Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
4
The process of calculating the
degree of resource use and the
degree of disturbance of
existing
natural
systems
required
to
support
a
development begins with site
selection.
The
most
environmentally
sound
development is one that
disturbs as little of the existing
site as possible. Building
projects
also
require
connections to mass transit,
vehicular infrastructure, and
utility and telecommunication
networks. Sound site planning
and design should consider
siting a building to take
advantage of existing service
networks.
Igneous Rock
5
site-development features can
be determined.
Site
data
on
climate,
topography,
soils,
water,
vegetation, and other factors
should
be
collected
and
analysed to assess a site's
compatibility with the proposed
program from an energy and
resource
conservation
perspective. In addition to
traditional
site
planning
information, the following data
is typically collected and
analysed for the site:
3.1.2 Geomorphology
Geomorphology is that branch
of Geology that deals with the
origin, nature and distribution of
landforms.
Metamorphosed Rocks
when sedimentary rocks are
pushed to deeper levels of the
earth, they transform into
6
BEARING CAPACITY FOR ROCK AND SOIL MATERIALS
Material
Allowable Bearing Value (psf)
Class
1
Rock
gneiss
Metamorphosed rock, e.g. schist, slate
Soil
materials
10
Medium-stiff clay
11
Soft clay
12
200,000
80,000
30,000
20,000
12,000
8,000
6,000
4,000
8,000
4,000
2,000
(fixed by field tests)
7
moisture
absorption
and
retention and for landscaping.
(3) Water content varies with(4)
particle sizes, local drainage,
topography and climate. Most
water occupies the spaces
between particles; only in
organic soils do the particles
Sand
Loam
Clay
3) Drainage
GOOD DRAINAGE refers to
the soils ability to transferb)
gravity
water
downward
through:
a) Infiltration - the rate at which
water penetrates the soil
9
that gravity water is not readily2) Four basic slope form: Straight,
transmitted by the soil and soil
S-shaped, Concave, Convex
is frequently or permanently
saturated and may have water
standing on it caused by:
a) The local accumulation of
water;
b) A rise in the level of
groundwater within the soil
column;
c) The size of the particles in the
soil being too small to transmit
infiltration water.
POOR DRAINAGE - means
4) Topography and Slopes
Slope Form is expressed
graphically in terms of a slope
profile, a silhouette of a slope
drawn to known proportions
with distance on the horizontal
axis and
vertical
elevation
Convex
Straight
S-shape
Concave
Angle Of Repose -- angle at
which soil can be safely inclined
and beyond which it will fail.
on
the
axis.
10
describes the shape of the
earths surface by contour lines.
11
To compute the Distance of a
slope from a topographic
contour map:
Contoured Map
TOPOGRAPHY AND SLOPES
Desirable Slopes when
slopes are selected according
to building type and the
activities associated with it.
12
b) Soil Type
Intermediate textures like
sand will usually yield (erode)
first
To erode clay, the velocity of
the runoff should be high
enough to overcome cohesive
forces that bind the particles
together
Similarly,
high
velocities
would be needed to move
masses of pebbles and
particles larger than those of
sand
c)
Slope Size
The velocity of runoff is
closely related to the slope of
the ground over which it
flows. Slopes that are both
steep and long produce the
greatest erosion because
they generate runoff that is
high in velocity and mass.
Slope also influences the
quantity of runoff since long
slopes collect more rainfall
and thus generate a larger
volume of runoff.
d) Inclination, Frequency
Intensity of Rainfall
Intensive rainfalls produced
by thunderstorms promote
the highest rates of erosion.
Accordingly, the incidence of
storms plus total annual
rainfall can be a reliable
measure of the effectiveness
3.1.3 Hydrology
Hydrology the natural science
that studies the Waters of the
Earth,
their
occurrence,
circulation and distribution, their
chemical
and
physical
13
properties, and their reaction to
the living environment including
their relation to all living things
Hydrologic cycle or the
planets water cycle, described
by the movement of water from
the oceans to the atmosphere
to the continents and back to
the sea.
Aquifer
A
permeable
geological stratum or formation
that can both store and transmit
Hydrologic cycle
Water table
unconfined aquifer.
groundwater
quantities.
in
significant
14
Watershed a geographic area
of land bounded by topographic
features and height of land that
captures precipitation filters and
stores water and drains waters
to
a
shared
destination.
Knowledge
of
watershed
b.
boundaries is critical to water
quality
and
storm
water
management.
trees
were
20deg
lower.
3.1.4 Vegetation
The
relevance
of
Plant
Materials in site planning is in
their role in:
1. Climatic control
a) Solar Radiation is Earths
source of light and heat. Itc.
warms the earths surface, is
reflected by paving and other
objects, and produces glare.
Trees are one of the best
controls for solar radiation
because:
they block or filter sunlight;
they cool the air under their
canopies providing natural air
conditioning;
Scientists have recorded that
with an air temperature of
84deg F, surface temp of a
concrete paving was 108 deg,
while surface temp under shade
15
reflected
or
deflected.
16
c.
increase the angle of repose byb) View Control While trees and
10 to 15 degrees.
shrubs
can
screen
out
objectionable views, they can
also provide backdrops for
sculpture and fountains.
Additionally, they may provide
filtered views of buildings or
spaces, or frame a view,
Vitiveria ziziainoides or Vitiver Grass
maximizing
its
effect.
miracle grass of amazing bioengineering capabilities.
3. Architectural
Uses
and
Aesthetic
3.1.5 Wildlife
Wildlife relates closely to
habitats provided by plant
communities. The three groups
of habitat elements essential to
the different species of wildlife
are:
1. Openland Wildlife includes
birds and mammals commonly
associated with crop fields,
meadows, pastures, and nonforested
lands.
Habitat
elements essential for openland
wildlife include:
17
Grain and seed crops
Grasses and legumes
Wild
herbaceous
upland
plants
Hardwood woody plants
2. Woodland Wildlife These
species
need
various
combinations of:
Grasses and legumes
18
Wild
herbaceous
upland
plants
Hardwood woody plants
Cone-bearing shrubs such as
pines.
3. Wetland Wildlife wetland
species include birds and
mammals needing habitats
with:
Wetland food plants or wild
herbaceous plants of moist to
wet
sites,
excluding
submerged or floating aquatic
plants;
Shallow water development
with water impoundments not
deeper than 5 ft.;
Excavated ponds with ample
supply of water at least one
acre and average 6ft depth.
Streams
3.1.6
Climates
Climates can be generally
classified into four types: Cold,
Temperate, Hot Arid and Hot
Humid.
a) Solar
orientation
for
buildings;
b) The best facing slopes; and
c) Wind flows for breezes.
Solar orientation
Best facing slopes:
19
Smooth forms induce smooth flow of
air.
Solar orientation
Altitude
Topography
Vegetation
Water bodies
20
21
3.2 CULTURAL FACTOR
3.2.1 Existing Land Use
Land Use Plans are available in each city and municipality to determine the areas for commercial,
institutional, industrial, residential, and open space uses. These were planned according to the most
rational use of land in relation to the natural and socio-economic factors, and in accordance with
compatibility with adjacent land uses.
Each site must conform to the land use plan: a residential subdivision, for example, cannot be
developed in a site designated as Industrial.
3.2.2
The relationship of traffic pattern to each other and to the site must be studied for adequacy of access
and efficiency of circulation within and outside of the site.
Efficient traffic and transportation systems will result in successful integration of the different
developments in the vicinity.
Direction of dominant traffic flow, both vehicular and pedestrian will also help establish points of highest
visual impact for the site.
Access must also consider pedestrian movement.
3.2.3 Density and Zoning
Density refers to the population per unit land area. This data will determine whether existing utilities and
land areas will be sufficient to sustain additional future development, which will naturally add to the
existing population and bear on the capacity of these utilities.
Density is expressed in number of families or dwelling units per hectare. It may also be expressed in
Floor Area Ratio (FAR).
Density influences the privacy, social contact among people, and freedom of movement of an individual
or a group of people.
Zoning regulations, laws and codes are present in every city and municipality to regulate the type of
development. It divides the city or municipality into land use areas that are designated by building
height, building coverage, density of population, and open space.
3.2.4
Socio-Economic Factors
The study of the community and its social and economic structures are done to determine whether
there is a need, an interest, or any objections on the project.
22
Any proposed project must be compatible with the economy of the particular community. For example, a
high-end boutique is hardly suitable in a low-income community.
The social structure of the community must be taken into consideration to ensure that a proposed
development will not result in any displaced families, and any major disruption in their businesses and
other activities.
3.2.5 Utilities / services:
It is important to determine the existing availability of utilities on site in terms of adequacy and efficiency.
This includes:
Sanitary/sewage system
Water supply
Drainage
Most water systems will supply domestic, industrial, and fire stand-by supply from a distribution system.
Storm drains collect surface water and conduct it to rivers, creeks, or other bodies of water.
3.2.6 Historic factors:
1. Historic Buildings
2. Historic Landmarks
3. Archeology
3.3 AESTHETIC FACTOR
3.3.1
Natural features
When sites are characterized by outstanding natural features of earth, rock, water or plant material,
these may be incorporated in the site development as natural assets of the land.
23
3.3.2
Spatial Patterns
3.3.3
3.3.14
3.3.15 A view can be a theme that may suggest
and give added meaning to buildings.
3.3.16
3.3.17
24
3.3.18
3.3.19
e
ol
o
g
y
a
n
d
S
oi
l
3.3.20
3.3.21
3.3.22
25
Dominant plant and animal
communities -- their location
and relative stability, and
vulnerability.
Accepted territories.
Political jurisdictions.
Past and Future:
History of the site and its visible
traces.
Public and private intentions for
future use of site, conflicts.
Site Character and image
Group and individual
identification with aspects of the
site.
How the site is organized in
people's minds.
Meanings attached to the site,
symbolic associations.
Hopes, fears, wishes,
preferences.
Correlation of Data
Subdivisions of the site: areas
of consistent structure,
character, problems.
Identification of key points,
axes, areas best left
undeveloped, areas where
tensive development is
possible.
26
27
House
Soil
___style and age
___type
___condition
___condition
___facade material
___depth of soil
REFERENCE
Dines, N. T. (1988).
Energy
and
Resource
Conservation.
InTime
Savers
Standard
for
Landscape
Architecture
(2nd
Ed. P.79). Mcgrawhill, inc.
Tubayan, O. (2014,
July
12).
Site
Planning. Retrieved
January 08, 2017,
from
http://www.slideshar
e.net/xthianescala/si
te-planning-kevinlynch
Lynch and hack
(1984)
Site
Planning, MIT press
(6th ed., pp.420425) retrieved from
http://www.faculty.ks
u.edu.sa/drmohsen/.
../site%20analysis
%20checklist.pdf
Site
Analysis
Checklist
(n.d.)
Retrieved
from
https://ncsu.edu/goi
ngnative/create/work
sheets/gn_step3site
_ws.pdf
28
29
1.0 INTRODUCTION
An ecosystem is a complex system with many parts, both and non-living. All parts of the
system are important. If one part of the system is removed, lots of other parts can be
affected.
If a part of ecosystem is missing may continue for a while but in time would start falling
apart.
All of the parts of the ecosystem work together. If you do not think about how your work will
affect the land, water or air where you are working, you could damage that ecosystem by
poisoning the land or water, removing plants and trees or killing the fish, insects, birds and
animals that live there.
The concept of formally defined layers or strata is central to the geologic discipline of
stratigraphy. Formations can be divided into members and are themselves frequently
parcelled together in groups.
A geologic cross section of the Grand Canyon. Black numbers correspond to groups of
30
Contour lines are imiginary lines joining points of equal elevation above a
datum or bench mark the trajectory of each contour line indicates the shape of the land
formation at that elevation.
Pattern Ground is the distinct and often symmetrical geometric shapes formed by ground
material in periglacial regions.
Patterned
ground
can be found in a
variety of forms.
Types of patterned
ground
31
3.1.0 Soil
Soil is
the
mixture
of
minerals, organic matter, gases,
liquids, and the myriad of
organisms that together support
plant life.
32
3.1.3
Soil
in
Construction
The
degree
of
compaction of soil is
measured by its unit
weight (or density)
and
optimum
moisture content.
compact soils to
increase
their
density.
Compaction
improves
the
following
characteristics
of
soils for engineering
purposes:
Increases strength
Decreases permeability
Reduces
settlement
of
foundation
Increase slope stability of
1)
embankments
as lifts.
expelling the air from
compacted,
soil
Compaction specifications for
density is increased.
structural soils should include
Soil compaction
Reducing,
or
density and optimum moisture
can be achieved
squeezing,
water
content.
either by static or
from the voids is
2) Range of optimum moisture
dynamic loading:
referred
to
as
content:
consolidation,
not
Sand 8%
compaction
Silt 15%
Clay 15-20%
3) Water content should be
controlled in making fills
Control stormwater runoff.
Smooth-wheel rollers
Discharge water away from
Sheepsfoot rollers
trenches and excavations.
Rubbe-tired rollers
Trenches
and
excavations
Vibratory roller
should be dewatered.
In
the Vibratory tempers
Compaction
construction
of
methods
streets,
parking
1) Rolling is the primary method
areas,
2) Three basic roller types:
embankments and
Controlled fill
3.2.0 GEOLOGY
Geology is an earth science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is
composed, and the processes by which they change.
Geology can also refer generally to the study of the solid features of any celestial body (such as
the geology of the Moon or Mars).
Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth by providing the primary evidence for plate
tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates.
Geology is important for mineral and hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation, evaluating water
resources, understanding of natural hazards, the remediation of environmental problems, and for
providing insights into past climate change.
Geology also plays a role in geotechnical engineering and is a major academic discipline.
Other areas of application:
The fields of engineering, environmental, architectural and urban geology are broadly
concerned with applying the findings of geologic studies to construction engineering and to problems of
land use. The location of a bridge, for example, involves geologic considerations in selecting sites for
the supporting piers. The strength of geologic materials such as rock or compacted clay that occur at
the sites of the piers should be adequate to support the load placed on them.
An important part of geology is the study of how Earths materials, structures, processes and organisms
have changed over time.
3.2.1 Rocks
Three major types of
rock:
1)
Igneous
a)
b)
2)
Sedimentary
a) The sedimentary rock can then be subsequently turned into a metamorphic rock due to heat and
pressure and is then weathered, eroded, deposited, and lithified, ultimately becoming a sedimentary
rock.
b) Sedimentary rock may also be re-eroded and redeposited, and metamorphic rock may also undergo
additional metamorphism.
3) Metamorphic
a) The rock cycle is an
important concept in geology which illustrates the relationships between these three types of rock,
and magma.
b) All three types of rocks may be re-melted; when this happens, a new magma is formed, from which an
igneous rock may once again crystallize.
The majority of research in geology is associated with the study of rock, as rock provides the
primary record of the majority of the geologic history of the Earth.
Laboratory, and numerical modeling methods to decipher Earth history and understand the processes
that occur on and inside the Earth.
In typical geological investigations, geologists use primary information related to:
Structural geology (the study of positions of rock units and their deformation).
In many cases, geologists also study modern soils, rivers, landscapes, and glaciers; investigate
past and current life and biogeochemical pathways, and use geophysical methods to investigate the
subsurface.
4.0 RELEVANT SOIL SPECIFICATION SECTIONS
4.1 Earth
sheltering
Using earth as
building walls for
external thermal
mass, to reduce
heat loss, and to
easily maintain a
steady indoor air
temperature.
4.2 Grading
4.3 Subsurface
Investigation
4.4
Soil
Stabilization
To
improve
its
paving
properties
and compact ability.
Applied in roads,
railways, airport.
Rainwater or Rainfall
Advantage
Obtain
from
roofs
and
Disadvantage
an abundant rainfall.
Surface Water- a mixture of surface run- off and ground water includes rivers, pond and
reservoirs.
Dis
dv
adv
ant
nt
age
a
g
e
Dan
bt
ger
ai
ous
ne
bec
aus
fro
e it
con
po
tain
nd
s,
larg
la
ke
am
s,
oun
riv
ts
er
of
bac
ea
teri
si
a,
ne
org
ss
anic
of
and
pr
inor
oc
gan
ur
ic
sub
sta
en
nce
ts
s of
an
var
ying
go
qua
od
ntiti
for
es.
lo
ca
lit
y
ne
ar
su
ch
bo
di
es
of
w
at
er.
Underground/ Ground Water- portion of the rainwater which has percolated into the earth
underground deposit called (water bearing soil formation)
From
Underground
Disa
dvan
tage
a
n
t
a
g
e
Beca
use
of
vario
us
organ
ic
matte
r and
chem
ical
elem
ents
b
e
l
o
w
prese
nt, it
requir
es
treat
ment
of
g
vario
us
natur
es,
such
as
sedi
ment
ation,
chem
ical,
filtrati
on,
e
b
y
m
e
a
n
s
o
f
m
e
c
h
a
n
i
c
a
l
a
n
aerati
ons.
d
m
a
n
u
a
l
e
q
u
i
p
m
e
n
t
.
M
o
r
e
w
a
t
e
r
c
a
n
o
b
t
a
i
n
e
d
d
e
p
e
n
d
i
n
g
b
y
e
q
u
i
p
m
e
n
t
u
s
e
d
a
n
d
l
o
c
a
li
t
y
.
Well are holes in the earth from which a fluid may be withdraw using manual or mechanical
means such as draw bucket, pump, etc.
Dug wells can be constructed by hand tools/ power tool. It can have the greatest diameter
that a space may allow.
Driven wells the simplest and usually the least expensive. A steel drive- well point is fitted
on one end of the pipe section & driven into the earth.
Bored wells dug w/ earth augers usually less than 30m deep. These are done when the
earth to be bored is boulder free and will not cave in. the well is lined with metal, vitrified tile
or concrete.
Drilled well require more elaborate equipment and accompanied by the lowering of a
casing.
5.2.0 Properties Of
Water
He
Ha
at
cap
the
acit
abil
ity
to
abs
orb
hea
t
wit
hou
t
bec
omi
ng
mu
ch
war
me
r
itse
lf
Sur
Abil
fac
ity
to
ten
stic
sio
k to
itse
lf
and
pull
itse
lf
tog
eth
er
Ca
Abil
pill
ity
arit
to
cli
mb
up
a
surf
ace
aga
inst
the
pull
of
gra
vity
Dis
Abil
sol
ity
vin
to
dis
abil
sol
ity
ve
alm
ost
any
sub
sta
nce
Common
Impurities Of Water
Entr
Lik
aine
car
gas
bo
es
n
dio
xid
e,
hyd
rog
en
sul
fide
,
met
ha
ne,
oxy
ge
n
an
d
nitr
og
en
ous
an
d
org
ani
c
co
mp
ou
nds
Diss
Su
olve
ch
as
min
cal
eral
ciu
m,
ma
gn
esi
um
,
sod
ium
,
iron
s,
ma
nga
nes
e,
alk
yl
be
nze
ne
sulf
ate
fro
m
det
erg
ent
s
an
d
syn
thet
ic
org
ani
c
co
mp
ou
nds
an
d
fro
m
ins
ecti
cid
es
an
d
pes
tici
des
Sus
Su
pen
ch
ded
as
and
bac
collo
teri
idal
a,
mat
alg
erial
ae,
fun
gi,
silt,
pro
toz
oa
an
d
the
like
that
ma
kes
the
wat
er
col
ore
d
an
d
aci
d
Radi
By
oact
ent
ive
ert
min
ain
eral
me
nt
of
radi
oac
tive
sub
sta
nce
s
fro
m
min
ing
or
pro
ces
sin
g
ore
s,
or
by
wa
ste
s
fro
m
ind
ustr
ials
use
of
radi
oac
tive
mat
eri
als
Sedimentation - article of matters that are suspended in the water are allowed to stay in a
container so that they will settle in the bathroom, then drawing the water out, leaving these
sediments in the container.
Chemical Treatments - water are given chemical treatments to kill the harmful bacterias
present and to cure the turbid taste or mud taste, remove clay, salts, iron etc. commonly use
chemical is chlorine.
Aeration - raw water is made to pass on pipes of tiny sieves and exposed to air of fine mist.
A sources of water that are useful or potentially useful. Uses of water include agricultural,
industrial, household, recreational and environmental activities. The majority of human uses
require fresh water.
It is 97 percent of the water on the Earth is salt water and only three percent is fresh water;
slightly over two thirds of this is frozen in glaciers and polar ice caps.
A graphical distribution of the locations of water on Earth. Only 3% of the earth's water is fresh water. Most of it in
icecaps and glaciers (69%) and groundwater (30%), while all lakes, rivers and swamps combined only account
for a small fraction of 0.3% of the Earth's total freshwater reserves.
Throughout the course of a river, the total volume of water transported downstream will often
be a combination of the visible free water flow together with a substantial contribution flowing
through sub-surface rocks and gravels that underlie the river and its floodplain called
the hyporheic zone.
Food and water are two basic human needs. However, global coverage from 2002 indicate
that, of every 10 people: roughly 5 have a connection to a piped water supply at home
3 make use of some other sort of improved water supply, such as a protected well or public
standpipe;
2 are unserved;
Halve by 2015 the proportion of people unable to reach or afford safe drinking water.
The Global Water Supply and Sanitation Assessment 2000 Report (GWSSAR) defines
"Reasonable access" to water as at least 20 liters per person per day from a source within
one kilometer of the users home.
Halve the proportion of people without access to basic sanitation. The GWSSR defines
"Basic sanitation" as private or shared but not public disposal systems that separate waste
from human contact.
6.0 MICROCLIMATE
A microclimate is a local atmospheric zone where the climate differs from the surrounding
area.
Microclimatic phenomena are localised at the scale of building or building cluster and
include air movement, precipitation, and temperature.
Building location and geometry can affect microclimate especially in dense urban areas
where air movement can be distorted to form wake and downwash phenomena that reduce
the liveability of external space.
Tall buildings create their own microclimate, both by overshadowing large areas and by
channelling strong winds to ground level. Wind effects around tall buildings are assessed as
part of a microclimate study.
The type of soil found in an area can also affect microclimates. For example, soils heavy in
clay can act like pavement, moderating the near ground temperature. On the other hand; if
soil has many air pockets, then the heat could be trapped underneath the topsoil, resulting in
the increased possibility of frost at ground level.
6.1.0 Types Of Environment On The Earths Surface
Upland regions
Upland areas have a specific type of climate that is notably different from the surrounding
lower levels. Temperature usually falls with height at a rate of between 5 and 10 C per
1,000 metres, depending on the humidity of the air.
Devon
Coastal regions
The coastal climate is
influenced by both the land and
sea between which
the coast forms a boundary. The
thermal properties of
water are such that the sea
maintains a relatively
constant day to day temperature
compared with the
land. The sea also takes a long
time to heat up during the summer months and, conversely, a long time to cool down during
the winter.
Coastal microclimates display different characteristics depending on where they occur on the
earths surface.
In the Tropics
Sea temperatures change little and the coastal climate depends on the effects caused by the
daytime heating and night-time cooling of the land. This involves the development of a
breeze from off the sea (sea breeze) from late morning and from off the land (land breeze)
during the night. The tropical climate is dominated by convective showers and thunderstorms
that continue to form over the sea but only develop over land during the day. As a
consequence, showers are less likely to fall on coasts than either the sea or the land.
Forest
Tropical rainforests cover only about 6% of Earths land surface, but it is believed they have
a significant effect on the transfer of water vapour to the atmosphere. This is due to a
process known as evapotranspiration from the leaves of the forest trees.
Urban regions
What is an urban microclimate? The table below summarises some of the differences in
various weather elements in urban areas compared with rural locations.
Su
5 to
nsh
15
ine
dur
atio
n
An
0.5
nua
to
1.0
me
Cel
an
ciu
tem
per
hig
atu
her
re
Wi
1 to
nte
Cel
ma
ciu
xim
um
hig
tem
her
per
atu
res
Oc
2 to
cur
ren
we
ce
eks
of
few
fros
er
ts
Rel
2%
ativ
low
er
hu
mid
ity
(in
wai
nte
r)
Rel
8 to
ativ
10
hu
low
mid
er
ity
(in
su
mm
er)
Tot
5 to
al
10
pre
cipi
mo
tati
re
on
Nu
10
mb
er
mo
of
re
rain
day
s
Nu
14
mb
er
few
of
er
day
s
wit
h
sno
w
Clo
5 to
ud
10
cov
er
mo
re
Oc
100
cur
ren
mo
ce
re
of
fog
(in
win
ter)
Am
10
oun
tim
t of
es
con
mo
den
re
sati
on
nuc
lei
Urban winds
Tall buildings can significantly disturb airflows over urban areas, and even a building 100
metres or so high can deflect and slow down the faster upper-atmosphere winds. The net
result is that urban areas, in general, are less windy than surrounding rural areas.
However, the office quarter of larger conurbations can be windier, with quite marked gusts.
This is the result of the increased surface roughness that the urban skyline creates, leading
to strong vortices and eddies. In some cases, these faster, turbulent winds are funnelled in
between buildings, producing a venturi effect, swirling up litter and making walking along the
pavements quite difficult.
A well-considered microclimatic strategy in the design of buildings and urban space, help
reduce exposure and to contribute to the success of well used external space. Careful
attention to building form can ensure that potentially harmful wind effects are mitigated
around tall buildings.
The use of shelter belts, both natural and constructed reduce exposure to the faces of
buildings therefore reducing excessive heat loss and protecting external finishes from
premature deterioration.
Microclimate is a critical design issue for both architecture and landscape architecture
disciplines and a shared sensibility encourages effective transdiciplinary and
crossdisciplinary collaboration.
KEY POINTS:
Step
2:
Critical
microclimatic effects
should be identified
and prioritised. The
architectural
6.2.0 Design
regarding
Procedure
topography,
Step 1: There is no
hydrology,
single
design
procedure to design
for
microclimate.
However,
detailed
knowledge of site,
context
and
surrounding
conditions is critical.
Designers
collect
should
information
position of existing
The
programme of the
proposal should be
clearly developed to
importance
the
of
and
recreational
use.
existing
should
respond to this
ascertain
environmental
proposal
Step 3: Responses
vary
widely
depending
on
location
and
programme.
However,
consideration should
be given to the use
of building form to
afford protection for
example
in
formation
courtyards, or
the
of
openings to leeward
accelerate
side
of
buildings.
and
be achieved through
planting should be
softening corners of
considered
buildings
Topography
to
producing
of exposure around
modelled
facades.
and
highly
by
good example of
sheltering exposed
should be designed
vortex
effects
and
that
effects
such as downwash
wake
can
Archaeolink by Edward
Cullinan Architects is a
to
the
interior.
is
important
It
building
to
canopies at ground
to
areas,
protected zones to
be
groundworks.
7.0
ORIENTATION
Why
consider
building
orientation?
Well-orientated
buildings
especially
zoned
to
typologies
housing
ensure
can
be
different
Important Considerations Of
Solar Gain For Passive
Heating Is Important
Noise
Daylighting
For
protection
from
prevailing winds
access
to
breezes
for ventilation
shade
to
prevent
summer
overheating
and glare
Views
Privacy
Access
indoor/outdoor flow
owners preferences
Choosing A Site
southern
boundary
for
maximum solar gain.
In most cases, this is likely
to reduce the risk of shading
from neighboring properties,
and also provide sunny outdoor
space.
The best location for
solar access will vary
from
site
to
site
depending
on
site
shape, orientation and
topography;
and
shading from trees and
neighboring buildings
(or future buildings).
Be flat or north-sloping
Be free of obstructions
to the north (and be
unlikely to be built out in
future)
Be able to
accommodate a
building with a relatively
large north-facing wall
or walls for maximum
solar gain (as well as
north-facing outdoor
areas if those are
wanted).
A site with north-south
alignment is likely to
receive midday sun and
with minimal
overshadowing, but
may have limited
morning or evening
sun. A site with eastwest alignment is more
likely to be
overshadowed to the
north.
Building Locatio
A building should in
general be located near
the sites
Rooms and outdoor spaces
should be located to maximize
comfort during use. In general,
this means living areas and
Housing
in
temperate
regions can benefit from
admitting the sun into the
building interior. Openings
should be primarily orientated
southwards, consider the use
of conservatories and buffer
spaces. Kitchens are better
facing east, living rooms to the
south and west. Bedrooms are
often better to the north to
avoid light disturbance.
Design Procedure
Step 1:
There is no single design
procedure
to
design
for
orientation. However, you need
to model your proposal in a
package such as Google
SketchUp.
Step 2:
Ensure the building is
properly placed on its site in
relation to north and the
location either geographically
or in terms of latitude or
longitude is entered.
Step 3:
Use a sun or shadow tool to
model the building at seasonal
extremities.
Step 4: Be conservative in
the use of glazing to heavily
exposed sides.
Step 5:
Model the use of solar
shading devices.
Step 6: