It is important to understand the characteristics of a site before deciding on a design. Physical constraints like site area, boundary configuration, slope, site access for both pedestrian and vehicle, significant landscape features particular to the site, issues relating to possible flooding and storm water overland flow, favourable and not so favourable views and the buildings and vegetation surrounding the site all need to be properly recorded and properly assessed. In addition, the direction of north, and climatic factors such as the potential for solar access, prevailing breezes, temperature range and humidity all need to be identified and analysed. Other legislative factors governing site development such as the location of services and easements as well as specific regulations regarding the type of development that is permissible, building site cover, building setbacks from the site boundaries, building height and fencing all need to be understood. Only when this data has been collated and properly considered then it is possible to determine the most appropriate site location and optimal orientation and configuration for a building.
While on a rare occasion an off the shelf standard plan may be considered to be reasonable comprised solution for a particular site this option of choice made without proper site analysis and proper site planning can lead to significant problems that can be expensive to rectify. This choice and any other option that is made without consideration of orientation may result in living rooms which are very hot on summer afternoons and cold and dark in winter, bedrooms that are too hot to sleep in, and external living areas that are uncomfortably hot in the summer and are cold and damp in the winter.
Architects understand how vitally important the process of proper site analysis and site planning is to the overall success of any project.
Orange Architects regards the process of proper site analysis and site planning to be essential to the successful planning, design, documentation and delivery of all their projects.