Site Study: - Research activity that looks at the existing conditions of a site as well as possible

future conditions.

01 | Location – The place or position that something is

• Geographic Location – Identify the site location, address.

• Site Survey document

• Photographs and maps- pictures, views, sketches, panoramas

• Site Boundary – Identify the boundary locations and confirm it is clear and correct on the
physical site.
• Dimensions – site area, dimensions, angles, shape and proportion or radii of the site,
contours/ significant grade change.

02 | Legal - The legal status of the site

• Title and Ownership

03 | Authorities – The regulations, restrictions and allowances on the site as set out by state and
local authorities. (Check which level of government and which departments govern development in
your area).

• Zoning – Obtain zoning plans or documents, FAR, permissible built-up area, setbacks, height-
restrictions, etc.
• Flood levels, earthquake zone
• Protected animal or plant species

04 | Utilities and infrastructure

• Drainage, Sewer – Underground and above-ground pipes, access, substations and

connection point location/s
• Water – Underground and above-ground pipes, access, substations and connection point
location/s
• Electricity – Underground and above-ground wires, cables, power poles, access, substations
and connection point location/s.
• Communications (telephone and internet) – Underground and above-ground telephone and
internet wires, cables, power poles, access, substations and connection point location/s.
• Fire – Underground and above-ground pipes, hydrants, access and connection point
location/s.

05 | Adjacent structures and conditions – The physical conditions surrounding all boundaries of the
site.

• Land Uses
• Vernacular – The different vernacular, styles or characteristics of adjacent sites, spaces and
structures
• Distance – The distances of the adjacent sites, spaces and structures from the site.
• Heights – The different heights of adjacent sites, spaces and structures

06 | Natural physical conditions + features – The natural conditions, elements or features existing on
the site?
 • Topography – Obtain any existing surveys and confirm the accuracy of contours, levels above
sea level, gradients and slopes and existing terrain. Note that some of these may be natural
or artificial
• Vegetation – Identify the vegetation and different species on the site including trees, shrubs,
flowers and grasses and individual vegetation heights, canopy widths and root coverage.
Identify the changes at different times of the year (eg. deciduous trees lose their leaves in
Winter while coniferous trees keep their leaves all year) and how the vegetation affects the
site microclimate (shade, temperature etc.)
• Geology, soil type and state – Obtain any geotechnical or soil reports. Identify the soil and
rock conditions on the site and how this may affect the type of structure or construction
across different areas of the site.
• Animal Species – Any animal, bird or insect species of significance and the requirements of
and obligations to these species.
• Natural Qualities and Characteristics – The natural materials, textures, colours and patterns
of the natural environment in and around the site.
• Natural features or highlights – Natural elements of specific interest, relevance or
significance.
• Items to retain, remove and improve – What needs to be retained, removed or improved

07 | Climate – Climate includes the weather. Climate should be considered across each of the 4
seasons, and at different times of the day. [Macro-climate AND Micro-climate]

• Sun path, solar gain and shadows – A good sun study will show sun direction and resultant
shadows for at least 3 different times of the day (eg. 9am, 12pm and 3pm) at different times
of the year (eg. Summer solstice with the longest day and shortest night, Winter Solstice with
the shortest day and longest night, and the Equinox with equal day and night).
• Precipitation – The high, low, median and average rain, snow, and humidity for 4 seasons
including rain, snow, hail and humidity.
• Temperature – The seasonal changes in temperature including the high, low, median and
average temperature for each of the 4 seasons.
• Wind – The wind direction and intensity for each of the 4 seasons, areas of exposure that
require shelter and elements that provide existing shelter from the wind. Use wind roses
diagrams.

8 | Hazards and risks – A hazard is a substance or situation which has the potential to cause harm to
health, life, the environment, property, or any other value. Risk is the possibility of something bad
happening

• Drainage – Where is the drainage point/s on and from the site? What is the path of water
across the site? Could this be dangerous in heavy rains or if there is a blockage of drainage?
• Natural events – Flooding, landslides, volcanoes, cyclones – What is the frequency of natural
events? What has the impact been on the site in the past?

9 | Site history and significance – A summary of the past uses, conditions and significance of the
site.

• Previous use/s – A brief history and previous uses of the site.

 • Contamination – A summary of manufacturing, industrial or other processes or operations
that could have or are contaminating the site.

• Archaeological significance – Anything previously built on the site that could still be present
under the ground in some form. Known inhabitants on the site or local area that could have
inhabited the site or left any objects or remnants of historical significance on it.

• Historical significance – Anything about the site, the past uses, the structures or the people
who used the site that is significant or needs to be preserved, recognised or considered in
the design.

• Cultural significance – Anything significant about the site in terms of the ideas, customs and
social behaviour of a particular people or local group of society. [presence of people]

• Demographic significance –who are the people who live in the area, what are their needs
and how might this affect the project

10 | Neighbourhood context – Consider previous uses of the site and how that could impact the
current condition.

• Significant buildings, structures, spaces, landmarks – Significant buildings, structures,

spaces and landmarks in the local area. Include an annotated visual or photographic
representation to describe their significance.

• Architectural style/s, character and qualities – Styles, character and qualities commonly
used in the architecture, buildings and structures in the local area. Include an annotated
visual or photographic representation.

• Common materials – Materials, colors and textures commonly used in the architecture,
buildings and structures in the local area. Include an annotated visual or photographic
representation.

11 | Neighbourhood context

• local architectural style,

• materials,
• construction techniques,
• historical and cultural background

12 | Access and movement – The different entry, exit and movement paths across the site and their
relationship or interaction with one another.

• People – External or adjacent footpaths and informal circulation paths and the entry, exit
and circulation paths for people or pedestrians in and around the site.

• Vehicles – Hierarchy of external and adjacent roads and the entry, exit and circulation paths
of vehicles including cars, trucks, bicycles, skateboards or others in and around the site.

• Animals – Entry, exit and circulation paths and movement of animals.

• Public transport links – Locations of bus, train, taxi, cycle and other transport stops and
routes.
13 | Views – The ability to see something or be seen from a particular place. This may require longer
walks and analysis in the surrounding areas.

• Views In – The views from adjacent buildings and spaces into the site as well as longer views
from vistas, surrounding buildings, hills or high points. Consider different heights in the
environment and where views might occur and test them.

• Views Out – The existing or potential short views from the site to the adjacent environment
as well as long views into the wider surrounds. Consider different heights.

14 | Security, protection and safety – The degree of protection of individuals or property from harm,
danger or risk. (See also 10 | Hazards and risks).

• Security, protection and safety in – Internal conditions that pose a security risk. The people,
property, activities and other elements of the site and project that need protection from
external people, property or conditions.

• Security, protection and safety out – External conditions that pose a security risk. The
people, property, activities and other external elements of the site and project that need
protection from the internal people, property or conditions.

15 | Sensory Analysis – think of all senses and record observations. Sound/ sight/ smell/touch/ taste

Does your site have points where the view is just fantastic (maybe overlooking a waterbody, eye-
soothing greenery or the cityscape)

Ex:- Sound and noise – The sounds and noises created by the adjacent conditions, the existing site
and the proposed development.

• Noise In – Where noise is produced from outside the site, how this changes with the wind
and where internal protection needs to occur.

• Noise Out – Where noise will be produced by the site, how this may change with the wind
and where external protection needs to occur.

Smells and odours created by the adjacent conditions, the existing site and the proposed
development.

• Smells In – Smells coming from outside the site, how this changes with the wind and where
internal protection needs to occur.

• Smells Out – Smells that will be produced by the site, how this changes with the wind and
where external protection needs to occur.

✓ SWOT
✓ CONCLUSION