Site Planning and
Landscape Architecture
Asst. Prof. Josefina S. de Asis, M.Arch, DURP, RLA
What is Site Planning?
Site Planning (Kevin
Lynch)
The art of arranging The art of arranging
buildings and the external physical
structures on the environment to
land in harmony to support human
each other behaviour
Site Planning (Kevin
Lynch)
The art of arranging The art of arranging
buildings and the external physical
structures on the environment to
land in harmony to support human
each other behaviour
MUST NOT BE DONE AS AN AFTERTHOUGHT
STRUCTURE
HUMAN
SITE
BEHAVIOR
SITE
PLANNING
Site planning is the art and science of designing
settlements on the land—encompasses a range of
activities undertaken by architects, planners, urban
designers, landscape architects, and engineers.
A site plan or a plot plan is a type of drawing used
by architects , landscape architects , urban planners ,
and engineers which shows existing and proposed
conditions for a given area, typically a parcel of land
which is to be modified. Sites plan typically show
buildings, roads, sidewalks and paths/trails,
parking, drainage facilities, sanitary sewer lines,
water lines, lighting, and landscaping and garden
elements.
Site Planning in landscape architecture and
architecture refers to the organizational stage of the
landscape design process. It involves the
organization of land use zoning, access, circulation,
privacy, security, shelter, land drainage, and other
factors. Site planning includes the arrangement of
buildings, roadways, utilities, landscape elements,
topography, water features, and vegetation to
achieve the desired site.
Site Planning is defined by Kevin Lynch as the art of
arranging structures on the land and shaping the
spaces between; an art 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.
When an architect is given a design assignment,
there are many environmental factors that are to be
considered. The site is the major factor that has to be
considered. Site means the area or the land that is
meant for the construction of the proposed project.
Site Planning is the art and science of arranging the
various portions of a particular piece of land
according to their uses. The site planner
decides on the uses of the site in detail by
selecting and analyzing it for the various
characteristics of soil, slope, vegetation, etc.
Landscape architecture is the study and practice of
designing environments (outdoors & indoors) of
varying scale that encompasses elements of art,
environment, architecture, engineering, and sociology.
Landscape architecture involves the planning, design,
management, and nurturing of the built and natural
environments. With their unique skill set, landscape
architects work to improve human and
environmental health in all communities. They plan
and design parks, campuses, streetscapes, trails,
plazas, residences, and other projects that strengthen
communities.
TYPES OF SITE PLANNING
Organic Subconscious
Planning Planning
Formal Conscious
Planning Planning
PROCESS OF SITE PLANNING
Identifying the Analysis of Site Form
Users Site Conditions Programming Planning
SITE ANALYSIS
Oriented to human Oriented to the site itself
purpose as an ongoing system
USAGE OF SITE ANALYSIS
SITE SELECTION PROCESS
• Selects a site that suits best the given use and
requirements of the project
DEVELOPMENT SUITABILITY PROCESS
• Selects the best use and development suited for a
given site
PROCESS OF SITE ANALYSIS
• Aimlessly watching out for interesting features
PRELIMINARY • Includes history of the site to understand how it evolved
RECONAISSANCE
• No information shall be sought unless it later influence the design
• Use of base maps
SYSTEMATIC
ANALYSIS • Visits the site under varied circumstances
• Graphic written statement describing the essential nature of the site
for the purpose at hand
CONCEPT OF SITE
AS BASEIS FOR • Image of the site guides the design
DESIGN
Site Analysis Checklist: What to
Look For?
1. General Data
General data to collect includes the geographic
location of the site, its boundaries and entrance
locations and types. You’ll also want to note the site
security, if any, and if there are any existing buildings
on the site.
2. Context of the Neighborhood
Here’s where you look beyond the property and note
the neighboring buildings. You’ll want to measure
their distance from the site, their heights, if they are
domestic or public buildings and what they’re being
used for. Capture site lines, any legal restrictions and
noise levels in the neighborhood.
3. Site and Zoning
Now what are the dimensions of the site and are there
any easements, height restrictions and so forth. What
is the site zoned for, commercial or residential?
4. Natural Features
Also important are the physical features of the site.
For example, are there trees or other vegetation or
rocks? You’ll want to map the topography. If there’s a
river, pond or other body of water, that must be
identified as well as the drainage patterns.
5. Man-Made Features
The other side of that coin is the man-made features.
This can be an existing building or buildings, walls,
surrounding vernacular, setbacks, materials,
landscaping, etc., on the site.
6. Legal Restrictions
Don’t neglect the legal constraints on the site. These
can range from who owns the property to any
restrictions on the site including covenants and future
urban development plans.
7. Access and Circulation
Note any public or private routes to the site. See if
there is vehicle and/or pedestrian access. Figure out
what, if any, are the existing circulation routes within
the site.
8. Utilities
Check to see if there are any electric, gas, water, sewer
and telephone services attached to the property. If
there are, note where they are located, distanced,
depths and materials used.
9. Cultural and Human
More abstract but nonetheless important are the
cultural, psychological, behavioral and sociological
aspects of the neighborhood in which the site is
located. Note activities that occur around the site,
patterns, density of population and ethnic makeup,
employment, income, values, etc.
10. Climate
Gather all of the climate data that you can. Note the
average rainfall in the area, snowfall, wind directions,
temperatures, and sun path and collect this
information for every season in the year if it differs
from time to time.
SITE ANALYSIS
involves the study of the site in terms of the following:
NATURAL CULTURAL AESTHETIC
FACTORS FACTORS FACTORS
• Geology • Existing land use • Natural features
• Geomorphology • Traffic and transit • Spatial patterns
• Hydrology • Density and zoning • Visual resources
• Vegetation • Socio-economic
• Wildlife factors
• Climate • Utilities
• Historic factors
NATURAL Geology and
FACTORS Geomorphology
Geology Geomorphology
•Natural science •Branch of
that studies the Geology that
Earth deals with the
origin, nature,
and distribution
of landforms
NATURAL Geology and
Soil Properties
FACTORS Geomorphology
ALLOWABLE
Composition CLASS MATERIAL BEARING
VALUE (psf)
• Mineral Particles 1 Massive crystalline bedrock (e.g. granite, gneiss) 200,000
2 ROCK Metamorphosed rock (e.g. schist, slate) 80,000
• Organic Matter 3 Sedimentary rock (e.g. shale, sandstone) 30,000
• Water 4 Well-compacted gravel and sand 20,000
5 Compact gravel; Sand-gravel mixture 12,000
• Air 6 Loose gravel; Compact coarse sand 8,000
Loose coarse sand; Loose sand-gravel mixture;
7 6,000
Compact fine sand; Wet coarse sand
SOIL
8 MATERIALS Loose fine sand; Wet fine sand 4,000
9 Stiff clay (dry) 8,000
10 Medium-stiff clay 4,000
11 Soft clay 2,000
Value as Value as 12 Fill; Organic material; Silt (fixed by field tests)
Engineering Plant SOURCE : Code Manual, New York State Building Code Commission
Material Medium
NATURAL Geology and
Soil Properties
FACTORS Geomorphology
Texture
•Describes the
composite sizes
of particles in a
soil sample
Value as Value as
Engineering Plant
Material Medium
NATURAL Geology and Topography
FACTORS Geomorphology and Slopes
ANGLE OF REPOSE
SLOPE MATERIAL
Basic Slope Forms (in degrees)
Loose Clay (Saturated) 15 – 25
Sand (Well-drained) 33
• Straight Boulders and Cobbles 35 – 45
• S-shaped Compact Clay (Well-drained) 45 – 60
Bedrock (Consolidated) 65 – 90
• Concave Loam (Well-drained) 35 – 45
• Convex Loess (Well-drained) 50 – 90
Sand or Loam (Forested) 35 - 50
NATURAL Geology and Topography
FACTORS Geomorphology and Slopes
Pattern of Contour Circulation Visibility Unique
Landforms Analysis Analysis Analysis Features
NATURAL Geology and Topography
FACTORS Geomorphology and Slopes
LAND USE MAXIMUM MINIMUM OPTIMUM
Housing Sites 20% - 25% 0% 2%
Playgrounds 2% - 3% 0.05% 1%
Public Stairs 50% - 25%
Lawns (mowed) 25% - 2% - 3%
Septic Drainfields
15% 0% 0.05%
(special designs are required at slopes above 10-12%)
Parking Lots 3% 0.05% 1%
Sidewalks 10% 0% 1%
20mph 12% - 1%
30mph 10% - 1%
Paved Surfaces
Streets and Roads 40mph 8% - 1%
(15% - 17%) 50mph 7% - 1%
60mph 5% - 1%
70mph 4% - 1%
Factories 3% - 4% 0% 2%
Industrial Sites Lay Down Storage 3% 0.05% 1%
Parking 3% 0.05% 1%
NATURAL Geology and
Soil Erosion
FACTORS Geomorphology
Factors
•Vegetation
•Soil type
•Slope size and inclination
•Frequency and intensity of rainfall
NATURAL
Hydrology
FACTORS
Existing Water Bodies Natural and Man-made Surface Drainage Pattern
(location, variation, Drainage Channel (amount, blockages, and
and purity) (flow capacity and purity) undrained depressions)
NATURAL
Hydrology Drainage
FACTORS
Good Drainage Poor Drainage
• Ability of soil to transfer • Condition of soil that is
gravity water frequently or
downwards permanently saturated
• Non-conduciveness of and may often have
soil to long periods of standing water on it
saturation
• Local accumulation of
• Infiltration surface water
• Permeability • Rise in the level of
• Rates are measured at cm or inches
per hour groundwater
Vegetation
NATURAL and
FACTORS Wildlife
Wildlife
• Relates closely to the habitats provided by plant communities
Vegetation
ENVIRONMENTAL ARCHITECTURAL AND
CLIMATIC CONTROL
ENGINEERING AESTHETIC USE
• Reduces solar radiation • Assists in air purification • Assists in defining space
• Buffers wind • Absorbs noise • Efficient in view control
• Intercepts precipitation • Reduces glare and reflection • Affects people’s moods
• Helps in erosion control
Dominant
Plant/Animal Dependence to Mapping of Plant List of Trees to
Communities Existing Factors Cover be Retained
(location)
NATURAL
FACTORS Climate
COLD TEMPERATE HOT ARID HOT HUMID
Sound Level, Smell,
Regional Data Local Microclimates Atmospheric
Quality
NATURAL
FACTORS Climate
SOLAR BEST-FACING WIND FLOWS
ORIENTATION SLOPES
Sound Level, Smell,
Regional Data Local Microclimates Atmospheric
Quality
SITE ANALYSIS
involves the study of the site in terms of the following:
NATURAL CULTURAL AESTHETIC
FACTORS FACTORS FACTORS
• Geology • Existing land use • Natural features
• Geomorphology • Traffic and transit • Spatial patterns
• Hydrology • Density and zoning • Visual resources
• Vegetation • Socio-economic
• Wildlife factors
• Climate • Utilities
• Historic factors
Existing Land
CULTURAL Use Plan,
FACTORS Density &
Zoning
Existing Land Use Plan
• Most rational use of land in relation to the natural and socio-economic factors,
and in accordance with compatibility with adjacent land uses
Density
• Population per unit land area
• Determines whether existing utilities and land areas will be sufficient to
sustain additional future developments
• Influences the privacy, social contact among people, and freedom of movement
of an individual or group of people
Zoning Regulations, Laws, and Codes
• Regulates the type of development
Existing Land
CULTURAL Use Plan,
FACTORS Density &
Zoning
Existing Land
CULTURAL Use Plan,
FACTORS Density &
Zoning
Existing Land
CULTURAL Use Plan,
FACTORS Density &
Zoning
DENSITY FORMULA: number of inhabitants with respect to
physical size
• Number of people per sqkm or hectare
• Number of families per block
• Number of houses per sqkm or hectare
• Amount of building floor area per section
• Automobile population, Floor Area Ratio (FAR), etc.
Existing Land
CULTURAL Use Plan,
FACTORS Density &
Zoning
FLOOR AREA RATIO: proportion between the built area and
the lot area
Traffic and
CULTURAL Transit,
FACTORS Utilities and
Services
Traffic and Transit Systems
• Study on the relationship of the traffic pattern to each other and to the site
for adequacy of access and efficiency in circulation within and outside of the
site
Utilities / Services
• Determining the existing availability of utilities on site in terms of adequacy
and efficiency
• Includes:
• sanitary/sewage system
• Electric power supply
• Water supply
• Drainage
• Telecommunication
Traffic and
CULTURAL Flow and
Transit,
Channel
FACTORS Utilities and
Types
Services
People
Goods
MOVEMENT
VIA: Foot,
Wheeled
Vehicles, Rails,
Wastes Air, Pipes,
Wires, etc
Identify the
Identify the medium used
various items and the pattern
Information being moved or flow of
movement
Traffic and
CULTURAL Flow and
Transit,
Channel
FACTORS Utilities and
Types
Services
POINTS TO CONSIDER
•Most critical channel is the vehicular rights-of-way
because other channels tend to follow this pattern
•Among the utilities, the water supply is likely to be
the most critical at the community scale
•Circulation systems must be considered not only for
the way in which they handle their assigned flows but
for their influence on surrounding activities
Traffic and
GUIDES IN PLANNING
CULTURAL Transit, Channel
FACTORS Utilities and Patterns
Services
LINEAR PATTERNS
• (+) Useful where major flows run between 2 points
• (+) Used when road costs are relatively high
• (-) In danger of lacking in focus and overcrowding of the
channel
Modifications:
• Spinal main street bordered or intersected by minor ways (may end in cul-de-sac)
• Minor loops on alternate sides for continuous paths for both major and local path
• Closing the line to form a loop by giving 2 choices of directions
Traffic and
GUIDES IN PLANNING
CULTURAL Transit, Channel
FACTORS Utilities and Patterns
Services
RADIAL PATTERNS
• (+) Appropriate for flows with common origin, interchange,
or destination since channels spread out from a center
• (+) Most direct line of travel
• (-) Problematic central terminus due to high traffic volume
Modifications:
• May add rings for a radiocentric net; large-scale net acts like triangular grids
• Allow branchings at other points than the center to mimic classic pattern in
nature (e.g. snowflake, leaves, human veins, etc.)
• (+) allows specialization of major and minor arteries
• (-) difficult in emergency since it is very sensitive to interruption of main line
Traffic and
GUIDES IN PLANNING
CULTURAL Transit, Channel
FACTORS Utilities and Patterns
Services
GRID PATTERNS
• (+) Useful where flows are shifting and broadly distributed
• (+/-) Visual monotony and lack of differentiation between
heavily and lightly travelled ways
• (-) Disregard of topography
• (-) Vulnerability to through traffic
Modifications:
• May be curved to fit topography
• Variation in buildings and landscape patterns to avoid monotony
• Variation in road width provides hierarchy
• Control in traffic flow to minimize through traffic (e.g. use of 1-way traffic)
Traffic and
GUIDES IN PLANNING
CULTURAL Transit, Channel
FACTORS Utilities and Patterns
Services
DISORDER PATTERNS
• (+) Discourage through movements to adjust to topography
• (+) More interesting
• (-) Difficult in terms of wayfinding
Modifications:
• Better if used in small areas enclosed within a more rational layout
Traffic and
GUIDES IN PLANNING
CULTURAL Transit,
Characteristics
of Defined
FACTORS Utilities and
Services
Channel
ALIGNMENT
GRAIN
•Specialization of Flow
USE OF SUPERBLOCKS
•The downside of superblocks is that if it is not
properly planned, it becomes impenetrable
HIERARCHIES OF CHANNEL
•Loop, Cul-de-Sac, Minor Street – Collector Street
– Major Arterial Road – Freeway
CAPACITY OF THE CHANNEL TO
AVOID BOTTLENECKS
Traffic and
GUIDES IN PLANNING
CULTURAL Techniques for
Transit,
Streets and
FACTORS Utilities and
Ways
Services
CROSS SECTION OF RROW
•Vary RROW width to emphasize hierarchy of roads
Traffic and
GUIDES IN PLANNING
CULTURAL Techniques for
Transit,
Streets and
FACTORS Utilities and
Ways
Services
HORIZONTAL CURVES
•Provide treatments at corners, intersections, and
deadends to control traffic flow
Traffic and
GUIDES IN PLANNING
CULTURAL Techniques for
Transit,
Streets and
FACTORS Utilities and
Ways
Services
PARKING LOT
•The location and treatment done in parking lots greatly
affect the mood or ambiance of a place
Traffic and
GUIDES IN PLANNING
CULTURAL Techniques for
Transit,
Streets and
FACTORS Utilities and
Ways
Services
TRAFFIC FLOW
•Use of traffic signals, channelization, rotaries, grade
separation, cloverleaf, etc.
Traffic and
GUIDES IN PLANNING
CULTURAL Techniques for
Transit,
Streets and
FACTORS Utilities and
Ways
Services
VERTICAL TREATMENT
• Treatment of inclines for vehicles
Socio-
CULTURAL Economic and
FACTORS Historic
Factors
Socio-Economic Factors
• Considerations on whether there is a need, an interest, or any objections on
the project
• Any project must be compatible with the economy of the particular
community
• The social structure of the community must be taken into consideration to
ensure than the proposed development will not result in any displaced
families, and any major disruption in their businesses and other activities
Historic Factors
• Legal considerations when planning in historically-related setting or
structures
Socio-
CULTURAL Economic and Behavior
FACTORS Historic Analysis
Factors
BEHAVIOR DIAGRAMS
• Activity occurring in a given space at a given time
Description
Preferred
of the
nature of
behaviour
the setting
expected
Purpose of the
actors
• Allow for multiple behaviour settings in 1 venue occurring at
different times
SITE ANALYSIS
involves the study of the site in terms of the following:
NATURAL CULTURAL AESTHETIC
FACTORS FACTORS FACTORS
• Geology • Existing land use • Natural features
• Geomorphology • Traffic and transit • Spatial patterns
• Hydrology • Density and zoning • Visual resources
• Vegetation • Socio-economic
• Wildlife factors
• Climate • Utilities
• Historic factors
AESTHETIC Natural
FACTORS Features
When sites are characterized by outstanding natural features of earth, rock,
water, or plant material, these may be incorporated in the site development
as natural assets of the land
AESTHETIC Spatial
FACTORS Patterns
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
AESTHETIC Visual
FACTORS Resources
VIEW VISTA
• A scene observed from a vantage • A confined view, usually directed
point towards a terminal or dominant
• Can be a theme that may suggest feature
and add meaning to buildings • Comprised of (1) a viewing station,
• The full view is not always the (2) a view, (3) a foreground
best view • A view is usually better if seen
through an appropriate screen
SITE ANALYSIS
involves the study of the site in terms of the following:
NATURAL CULTURAL AESTHETIC
FACTORS FACTORS FACTORS
• Geology • Existing land use • Natural features
• Geomorphology • Traffic and transit • Spatial patterns
• Hydrology • Density and zoning • Visual resources
• Vegetation • Socio-economic
• Wildlife factors
• Climate • Utilities
• Historic factors
