be able to indicate the drainage pattern
– naturally and as existing on site: differentiate them in your site plan
Water elements – naturally and man made must be indicated
Identify the type of vegetation :
sizes - shrubs, bushes, medium or bigger sizes
shapes and character - round, oblong,
d. Site users: users and their activities.
Workout an existing land use for the site; identify the function / usage and the user
Draw the zoning relationship : private, semi-private, public area
e. Perceptual characteristic: views into and from the site, spatial pattern, odour
and sounds and their sources and the site peculiar character.
Identify all the views and vistas into and from the site ; positive and negative
Mark the location from where the picture is taken
Identify the spatial pattern on existing site i.e. organization
Identify the location and type of sound* that can be heard on site; look for the sources
*type of sound can be pleasant and annoying i.e. water fall or traffic
Use your 6th sense to search for the “soul” or site forces and the “genius loci” ; a special
character that only belongs to that particular area
f. Off site factors: general features and uses of nearby/surrounding areas e.g. hills,
residential etc.
Identify the surrounding context – the land use, topography etc
A contextual site cross section profile can be useful
Some of the checklist for site inventories
ACCESSIBILITY CHART
type of path
Vehicular Pedestrian walkway
path nos
type of road
man-made natural man-made natural
entrances
exit
path type of circulation
internal Vehicular Pedestrian walkway
circulation
type
physical features
covered
wide
journey experience
note:
MICRO CLIMATE CHART
Time Point Sun orientation Prevailing Wind
Station
Shade Direction Direction Velocity
pattern length nil intermittent moderate windy
0700
0900
1200
1500
1800
2100
2400
0300
Note:
*Each group should have 4 charts
**indicated the direction according to north point as a reference
EXISTING SITE FEATURES CHART
name of type massing / ground
usage
structure permanent temporary height condition
overall site note:
east north west south
topography
VEGETATION CHART
Type of quantity location shape function
vegetation shading,
buffer,
aesthetic etc
bushes
shrubs
medium
tall
Prepared by : Mohd Asri Ibrahim
