YANG, MIGUEL FERNANDO DG.

AR3271(2426) PLANNING 1
BS. ARCHITECTURE 3 PR-RSW 01

“SITE PLANNING AND

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE”

ARCHITECT NESTOR J. LAZAGA

AR3271(2426) PLANNING 1 INSTRUCTOR
What is Site Planning?
“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 Planning by Kevin Lynch

A site plan is an architectural plan,

landscape architecture document, and a detailed engineering drawing of proposed
improvements to a given lot. A site plan usually shows a building footprint, travelways,
parking, drainage facilities, sanitary sewer lines, water lines, trails, lighting, and landscaping
and garden elements.

Such a plan of a site is a "graphic representation of the arrangement of buildings, parking,

drives, landscaping and any other structure that is part of a development project". A site plan
is a "set of construction drawings that a builder or contractor uses to make improvements to a
property. Counties can use the site plan to verify that development codes are being met and
as a historical resource. Site plans are often prepared by a design consultant who must be
either a licensed engineer, architect, landscape architect or land survey”.

According to the book (- A Guide to Site and Environmental Planning, 1980 by Harvey
Rubenstein) “Site Planning is the art and science of arranging the uses of portions of land.
These uses are designated in detail by selecting and analyzing sites, forming land use plans,
organizing vehicular and pedestrian circulation, developing visual form and material concepts,
readjusting the existing landforms by design grading, providing proper drainage, and
developing the construction details necessary to carry out the projects”

Site Planning Process

Planning and design occur as a process, by which we mean that they follow a logical

sequence of actions or events that must be carried out to arrive at a viable solution. It is a

multi-disciplinary problem -solving operation often involving architects, landscape architects

and engineers, and frequently may require input from physical scientist as well to address
environment issues. It requires logical objectives for some steps, but also allows room for

subjective design interpretation at others.

There are several notable models from which we can draw to understand the basic
components of the site planning and design process. Kevin Lynch outlines an eight-stage
site planning cycle that includes:

1. Defining the problem

2. Programming and analysis of site and user

3. Schematic design and the preliminary cost estimate

4. Developed design and detailed costing

5. Contract documents

6. Bidding and contracting

7. Construction

8. Occupation and management (Lynch 11)

John Simonds outlines a six-phase planning-design process that applies to architecture,

landscape architecture, and engineering, This process

2), is organized as follows:

1. Commission

2. Research

3. Analysis

4. Synthesis

5. Construction

6. Operation

There are many variation on

these models. They differ
essentially in the breakdown of component phases and some, such as Simonds, extend the
process to include preliminary contractual agreement and post-construction operations.

1. Research and Analysis Phases:

In this process, the designer can use this general goal statement plus the identification of
the site to begin collecting information relevant to the site and the surroundings area and
compiling it in a form in which it can be mapped. This data is then
analyzed in terms of its implications for development of the site for stated purpose.

2. Program Development:

The development of the program is the bridging step between the analysis and

the synthesis or design phases.

3. Design Phase

a. Conceptual Design

Conceptual design begins with functional diagram in which we explore the relationships of
program elements and activities. This is first done as 'ideal' or non-site

related diagrams to establish the best abstract relationships among the various
components of the project program. This is essentially a diagrammatic exploration in which
the designer may move through a series of alternative arrangements until he/she achieves
a solution which maximizes the positive relationships and minimizes the number of
conflicts.

c. Site Plan / Master Plan

Presuming that the project is to go forward, the designer refines the development of the
preliminary plan, giving precise form, dimension and indication of materials to the proposed
elements. In other words, he/she precisely locates buildings and paved surfaces,
delineates ground forms and planted areas, and indicates necessary utilities.

FORMATION OF HOUSING PROJECT

The housing projects are formulated undo the following five categories:

1. Detached / individual house

2. Semidetached houses (Twin houses)

3. Row / Line houses

4. Flats / Apartments

5. Sky scrapers / High

rise building
 What is Landscape
Architecture?
Landscape architecture is a formal process of
study, design, and construction by which new
landscapes are created to meet the aspirations of
the people concerned. It involves framing proper
planning projects, more particularly those affected
by changes and the badly damaged areas, like for
example suburbs, peri-urban, industrial and coastal areas. The purpose of such planning
projects to radically re-shape the damaged landscapes.

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.
Landscape architecture design projects differ in scale and complexity, however, they are
separated into various stages to allow for ease of management. Due to the variation in project
types, the staging of landscape architecture projects requires a flexible approach to project
management. The project stages often follow a similar pattern however, they may be
shortened or not
undertaken due to
various factors
including scale,
complexity, client
requirements, budget
and so on.

Before the landscape

architect gets to the
exciting part of
designing the project
there are few stages
that often occur prior
to putting pen to
paper. The client has
contacted you and
agrees to provide a
fee or proposal for
landscape
architecture services.
1 Project Inception & Initiation
1A Initial Consultation
During the initial consultation (phone call or meeting), the landscape architect will have their
first conversations with the client about their project including location, size, initial ideas, uses,
budget, timeline. For large or government projects this stage may be in the form of a brief. A
brief is a document that is provided by the client that includes important information about the
project and those who are involved

1B Return Brief/Proposal
After the client has provided the
information the landscape
architect then provides a return
brief or proposal. This can be
one-two pages or it can be 100
pages depending on the type of
project and the budget involved.

The return brief/proposal sets

out what the landscape
architect understands what the
project entails (ideas, use
requirements, etc), what the
landscape architect will provide
(scope and deliverables), who
will assist in the design of the project (team/people), who else may be involve consultant
services (architecture, surveying, arborist, horticulturist, engineers, water feature consultant,
lighting designer, etc), the fee (how much the services will cost) and the possible program
(the time it will take).

1C Project Understanding and Research

After the client has accepted the proposal and there is a signed contract or understanding
made (such as M.O.U. or L.O.I.) and prior to going to the site, the landscape architect will
review the project. This includes the initial consultation notes, return brief/proposal and also
have conversations with allied professionals including architects, engineers to gain an
understanding of their ideas and scope. The landscape architect will also undertake some
research including government requirements, local flora, adjacent area (uses, streets, etc).

1D Site Inventory and Analysis

The landscape architect will undertake a site inventory and analysis usually using a survey
plan (provided by the client or surveyor). This stage involves locating the site and the
vegetation, reviewing the terrain, building/s, evaluating the current uses, environmental
factors (site orientation, sun, shade, noise, wind, water, soil, etc). The landscape architect will
also walk around the surrounding area to get some understanding of the local area (uses,
architecture, vegetation, culture, etc).

2 Concept Design
The concept design stage is when the landscape architect puts pen to paper (or stylus to
screen) to develop the initial ideas for the project.
There are varying scale projects from residential to large parks to urban master plans. A small
residential project may have the client (owner) and the landscape architect involved in the
project. The project will have a concept stage with some reiterations and then a final concept
stage. Whereas, a large scale regional park may include several concept phases including
urban planning plan, landscape concept masterplan, government approval, schematic
concept design, concept design. Each of these stages may span months or years depending
on the resources (time, people, money), objectives of the client, approval timelines and
community involvement

The main objective of this stage is to develop documents(plan or report) that provide the client
with an understanding of the proposed spatial arrangement, programs, functions, constraints,
opportunities and overall aesthetic. These documents often including plans, analysis
studies(topographic, climatic, land use, vegetation, access, etc), precedent project images,
renders (perspective, aerial, etc), typical material palettes, depending on the clients’
requirements.

During Concept development, the landscape architect could also have to provide documents
required by the government for planning approval (sometimes called town planning,
developmental approval, planning approval, or government approval)

3 Design Development (Detailed Design)

A stage where the initial concept is developed to provide the client with a greater
understanding of the design. This is the stage when landscape architects start to develop
their ideas in more detail to ensure that the concept design is achievable and will meet the
client needs. At this stage, the designer also determines if there are any major issues
(topographic, access, services, drainage, budget) as the design evolves and allied disciplines
start to investigate and design their own design with greater detail.
Often clients see the initial concept but
don’t fully understand that it is a concept
and there needs to be further design
undertaken to resolve the concept and
ensure it is viable (financially,
constructibility, etc).

The documents and level of detail

provided in this stage differ from country
to country. In some countries, Design
Development entails providing colour
plans, sections, material palettes with
notation about materials, colours, heights and more.

Other countries require Design Development to be highly detailed documents(plans, sections,

details, material schedules) ready for landscape construction companies (and/or quantity
surveyors) to provide initial pricing (tender) on the project. This is usually determined by local
practice and client expectations during the initial discussions.

4 Construction Documentation
During this stage, the landscape architect develops documents including plans, sections,
schedules, construction details, quantities and a specification for landscape construction
companies to be price and build the project.

This stage often requires coordination with other consultants to reduce the possibility for
construction issues and also to allow for resolution of overlapping design elements
(architecture, landscape, lighting, engineering, etc)

5 Tendering (Procurement)
For the tendering stage, the Construction Documentation package(drawings, schedules,
specification) is issued to often three or more contractors(dependent on local regulations and
client policies on procurement) to price the project and provide a construction program based
on the documents available. Often these stages include various contractor questions to clarify
the project design and requirements (materials, engineering, scope, etc) and may also be to
suggest alternative material or construction methods that may offer savings for the client.

This stage can occur at different points of the project this is often determined by the client.
The Tendering stage can occur at the end of Design Development or during or end of
Construction Documentation. There are pros and cons to the timing of releasing drawings for
tender and pricing.

6 Construction
The stage when the contractor is on-site building the landscape design.
Construction often includes the following stages:

 Demolition and Site Clearing

 Excavation and Trenching
 Services Installation (drainage, irrigation, electrical, etc)
  Fine Grading
 Hardscape Structure Construction (backfilling, compaction, base, footings, walls,
buildings, edges, etc)
 Hardscape Finishes Construction(paving, cladding, inorganic mulches)
 Planting (trees, plants, organic mulch)
 Final Fixtures (furniture, pavilions, lighting, etc)
 Defects (identity and fix problems)
 Completion (Initial and Final)

The order in which these substages occurs is dependent on the size and type of project. A
residential project may complete the construction in the order as listed. However, a park
project may complete Demolition, Excavation, Services and Fine grading and then plant trees
as the remainder of the project may take 6 to 18 months to build the Hardscape and Fixtures.

7 Construction Management (Construction Administration)

The client may request that the landscape architect manage the project which can include full
site supervision or can be several inspections and approval of construction, approvals of
payments, approvals of variations.

Depending on the level of service the landscape architect may be fully involved in the project
construction stage or maybe ask to only approval samples and the remainder of the project is
completed by a project manager and construction company.

8 Maintenance
Once the project is complete the contractor is often required to maintain the project for a
period of time. This can be months or years depending on the client requirements. The
landscape architect is often required to attend and submit reports during or at the end of the
maintenance periods to ensure that project is being maintained and also that any defects
(dead trees, item failures, etc) are made good or replaced.

9 Post
Occupancy
Evaluation
Often design
firms and
clients will
undertake
Post
Occupancy
Evaluation.
This can
happen at
various
intervals during the initial opening and then the following months or years. These can be
formalised or anecdotal and allow for learning and to evaluate various elements including
planting, furniture, materials, maintenance, uses, event management, and more. This is the
phase that as landscape architects we are often not paid to undertake but often offers the
best insight to the resilience and success of our designs.
REFERENCES:
SITE PLANNING
https://primumnilnocerefiles.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/april-9-site-planning.pdf
http://www.brainkart.com/article/Site-Planning-And-Design-Process_3935/
https://www.definitions.net/definition/site+plan
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
https://www.arch2o.com/landscape-architecture-profession/
https://worldlandscapearchitect.com/practice-stages-of-a-landscape-architecture-design-
project/
https://www.asla.org/aboutlandscapearchitecture.aspx