On Site Analysis

Architecture site analysis might seem like a pointless task, but it is the first step to designing a great architectural project. Let us learn how to do an architecture site analysis.

You know that site analysis is important for your architecture project. So, you go to site with some friends. You take a sketchbook, your laptop and a few other tools, ready to analyse the site.
You arrive. Now what?
You stand around and chat for an hour then go home with a simple observation of the site. You get on google maps, draw the sun path, guess which way the wind was coming from and call it a day.
That is the extent of site analysis for a lot of us. Architecture site analysis might seem like a pointless task we do just to “tick the box”. But, as I have just discovered from my studio 7 project, it’s not only really helpful, but essential and the first step to building up a great sketch design and architecture project. If you complete a site analysis just to “tick the box” – you are setting yourself up for failure and leaving out a lot of key details that will help assist you in progressing your design forward.

My name is Kyle. I am going to show you how to do a complete architecture site analysis that will form the foundation of your projects.
As mentioned, I have just completed a site analysis for my studio 7 project. This was a task set out for the course, the first assessment being a site analysis. I think the assessment was structured extremely well. It was structured linearly, as in a step-by-step process that you can replicate for any project.
The first step of site analysis is about finding the limitations to the site, for example, the sun that goes in a set direction. These are the constraints. The things you cannot change that you need to work around or work with. That is really important. Because after you find all the limitations and constraints, the next step is finding how you can take some of those aspects and use them to initiate some design ideas. We call these the “site moves”.
The site moves are built upon from the initial site analysis. You are taking 2-3 key limitations about the site and using them to come up with small design ideas that you can implement to the site.
The third step to site analysis is spatially organising the programs set out in the brief. What are the spaces required by the client? How do they connect to each other physically, visually and audibly? This step involves diagramming the programs in relation to each other using a mind map. To take it a step further, you can overlay this map over the top of your site in a plan drawing. This will help you understand where the different programs will go in relation to each other, but on the actual site.
The final step to site analysis is finding precedents that can influence your design. This is similar to the site moves step. It is not just an inspiration board or searching on pinterest. Find built projects that have previously been built and take as many key ideas you can away from them. Draw them out yourself and consider you can use them in your project. This might be materials, spatial strategies, little moments in the building that you like.
And there you have it. That’s how you successfully start an architecture project by doing a complete site analysis.
Good luck!

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