Site analysis

Following points need to be incorporated in your site analysis and study:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

General Information
Location (Map & Introduction) Detailed site drawing with site context
Site details Area, Shape, Terrain, Slope, Contours, Probable access points etc.
Geomorphology
Topography
Soil type and characteristics
Climate Mean monthly temperature, Wind rose diagram, Sun-path diagram, Thermal
comfort chart, Shadow pattern analysis or Sciography of the built environment in and
around the site etc.
8. Landscaping features of the site Hard-scape and soft-scape
9. Zoning Regulations FSI or FAR, Height Restrictions, Land use, Ground coverage,
Setbacks etc.
10. Site services available or probable points of future availability
11. Built form, Scale, Character, Visual hierarchy, Skyline etc. (In and around the site)
12. Chart :
Mandatory chart:
Considerations Observation Analysis Inference Evidence
Contours
Vegetation
Site access
points
Soil
Site context
(Surrounding
buildings etc.)
Traffic
movement
pattern
Built form and
characteristics
Climate

Relevant
Zoning
photographs Options

SAMPLE CHART:

Case study:
The students once familiarized with the site and its surroundings in which they are
supposed to design the proposed building, have to conduct literature study and some case
studies live & literature, to form a basis for their own design.

Literature Review: It includes gathering the relevant standards and other

information from all the available sources related to their thesis topics that will
help them during the later stages of their thesis program.

Case Studies: The students have to conduct a minimum of 4 case studies 2 live
and 2 literature studies of similar executed projects. These studies should not be a
mere documentation of those projects, information must be collected about the
requirements; salient design features clearly pointing the positive and negative
aspects of the design. Idea of the case study is to form a base for candidates own
design. The projects selected for study should be similar in size and facilities as
the thesis project. The students should note that the case study is for the
finalization of the project requirements and understanding the functional
interconnectivity of spaces. The salient points to be covered in the building study
may be as detailed below:

i. General Information.
a. Name of the building, predominant use and its period of construction.
b. Validity and objective of the case study.
c. Location & connectivity from major urban area / activity centre.
d. Surrounding land use and character of urban form.
e. Present status of the building.
f. Byelaws for the area and their application in the case study.
ii. Planning, circulation and functions.
a. Architects objective and concept of design.
b. Style of architecture (if any), Aesthetic quality / visual impact.
c. Development of plan and form.
d. Space organisation and the type of correlations between different spaces.
e. Function distribution horizontally and vertically and their interdependency.
f. Area requirements for different functions / spaces.
g. Circulation within and outside the site and buildings.
h. Site planning / handling of the site in response to the design of the building.
i. Climatic and Physiographic response in the building design and site planning.
iii. Construction System
a. Structural System and its validity.
b. Materials for construction.
c. Any non-conventional construction technology used (if any).
iv. Service Details and their location.
a. Parking: Number of parking provided, adequacy or deficiency, circulation and
ventilation system in case of basement parking, mechanized system (if any),
segregation of parking spaces and flow of vehicles in the site.
b. Landscape: Scheme and hierarchy of open spaces, soft and hard areas, type of
plantation, furniture, light fixtures, signage, etc, used and their placement.
c. Air-conditioning system: Type, capacity, location, maintenance, size of
machine room for centralized one, size of AHU and mode of function.
d. Water Supply: Pattern and quantum including overhead & underground tanks
their capacity, size and structural considerations.
e. Sewerage system: Layout of sewer line, manholes and inspection chambers,
location of septic tank and connection with city main sewer. System for use of
recycled water, if any.
f. Fire protection: Type, capacity and location of fire fighting equipments,
detector system involved and process involved for automatic / semiautomatic
sprinklers, location of refuge area / fire-fighting staircase and its width.

g. Electrical layout: Connection with HT line, location of Transformer, DG set,

metering room, HT breaker, LT / Ht panels, electrical shafts, electrical rooms,
MCB, etc. and their space requirements.
h. Solid waste disposal system: Process involved, linkage with all kitchen and
restaurants, any intermediate separation done before dumping into municipal vans
etc.
i. Security system: Type of security systems installed; their space requirements,
preferred locations and applications.
j. Others Services: Acoustical services, lighting and illumination, vertical
transportation systems, etc.
v. Inferences drawn from the case study when compared with various standards and
byelaws.
All the points mentioned above are to be supported with photographs / sketches and
schematic plans showing detail of the area covered, with the inference drawn by the
students.
The case study should be done in brief. Details as given above may be modified to the
requirements of the project undertaken by the candidate in consultation with their guides.
Case study should only be done for understanding the functional requirements, their
interconnectivity, area requirements and finalization of the project requirements.