Course Content

Topic 1. SITE PLANNING AND LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

Objective: At the end of the lesson, you should:
1. Define site planning and landscape architecture in your own words.
2. Appreciate the importance of site planning and landscape architecture to the built
environment.

Test what you know:

1. Learning resource: Answer the question based on the learning resource.
“The Hunter and the Philosopher” by Simonds, J.O. and Starke, B. (2006). Landscape
Architecture. McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc: USA.
2. Discussion Question: What can you learn from the story? Relate your answers to your
idea and concept of landscaping and site planning.
3. Discussion Forum: Read two (2) of your classmates’ works. What can you learn from
their answers? Do you agree with their answers? Why do you say so?
Discussion
I. Definition of Terms
1. Site Planning is the art of arranging the external physical environment to support
human behavior. It is the art of arranging buildings or structures on the land in
harmony with each other.
These uses are designated in detail by selecting and analyzing sites, forming land
use 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”
The most basic purpose of site planning is to prepare a plan for the development of
a parcel of land which accomplishes the goals of the intended land use. These goals
will typically include:
a. compliance with development laws and regulations
b. cost-effectiveness and profit
c. compatibility with existing land use
d. aesthetics and image

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 e. long-term sustainability of the development.
2. Site planning in Landscape 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.
This is done by arranging the compositional elements of landform, planting, water,
buildings, and paving and building. Site planning generally begins by assessing a
potential site for development through site analysis.
Information about slope, soils, hydrology, vegetation, parcel ownership, orientation,
etc. are assessed and mapped. By determining areas that are poor for development
(such as floodplains or steep slopes) and better for development, the planner or
architect can assess the optimal location and design a structure that works within
this space.
3. Landscape Architecture is the design of
outdoor public areas, landmarks, and
structures to achieve environmental, social-
behavioral, or aesthetic outcomes.
The scope of the profession includes
landscape design; site planning; storm water
management; environmental restoration;
parks and recreation planning; visual
resource management; green infrastructure planning and provision; and private
estate and residence landscape master planning and design; all at varying scales
of design, planning, and management.
It involves the systematic investigation of existing social, ecological, and soil
conditions and processes in the landscape, and the design of interventions that will
produce the desired outcome.
II. Specializations within the profession of Landscape Architecture
The practice of Landscape Architecture spread from the Old to the New World. The term
"landscape architect" was used as a professional title by Frederick Law Olmsted in the
United States in 1863 and Andrew Jackson Downing (1815–1852), another early
American landscape designer, was editor of The Horticulturist magazine (1846–52).

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Landscape architecture continues to develop
as a design discipline and to respond to the
various movements in architecture and design
throughout the 20th and 21st centuries.

1. Landscape Design
The historical core of the profession is
concerned with detailed design for
residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, and public areas.
2. Site Planning
This aspect of the profession focuses on
the physical design and arrangement of the
built and natural elements of a land parcel.
It deals with a wide range of technical
aspects such as circulation patterns, utility
layout, siting of buildings, and creating
areas for human use.
It may also involve maintenance planning,
supervision of construction, and post-
construction analysis.
3. Community Site planning design
A site planning project can involve designing
the land for a single house, an office
complex, or shopping center, or an entire community. Sensitive site design produces
developments that minimize both
environmental impacts and project costs
while adding value to a site.
4. Urban Design
As urban designers, landscape architects set
standards, develop guidelines and provide
detailed design for the implementation of
urban spaces.
5. Regional Landscape Planning
This specialization of the profession has emerged as a major area of practice for
many landscape architects, since the rise of environmentalism in the 1970s.

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 In this field, landscape architects deal
with the full range of planning and
management of land and water
including natural resource surveys,
creation, and protection of habitats,
wetlands, and other natural
environments.
6. Park and Recreation Planning
This area continues to be a mainstay of
practice for many landscape architects
involved in creating or redesigning
parks, recreation, and open space in
cities, suburban and rural areas.
Other landscape architects are involved
with plans for golf courses, waterfront
developments including marinas, and
large natural areas like
provincial/national parks and forests.
7. Land Development Planning
Land development planning involves undeveloped land and provides a bridge
between policy planning and individual development projects.
8. Park and Recreation Planning
This area continues to be a mainstay of practice for many landscape architects
involved in creating or redesigning parks, recreation, and open space in cities,
suburban and rural areas.
Landscape architects working in this area know real estate economics and
development regulation processes, as well as an understanding of the constraints
of working with the land.
Landscape architects often head multidisciplinary project teams that integrate
economic factors with good design to create quality environments for human use
9. Ecological Planning and Design
This aspect of the professional studies the interaction between people and the
natural environment and is concerned with the formulation of design policies that
ensure the suitability of a site for development and to guide environmentally sound
development including bioengineering practices.

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 10. Heritage Conservation
Heritage conservation provides a
link between past, present, and
future uses of land and historic
sites.
Landscape architects working in this
area undertake historical research,
analyze contemporary needs, and recommend stabilization, restoration, adaptation,
and interpretation of landscapes to accommodate human use and ensure the
protection of cultural resources.
11. Landscape Reclamation and Restoration
This field involves reclaiming disturbed landscapes such as gravel pits and landfill
sites and creating habitats, wetlands, and other natural environments, or public open
space for recreational or other uses.
12. Social / Behavioral aspects of landscape design
This area focuses on the human dimensions of design such as meeting the special
needs of the elderly and barrier-free design. Health care and long-term care facilities
are typical of this type of work.
13. Consulting Services / Expert Testimony
This field deals with facilitating project implementation, including the planning
approval process and public participation.

Synthesis Activity
1. Student Activity: Infographic
A. Look for examples of projects or development under the site planning and landscape
specializations identified.
B. Describe the projects/development in terms of the goals or aims of the specializations.
C. Use Google slide or Microsoft Powerpoint for your presentation.
D. Submit your output in the Assignment link provided.
E. Indicate your name and complete references in your presentation. Use APA citation
format.
2. Test what you have learned: Online Quiz

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Topic 2. SITE DEVELOPMENT PLANNING PROCESS
Objective: At the end of the lesson, you should:
1. Know the process involved in site planning.
2. Understand the significance of site development planning in architecture

Test what you know:

1. Learning Resource: Answer the question based on the learning resource.
Arneson, E. (2018). Landscape Design - Site Planning - Part 1.
https://youtu.be/f4HAmuBmJms
2. Discussion Question: Identify one (1) factor to consider in the site planning process that
was mentioned in the video clip. Why is this factor important in the site planning process?
3. Discussion Forum: Read two (2) of your classmates’ works. What can you learn from
their answers? Do you agree with their answers? Why do you say so?
Discussion:
I. History of Site Planning
Site planning is not a new topic or
problem in man’s domain; in fact, this
had been existing since man’s quest for
survival.
A. The Prehistoric or Stone Age had
already a way of subdividing the
area of his home the cave. The
subdivided areas were: relaxation
area, cooking area, hunting
monitoring spots.
B. In the Ancient Regions, man’s
advanced civilization (Mesopotamia
(Iraq), Central America and South
America (Toltec’s, Zapotecs,
Mayans, Aztecs) as per ceremonial
regulation started building up
stepped type pyramids and again
the lot has been carefully studied
with regards to its: orientation, use and activity, aesthetic value, and capacity to
serve.

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 C. In the Mesopotamian Region, The most explicit
or clear understanding of site planning evolved
during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar.
“The Hanging Garden of Babylon” was executed
and the chain followed through the Greeks,
Romans, to the Renaissance period,
D. Modern-day landscape designers
 Frederick Law Olmsted (Designer of the
great New York Central Park)
 Daniel Burnham (the City of Chicago,
Cleveland, Renewal design of Washington
D.C.)

Central Park, New York

II. Factors Affecting Site Planning

When designing a piece of property for architectural, landscape architectural, and
engineering usage, it is essential for the designer to first confront the nature of the land,
particularly its form, its slopes, and its inherent capabilities for surface and subsurface
discharge of water, for supporting vertical and horizontal structures, and for resisting
erosion
A. Natural Factors
1. Geology – related to the earth's physical structure and substance, its history,
and the processes that act on it.
2. Geomorphology – physiography, landforms, soils, drainage, topography and
slopes, and soil erosion
3. Hydrology – surface and ground water 4. Vegetation – plant ecology
4. Wildlife – habitats
5. Climate – solar orientation, wind, and humidity.

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 B. Cultural Factors
1. Existing land use – ownership of adjacent property, off-site nuisances
2. Traffic and transit – vehicular and pedestrian circulation on or adjacent to the
site
3. Density and zoning – legal and regulatory controls
4. Socio-economic factors
5. Utilities – sanitary, storm-water, water supply, power supply, and
communications.
6. Historic factors – historic buildings, landmarks, and archeology
C. Aesthetic Factors
1. Natural features
2. Spatial patterns – spaces and sequences
3. Visual Resources – views and vistas
D. Human-Related Factors
1. Power – utility systems as to water, light, and equipment,
2. Value – human values, tradition, behavior,
3. Technology – landscape, structure, and other physical restrictions.
4. Legality – laws, ordinances
III. The Fundamental Site Planning Process
Site planning generally involves a sequence of stages that begins when a developer or
client of the site planner decides to develop a site for the production of design briefs
1. Needs, requirements, criteria briefing: Understanding the client for whom the site
is being planned, their role in
2. creating and decision making their needs, necessities, requirements, likes, and
dislikes,
3. Situational Analysis of values, utilities, technology, a study of the site itself and the
structure, (ex. earthwork and stability),
4. Set limitation, cost, climate, structural restrictions, land use, and other pertinent
laws and regulations (Ex. Probable outcome, priority),
5. Design lay out and alternative options (Ex. Doing schemes a, b, c,)
6. Investigations, evaluations, refinements – repeating the process 1 to 4,
7. Decisions
8. Implementation - occupancy,

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 9. Feedback and modification (Ex. Criticism/reactions which might be
positive/negative).
IV. Site Planning Documentation
To develop a parcel of land, it is necessary to know what elements are to be included
as a part of the site plan and how they will generally be located on the land. These
documents as a result of the site planning process include:
1. The program for development is a
listing of the components of the
intended development which
identifies the land area
requirements and relationships of
each plan element.
2. The conceptual site plan locates
major plan components and their
accessory uses, vehicular and
pedestrian circulation patterns,
required elements such as setbacks
or buffers, and other plan elements
onto the base map of the site.
3. A master plan- is a drawing of the site plan which shows a more detailed design
than the conceptual plan.
The master plan situates plan elements at a common scale relative to one another
and begins to show dimensional information, materials, surfaces, and quantities so
that estimates and construction drawings can be prepared to implement the plan.
4. Construction Documents – are detailed and precisely engineered set of drawings,
construction details, and specifications needed to explain and describe in detail the
dimensions, materials, and construction methods that are to be employed to
construct the project.
A typical set of construction documents will include:
a. Site Survey - drawing is the basis for all of the other construction documents
since it records the legal limits of the parcel and other information about the site
which is relevant to the development of the property.
 In many urban projects, there may be existing public storm water systems or
public drainage easements which are shown on the survey.

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  The site survey may be a boundary survey which is a drawing prepared to
show the legal description of the property.
 A survey may also be a topographic survey which will show additional
information about the site contours and will often show limits of existing
vegetation and other physical features of the site such as buildings, fences,
roads, etc.
 The survey may be the same base map that has been used throughout the
previous steps in the process
b. Demolition and Clearing Plans indicate the portions of the existing site which are
to be removed before construction can occur. Areas for preservation in their
natural state should be marked for protection and to minimize damage.
c. Layout Plans are measured and dimensioned drawing which describes how the
various components of the Master Plan are to be surveyed and staked on the
site. The most basic layout information locates road centerlines and building
corners relative to the point of beginning.
a. Grading and Drainage Plans describe and illustrate the changes which must be
made to the contours of the site to accommodate the elements of the site plan.
Level areas and sloped areas are created on the site by moving the earth.
b. Sediment & Erosion Control and Drainage Plans are required for most land-
disturbing activities in a particular region. Sediment control measures are used
to prevent soil particles and other solids from entering surface waters.
c. Architectural Plans
d. Planting/Landscape Plans
e. Construction Details
f. Specifications
V. The General Process of Producing the Site Plan
1. Client wants to develop a site
2. Technical Team assembled
3. Key Issues Identified
4. Alternative Site Examined
5. Discussions with local planners/stakeholders
6. Site inventory and assessment
7. Present and Future Needs
8. Site Potential Assessed
9. Environmental Policies

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 10. Alternative Development Concepts Examined
11. Site plan
12. Planning Approval sought by the client
VI. The Preferred and Alternative Development Plans
Land and site evaluations are merged with the preliminary market information to test
the program and to evaluate alternative layout concepts.
A. The Preferred Development Plan
The preferred development concept is likely to reflect a combination of several ideas
uncovered through the comparison of alternative plans.
The opportunities and constraints related to the development criteria, development
standards, local regulations should also be considered in the selection.
Criteria for Selecting the Preferred Development Concept: Which solution….
 …best satisfies the development’s program requirements and best fits the site?
 …best satisfies the quality-of-place objectives established for the proposed
project?
 …can be implemented? The preferred solution is not necessarily the easiest one
to implement.
 …provides reasonable cost benefits?
B. The Alternative Development Plan
Alternative solutions should be presented in diagrammatic form, enough at first to
record only the essentials of a scheme.
Strategies for developing alternative site plans:
 Do not be satisfied with the first solution.
 Do not assume that there is only one way to make a proposed project work.
 Ask questions that elicit multiple answers.
 Recognize that a lot of ideas create better solutions.
 Ask “what if” questions
 Challenge the rules.
C. The Final Development Plan
 The planning and design process requires constant refinement and
adjustment.
 Feedback and continued testing should be an integral part of every phase as
the plans move closer to completion.

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  Prepare schematic plans, preliminary development plans, phasing plans, final
development plans.
Synthesis Activity
1. Student Activity: Infographic
A. Look for a public space in your barangay that can be developed into a park or it could
also be a space that can be redeveloped into a public space.
B. Describe your chosen site based on the site analysis factors presented. Support your
discussions with photographs. You can use Google Earth for your site maps.
C. Use Google slide or Microsoft Powerpoint for your presentation.
D. Submit your output in the assignment link provided.
E. Indicate your name and complete your presentation. Use APA citation format.
2. Test what you have learned: Online Quiz

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