SITE PLANNING

Prof. Shweta Prasad Swarrnim Startup and Innovation University

“For every site there is an ideal use.
For every use there is an ideal site.”
John Ormsbee Simonds
SITE PLANNING

Site planning is the art and science of arranging the structures on the land and shaping the spaces between, an art
of arranging uses of land linked to architecture, engineering, landscape architecture, and city planning. Site plans
locate objects and activities in space and time. These plans may concern a small cluster of houses, a single
building and its grounds, or something as extensive as a small community built in a single operation.

Site Planning, Kevin Lynch, 1990

Site planning is the art and science of arranging the uses of portions of land. These uses are designated in detail
by selecting and analysing sites, forming land uses plans, organizing vehicular and pedestrian circulation,
developing visual form and materials concepts, readjusting the existing landforms by design grading, providing
proper drainage, and developing the construction details necessary to carry out the projects.

A Guide to Site and Environmental Planning, Harvey M. Rubenstein, 1996

OBJECTIVES

1. To learn and practice a logical method of fitting design programs and sites harmoniously.

2. To understand interaction of the following factors in design process

i. Natural forces (landscape)
ii. Socio- economic forces (planning)
iii. Technological functions (architecture and engineering)

3. To understand the site development process by observing natural and human factors affecting the form and
appearance of the environment.

4. To collect information and data concerning planning or design issue.

5. To classify and analyse the data.

6. To make recommendations for issues at hand.

7. To draw guidelines for planning, architecture and landscape disciplines.

 HISTORY/ BASIC PRINCIPALS

There are four basic models of Site Planning in history

1. Fixing the Place

2. Defining the Enclosure

3. Sense of Order

4. Form of Axial

Fixing the space Defining the enclosure Sense of order The form of axial

Source: Site Planning : Lynch, K. , 1990.

 HISTORY/ BASIC PRINCIPALS

1. Fixing the Place

The image and form of the object building are capable of fixing a place.
Fixing the space

Source: Site Planning : Lynch, K. , 1990.

 HISTORY/ BASIC PRINCIPALS

2. Defining the Enclosure:

A collection of Independent structures, which although unattached, create a coherent image of

place. Defining the enclosure

Source: Site Planning : Lynch, K. , 1990.

 HISTORY/ BASIC PRINCIPALS

3. Sense of Order

The form of a building can be such that a place may be fixed by the enclosure of the facades.
Sense of order

Source: Site Planning : Lynch, K. , 1990.

 HISTORY/ BASIC PRINCIPALS

4. Form of Axial

Although the kinetic implications of the word “path” are somewhat contradictory, paths are nonetheless
capable of forming coherent, meaningful images. The form of axial

Source: Site Planning : Lynch, K. , 1990.

PROCESS

The site design process is divided into three sections:

1. Research Phase: Defining the problem and its definition.

2. Analysis Phase: Integrating site and use functions.

3. Synthesis Phase: A program is developed as a solution to problem at hand.

 PROCESS

Synthesis Phase

Source: Site planning and design process: James A. LaGro, Site Analysis: A Contextual Approach to Sustainable Land Planning and Site Design, 2007.
METHODS OF ESTABLISHING A SITE

1. Site Selection Process: Selection of site from a list of potential sites that best suits the given use and
requirements of the project.

2. Development Suitability Process: Selection of the best possible use and development suited for a given site.
FACTORS INFLUENCING SITE SELECTION AND RESOURCE ANALYSIS

1. Natural factors

i. Geology

ii. Geomorphology: physiography, landforms, soils, drainage, topography and slopes, and soil erosion

iii. Hydrology: surface and ground water

iv. Vegetation: plant ecology

v. Wildlife: habitats

vi. Climate: solar orientation, wind, and humidity

FACTORS INFLUENCING SITE SELECTION AND RESOURCE ANALYSIS

2. Cultural factors

i. Existing landuse: ownership of adjacent property, off-site nuisances

ii. Traffic and trasit: vehicular and pedestrian circulation on or adjacent to site

iii. Density and zoning: legal and regulatory controls

iv. Socio economic factors: population, population density, literacy, sex ratio, occupation pattern, ethnicity,
cultural typology

v. Utilities: sanitary, storm- water, water supply, power supply, and communications

vi. Historic factors: Historic buildings, landmarks, and archaeology

FACTORS INFLUENCING SITE SELECTION AND RESOURCE ANALYSIS

3. Aesthetic factors

i. Natural factors

ii. Spatial patterns – spaces and sequences

iii. Visual resources – views and vistas

1. NATURAL FACTORS
 GEOLOGY

The natural science that studies the earth – its composition; the process that shaped its surface; and its history.
Earth is made up of rocks (including soil, sand, silt and dust).

Igneous Rocks Sedimentary Rocks Metamorphic Rocks

 GEOMORPHOLOGY

The branch of geology that deals with the origin, nature, and distribution of landforms.

i. Physiography – refers to the description of landforms

ii. Landforms – Irregularities on the earth’s surface, derived from volcanic, glacial, or erosion process.

Source: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Geomorphology-map-of-the-study-area_fig5_299645586
 GEOMORPHOLOGY

The branch of geology that deals with the origin, nature, and distribution of landforms.

i. Soil Properties – composition and soil texture

ii. Drainage

iii. Topography and Slopes

iv. Soil Erosion

Source: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Geomorphology-map-of-the-study-area_fig5_299645586
GEOMORPHOLOGY: SOIL PROPERTIES

Soil surveys help guide in site selection for residential, industrial, and other forms of development that involve surface
and subsurface structures.

The most important features, or properties used to describe soil for the use in site design are:

Composition: materials which make up soil (mineral particles, organic matter, water and air)

Texture: term used to describe the composite sizes of particles in a soil sample.

Are generally the most meaningful; from them we can make inferences about bearing capacity; internal drainage,
erodibility , and slope stability.
GEOMORPHOLOGY: DRAINAGE

Good drainage refers to the soils ability to transfer gravity water downward through:

Infiltration – the rate at which water penetrates the soil surface (usually measured in cm or inches/ hour)

Permeability – the rate at which water moves within the soil through a given volume of material (usually measured in
cm or inches/ hour)

Percolation – the rate at which water in a soil pit or pipe within the soil is taken up by the soil (measured in inches/
hour)

Poor drainage means that gravity water is not readily transmitted by the soil and soil is frequently or permanently
saturated and may have water standing on it caused by:

• The local accumulation of water

• A rise in the level of groundwater within the soil column
• The size of the particles in the soil being too small to transmit infiltration water.
GEOMORPHOLOGY: TOPOGRAPHY AND SLOPES

Slope is the measure of steepness or the degree of inclination of a feature relative to the horizontal plane. Gradient,
grade, incline and pitch are used interchangeably with slope.

Understanding slope forms for site design requires understanding of local geologic, soil, hydrologic and vegetative
conditions.

Following (illustrated) four basic slope forms are detectable on contour maps

Gentle Slope Steep Slope Concave Slope Convex Slope

 GEOMORPHOLOGY: TOPOGRAPHY AND SLOPES

Angle of Repose – Angle at which soil can be safely inclined and beyond which it will fail.

Source: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Geomorphology-map-of-the-study-area_fig5_299645586
GEOMORPHOLOGY: TOPOGRAPHY AND SLOPES

Topographic Map – A map of a portion of the earth which describes the shape of the earth’s surface by contour lines

Contours – they are the imaginary join points of equal

elevation surface of the land above reference surface such
as sea level. Contours make it possible to measure the
height of mountains, measure ocean bottoms, and
steepness of slopes.
 GEOMORPHOLOGY: SOIL EROSION

When rocks are broken down (weathered) into small fragments, and carried by wind, water, ice and gravity. Energy
required for this process is solar and gravitational.

Four factors which are considered in forecasting erosion rates are:

• Vegetation

• Soil Type

• Slope, size and inclination

• Frequency and intensity of rainfall

Source: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Geomorphology-map-of-the-study-area_fig5_299645586
HYDROLOGY

The natural science that studies the waters on earth, their occurrence and distribution, their chemical and physical
properties, and their reaction to the living environment including their relation to all living things.

Hydrologic cycle – the movement of water from the ocean to the atmosphere to the continents and back to the sea.

Water table – the upper boundary of the zone of groundwater; the top of unconfined aquifer.

Diagrammatic representation of hydrological cycle, and water table

HYDROLOGY

Aquifer – A permeable geological stratum or formation that can both store and transmit groundwater in significant
qualities.

Diagrammatic representation of an aquifer

HYDROLOGY
Watershed – A geographic area of land bounded by topographic features and height of land that captures precipitation,
filters and stores waters and drains waters to a shared destination. Knowledge of watershed boundaries is critical to
water quality and storm water management.

Diagrammatic representation of a watershed

VEGETATION

The relevance of plant materials in planning are:

i. Climatic control

ii. Environmental Engineering

iii. Architectural and Aesthetic uses

VEGETATION: CLIMATE CONTROL

Solar radiation – It is the Earth’s source of light and heat. It warms the earth’s surface, is reflected by paving and
other objects, and produces glare.

Trees are one of the best controls for solar radiation because:

• They block or filter sunlight;

• They cool the air under their canopies providing natural air conditioning.

Precipitation – Plants help to control precipitation reaching the ground. By intercepting rain and slowing it down, they
aid in moisture retention, and in the prevention of soil erosion. They also help retain water by providing shade, or
protection from the wind, or by water shedding function of trees roots.
VEGETATION: CLIMATE CONTROL

Wind – It helps to control temperature. When winds are of low velocity, they may be pleasant, but when velocity
increases, it may cause discomfort or damage.

Trees help to buffer winds in urban areas caused by convection and Venturi effects.
VEGETATION: ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

Air Purification –
• Plants clean air through the process of photosynthesis where they use up carbon dioxide emissions of cars
and trucks and in the process release oxygen into the air.
• Trees also help filter out other pollutants, i.e. sulphur dioxide, dust, pollen and smoke.

Noise –
• Sound energy usually spreads and dissipates in transmission. Sound waves can be absorbed, reflected or
deflected.
• Plants absorb sound waves through their trunks, leaves, branches, twigs, especially those with thick fleshy
leaves and thin petioles (stem of leaf).

Glare and reflection –

• Plants reduce glare and reflection caused by sunlight.
• Plants may be used to filter or block glare by use of plants with the appropriate size, shape, and foliage
density.

Erosion Control –
• Plants are primary means of preventing erosion from storm water runoff and controlling erosion during
construction.
• Vegetation with extensive root systems imparts stability to slopes..
VEGETATION: ARCHITECTURAL AND AESTHETIC USES

Space Definition – Plants can help in several ways; as wall elements to form outdoor spaces, as canopies to
provide shade, or as ground covers to provide colour and texture on the base plane.

View Control – While trees and shrubs can screen out objectionable views, they can also provide backdrops, or
filtered views of buildings or spaces.

Mood – Plants affect peoples’ mood.

WILDLIFE

Relates closely to habitats provided by plant communities. The three group of habitat elements essential to the different species
of wildlife are:

i. Open land wildlife

ii. Woodland wildlife

iii. Wetland wildlife

CLIMATE

It is the condition of the atmosphere at a particular location over a long period of time; it is the long-term summation of
the atmospheric elements (and their variations) that, over short time periods, constitute weather. Climates can be
generally classified as Cold, Temperate, Hot arid and Hot humid. In each, a site should be investigated in terms of:

i. Solar orientation for the buildings

ii. Best facing slopes

iii. Wind flow

Source: http://hanschen.org/koppen/img/koppen_all_1901-2010.png
SOLAR ORIENTATION FOR THE BUILDINGS

i. The orientation of the building is influenced by the amount of solar radiation falling on different sides at
different times.

ii. Buildings are best arranged in clusters for heat absorption, shading opportunities and protection from east
and west exposures.

iii. The larger building dimension should face north and south.
BEST FACING SLOPES

i. Temperatures vary with elevation – by about 3 - 5 degrees for every 1000 ft. (300 m).

ii. The more perpendicular a slope is to the rays of the sun, the warmer the surface temperature
WIND FLOW

Abrupt forms cause unpleasant air turbulence Smooth forms induce smooth flow of air
2. CULTURAL FACTORS
EXISTING LAND USE

Land Use Plans are available in each city to determine the areas for commercial, institutional, residential, and open
space uses. These are planned according to the most rational use of land in relation to the natural and socio-
economic factors.
 Proposed zoning and land-use plan for 2021 for the city of Ahmedabad

Source: https://www.hcp.co.in/project/auda-development-plan-2021
TRAFFIC AND TRANSIT SYSTEMS

i. The relationship of traffic pattern to each other and to the site must be studied for adequacy of access and
efficiency of circulation within and outside of the site.

ii. Efficient traffic and transportation systems will result in successful integration of the different developments in the
vicinity.

iii. Direction of dominant traffic flow, both vehicular and pedestrian will help establish points of highest visual impact
for the site.

iv. Access must also consider pedestrian movement.

Conceptual visualization of Station Area Plaza Development at Jhansi Ki Rani BRTS Station

Source: https://www.hcp.co.in/project/transit-oriented-zone-local-area-plan
DENSITY AND ZONING

Density refers to the population per unit land area. This determines whether existing utilities and land areas will be
sufficient to sustain additional future development, which will add to the existing population and bear on the capacity
of these utilities.

Density is expressed in number of families or dwelling units per hectare. It may also be expressed in Floor Area
Ratio (FAR).

Density influences the privacy, social contact among group, and freedom of movement of an individual or a group of
people.

Zoning regulations, laws and codes are present in municipality and city to regulate the type of development. It
divides the city into land use areas that are designated by building height, building coverage, density of population,
and open space.
SOCIO- ECONOMIC FACTORS

The study of the community and its social and economic structures are done to determine whether there is a need, an
interest, or any objections on the project.

Any proposed project must be compatible with the economy of the particular community.

The social structure of the family must be taken into consideration to ensure that the proposed development will not
result in any displaced families, and any major disruption in their business and other day-to-day activities.
 UTILITES/ SERVICES

The determination of existing availability of utilities on site in terms of adequacy and efficiency. This includes:

i. Sanitary and sewage system

ii. Electric power supply

iii. Water supply

iv. Drainage

Various services to be checked on site before designing

 HISTORIC FACTORS

i. Historic buildings

ii. Historic landmarks

Outside façade, Gasometer, Vienna Gasometer A, inside

3. AESTHETIC FACTORS
 NATURAL FEATURES

The natural assets of the land/ site which can be incorporated in the site development.

Cheonggyecheon Stream in Seoul City , Korea

SPATIAL PATTERNS

It is defined as the way an open space of a given site is configured according to an arrangement of elements that
evoke activity or flow, both physically or visually.

Godrej Garden City

 VISUAL RESOURCES

i. View – a scene observed from vantage point.

ii. Vista- a confined view, usually directed toward a terminal or dominant feature.

A view of the city from 124th floor of Burj Khalifa, 2014 A vista as seen from a hotel roof top in Pisa
. . .end of lecture series 01