ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN-2

SITE CONSIDERATIONS
MODULE #1
 SITE CONSIDERATIONS
ARCHITECTS DO NOT PLAN IN
ISOLATION.
• THERE ARE MULTIPLE
FACTORS THAT AN ARCHITECT
MUST CONSIDER TO CREATE A
DESIGN THAT IS NOT ONLY
AESTHETICALLY PLEASING
BUT ALSO COMFORTABLE,
ENVIRONMENTALLY
FRIENDLY, SUSTAINABLE,
ENERGY EFFICIENT, ETHICAL
AND LAW ABIDING.

Klab architecture
 SITE CONSIDERATIONS
NO SITE IS THE SAME.
• ASIDE FROM THE TECHNICAL
DESCRIPTION OF EVERY LOT,
DIFFERENCES CAN BE MANIFESTED IN
THE FOLLOWING:
1. PLOT SHAPE/BOUNDARIES
2. RELATIVE GEOGRAPHICAL
LOCATION
3. ORIENTATION
4. CLIMATE
• SUN EXPOSURE
• WIND PATH
5. VEGETATION/LAND COVER
6. VISTAS
7. TOPOGRAPHY
8. EXISTING ACCESSES
9. EXISTING UTILITIES
10. ASSIGNED ZONING
• LAND USE
• SET BACKS
• ALLOWABLE MAXIMUM
BUILDABLE FOOTPRINT
(AMBF)
• FLOOR AREA RATIO (FAR) Klab architecture
 SITE CONSIDERATIONS
I. PLOT SHAPE/BOUNDARIES & RELATIVE
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION:
• DEFINES THE DEFINITE SHAPE, SIZE, AND
LOCATION OF A LAND PROPERTY.

• A LEGAL DOCUMENT FURNISHED FROM Department

of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) / Land
Registration Authority (LRA).

• ONE OF THE FIRST INFORMATION THAT AN

ARCHITECT WILL ASK FROM A CLIENT.

• IT AFFECTS THE PHYSICAL SHAPE OF THE DESIGN

AND THE DESIGN INTERVENTIONS APPLIED TO
ADAPT TO THE SPATIAL LIMITATIONS OF A LOT.

• BOUNDARIES DEFINES WHERE SETBACKS WILL BE

ESTABLISHED.
 SITE CONSIDERATIONS
II. SITE ORIENTATION & CLIMATE:

• THE ORIENTATION OF YOUR SITE AND

BUILDING HAVE LARGE CONSEQUENCES
ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND INTERIOR
COMFORT.

• THE TWO MAJOR CLIMACTIC FACTORS ARE

SOLAR EXPOSURE AND WIND DIRECTION.

• IN A TROPICAL COUNTRY LIKE THE

PHILIPPINES – MINIMIZE THERMAL
DISCOMFORT CAUSED BY SOLAR
EXPOSURE AND MAXIMIZE NATURAL
COOLING EFFECT FROM THE WIND AND
OTHER NATURAL COOLING DEVISES SUCH
AS WATER FEATURES.

• IT IS ESSENTIAL TO ESTABLISH THE

DIRECTION OF THE NORTH TO DETERMINE
THE FLOW OF THE WIND AND THE
MOVEMENT OF THE SUN.
https://www.yourhome.gov.au CornerStone Architects
 SITE CONSIDERATIONS
II. SITE ORIENTATION & CLIMATE: SOLAR PATH DIAGRAM

• THE POSITION AND MOVEMENT OF THE SUN VARIES

BASED ON THE SEASON AND THE TIME OF THE DAY.

• THE HIGHEST ALTITUDE IS DURING THE NOON

• FURTHERMORE, THE HEIGHT AND ANGLE (ALTITUDE)

OF THE SUN DEPENDS ON THE GEOGRAPHICAL
LOCATION OF A BUILDING.
o THIS IS ONE OF THE FACTORS OF HOW MUCH
SOLAR EXPOSURE YOUR BUILDING WILL BE
SUBJECTED TO.

• SUMMER SOLSTICE – THE PERIOD WHEN THE SUN IS

AT THE HIGHEST ALTITUDE. IT IS WHEN A BUILDING IS
SUBJECTED TO A HIGHER DEGREE OF SOLAR
EXPOSURE.

• WINTER SOLSTICE – THE PERIOD WHEN THE SUN IS AT

A LOWER ALTITUDE. THE SUN’S RAYS PASS THROUGH
THE EARTH’S ATMOSPHERE AT A LONGER DISTANCE
WHICH MINIMIZES THE DEGREE OF SOLAR EXPOSURE. Architectural Drafting & Design

II. SITE ORIENTATION &
CLIMATE:
SYDNEY IS LOCATED ON THE
SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.
• THE HIGHEST ALTITUDE OF THE
SUN IS LOCATED ON THE NORTH
BUILDING
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
SITE CONSIDERATIONS
BERLIN IS LOCATED ON THE
NORTHERN HEMISPHERE.
• THE HIGHEST ALTITUDE OF THE
SUN IS LOCATED ON THE SOUTH
• MAXIMUM SOLAR EXPOSURE
DURING WINTER IS DESIRABLE.
• EXPOSURE FROM COLD NORTHERN
WINDS IS UNDESIRABLE
BUILDING
BERLIN, GERMANY
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY IS LOCATED NEAR THE EQUATOR.
• SUN EXPOSURE IS ALMOST EQUAL THROUGHOUT THE
YEAR.
• BOTH EAST AND WEST SOLAR EXPOSURE MUST BE
MINIMIZED ESPECIALLY DURING THE AFTERNOON SUN.
• THERMAL COMFORT MAY BE ACHIEVED THROUGH
NATURAL VENTILATION FROM NORTHERN WINDS. THIS CAN
BE ACHIEVED THROUGH PROPER BUILDING ORIENTATION &
DESIGN.
BUILDING
CAGAYAN DE ORO, PHILIPPINES
 SITE CONSIDERATIONS
II. SITE ORIENTATION & CLIMATE:
• THROUGH PROPER DESIGN AND
BUILDING ORIENTATION THE ARCHITECT
CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE
BENEFITS OF NATURAL DAYLIGHTING
AND LESSEN THE NEED FOR ARTIFICAL
LIGHTING.

• FURTHERMORE, THE INCORPORATION

OF NATURAL DAYLIGHTING CAN
IMPROVE THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF A
BUILDING.

• HOWEVER, TOO MUCH SUNLIGHT CAN

INDUCE THERMAL DISCOMFORT WITHIN
THE INTERIORS.

• THIS CAN BE COMPENSATED THROUGH

THE USE OF SUN SHADES, CAVITY
WALLS, OVERHANGS, INSULATION, AND
VEGETATION.
horizontal vertical combined

kaplanlearn.com
Window Shading Devices
 SITE CONSIDERATIONS
II. SITE ORIENTATION & CLIMATE:

• TWO SEASONAL WINDS AFFECT THE

CLIMATE IN OUR COUNTRY.
o AMIHAN (NORTHEAST MONSOON)
o WINDS COMING FROM
SIBERIA/ CHINA.
o COLD AND DRY
o RELATIVELY COMFORTABLE
o LIGHT RAINS
o OCTOBER – LATE MARCH

o HABAGAT (SOUTHWEST
MONSOON)
o WINDS COMING FROM THE
INDIAN OCEAN
o UNCOMFORTABLE WARM &
HUMID AIR
o FORMS TYPHOONS AND
HEAVY RAINFALL
o JUNE – OCTOBER
-PAGASA
 SITE CONSIDERATIONS
II. SITE ORIENTATION & CLIMATE:

• LOCATIONS NEAR THE SEA CAN EXPERIENCE LOCALIZED CLIMATE

DUE TO THE DIFFERENCES OF TEMPERATURE OF THE SEA AND
LAND.

• SEA BREEZE
o A BREEZE THAT ORIGINATED FROM THE SEA AND BLOWS
TOWARDS THE LAND.
o EXPERIENCED DURING THE DAY WHEN THE LAND IS
RELATIVELY WARMER THAN THE SEA.

• LAND BREEZE
o A BREEZE THAT ORIGINATED FROM THE LAND AND BLOWS
TOWARDS THE SEA.
o EXPERIENCED DURING THE NIGHT WHEN THE LAND IS
RELATIVELY COOLER THAN THE SEA.

https://climate.ncsu.edu/edu/Breezes
 SITE CONSIDERATIONS
II. SITE ORIENTATION & CLIMATE:

• BUILDING ORIENTATION AND PROPER FENESTRATION

o IT IS THE ARCHITECT’S JOB TO DETERMINE THE
BEST ORIENTATION OF THE BUILDING AND THE
PROPER PROVISIONS AND POSITIONS OF
WINDOWS TO MAXIMIZE NATURAL VENTILATION
THAT WILL INDUCE PASSIVE COOLING.

o THE ILLUSTRATIONS ON THE RIGHT SHOWS HOW

THE FLOW OF AIR INTERACT WITH CERTAIN ROOM
PLANS.

o FUTHERMORE, THE DIRECTION OF AIR IS HIGHLY

INFLUENCED BY THE POSITIONING OF OPENINGS
SUCH AS WINDOWS.

o STRATEGICALLY POSITION ROOMS SUCH AS

BEDROOMS AND LIVING ROOMS WHERE THESE
CAN BE EXPOSED TO THE NORTHEAST WINDS.
• INORDER FOR AIR TO PROPERLY CIRCULATE WITHIN
THE ROOM THERE SHOULD BE AN INLET AND AN
OUTLET
.
• THE ILLUSTRATION ON THE RIGHT SHOWS HOW AIR
FLOW ON SPACES THAT HAVE BOTH INLET AND
OUTLET COMPARED TO THE ONES THAT ONLY HAVE
AN INLET BUT NO OUTLET.

• BELOW ARE TWO BEDROOM PLANS. WHICH HAVE

BETTER AIRFLOW?
Convective air movement BĀDGĪR (wind-tower/wind tower)
Source: Dept of Environment and Resource Management, Qld

Source: Steve Szokolay

www.yourhome.gov.au
SITE CONSIDERATIONS
 SITE CONSIDERATIONS
FIGURE. 3 www.yourhome.gov.au
III. VEGETATION/LAND COVER:

• PROVIDE PLANTINGS WITH A PURPOSE:

o LANDSCAPING CAN GREATLY IMPROVE THE AESTHETIC APPEAL OF YOUR
DESIGN BUT IT ALSO HAS AN IMPORTANT ROLE ON KEEPING YOUR
DESIGN COOL, SAFE AND ENERGY EFFICIENT.

o PLANTINGS CAN BE USED TO PROTECT YOUR BUILDING FROM HARSH

WINDS BY BLOCKING AND DAPHENING IT (FIGURE. 1)

o TREES AND BUSHES CAN BE USED AS DEVICES FOR DIVERTING COOL

BREEZES TOWARDS THE INTERIOR SPACES OF A BUILDING (FIGURE. 3)
https://www.yourhome.gov.au

FIGURE. 1

FIGURE. 2
 SITE CONSIDERATIONS
III. VEGETATION/LAND COVER: www.yourhome.gov.au

• PROVIDE PLANTINGS WITH A PURPOSE:

o VEGETATION CAN PROVIDE A NATURAL
COOLING EFFECT IN THE SURROUNDING AREA.

o IT LESSENS THE HEAT ISLAND EFFECT INDUCED

BY HUMAN BUILT STRUCTURES.

o VEGETATION ONLY REFLECT 25% OF INCIDENT

LIGHT WHILE CONCRETE REFLECTS 55%.
FIGURE. 1 FIGURE. 2
o TREES PROVIDE GOOD SHADING BUT IT WILL
GREATLY DEPEND ON THE HEIGHT OF THE TREE
AND THE SIZE OF ITS CANOPY (FIGURE 1&2)

o ASIDE FROM THE AFOREMENTIONED BENEFITS,

VEGETATION CAN ALSO DAMPHEN NOISE,
FILTERS AIR AND PROVIDE PRIVACY ESPECIALLY
WHEN YOUR HOUSE IS SITUATED NEAR A BUSY
ROAD.

o THE LOCATIONS AND THE TYPE & SPECIES OF

PLANTING IS CRUCIAL TO EFFECTIVELY PERFORM FIGURE. 3
FOR THEIR INTENDED PURPOSE.
SITE CONSIDERATIONS
 SITE CONSIDERATIONS
III. TOPOGRAPHY & VISTAS:

• VIEWS, VIEWS, VIEWS:

o THE QUALITY OF VIEWS IS NATURALLY INHERENT TO THE SITE.

o IT IS HIGHLY DEPENDENT ON THE EXISTING TOPOGRAPHY, AND

NATURAL & BUILT ENVIRONMENT.

o GOOD VIEWS HEIGHTEN THE VALUE OF THE DESIGN AND

OFTENTIMES IT BECOMES THE BASIS OF A PROPERTY’S
MONETARY VALUE.

o THUS, IT IS CRUCIAL FOR AN ARCHITECT TO IDENTIFY

POTENTIAL VIEW CORRIDORS OF THE SITE’S TOPOGRAPHY.

chambersarchitects.com
 SITE CONSIDERATIONS
III. TOPOGRAPHY & VISTAS:

• GREAT VIEWS BUT SAFETY FIRST!

o GREAT VIEWS CAN BE FOUND NEAR THE OCEAN OR LAKE,
ATOP A HILL OR ALONG A SLOPE.

o HOWEVER, THE NATURAL PROCESSES OF NATURE IS OFTEN

IN CONFLICT WITH THE DESIRES OF PEOPLE WHICH MAY
RESULT TO LOSS OF PROPERTY AND CASUALTIES.

o THERE ARE ENGINEERING & DESIGN INTERVENTIONS THAT

CAN MITIGATE HAZARDS BUT COST AND DAMAGE TO THE
NATURAL ENVIRONMENT SHOULD ALSO BE CONSIDERED.
 SITE CONSIDERATIONS
IV. EXISTING ACCESSES AND
UTILITIES:
 SITE CONSIDERATIONS
V. ZONING:
 SITE CONSIDERATIONS
V. ZONING:
 REFERENCES:

• Salvan, George S. (1988), Architectural Theory of Design

• Jefferis, Alan et.al (2011), Architectural Drafting and Design
• https://www.yourhome.gov.au/passive-design/orientation
• https://www.yourhome.gov.au/passive-design/passive-cooling
• https://www.firstinarchitecture.co.uk/architecture-site-analysis-guide-2/