Site Analysis and Design Program

Site inventory is the gathering of facts and information about a site. The designer needs to (1) look at the site with an open and inquisitive mind, (2) be well organized (perhaps fol­lowing an outline of items that need to be identified), and (3) be accurate in recording the required information. Site analysis, on the other hand, is an evaluation of the information obtained in the site inventory. During the site analysis, the designer should become as familiar as possible with the site so a design solution can later be developed to suit the particular conditions of the site. For the inexperienced designer, the problem is often stopping at site inventory and not doing a thorough site analysis. INTRODUCTION
The site analysis and preparation of the design program are two other tasks under­taken in the research and preparation phase of the design process. However, the reality is that the two steps often overlap, especially for experienced designers who can quickly and instinctively envision responses to various site conditions. The gathered information should be organized in a manner that is easily read and understood so it will be a helpful reference in later design phases. The design program, which is usually prepared after the site study is completed, is the culmina­tion of the research and preparation phase. What plant materials should be retained and incorporated into the proposed design? The purpose of the site analysis, also referred to as site study, is to identify all the vital site conditions and determine how they might influence the eventual design solution. In theory, site inventory precedes site analysis because it necessary to collect the facts before making judgments about them. The design program is an outline of all the elements and requirements that must be included in the design and provides the basis for the beginning of the design phase. In other words, the site inventory is data collection. SITE INVENTORY
Generally speaking, the site inventory is relatively easy to do. It identifies and records the location, size, material, and condition of existing site elements such as walkways, terraces, fences, utilities, and plant materials. The inventory also records other aspects of the site such as soil type, degree of slope, location of utilities, prevailing wind directions, sun and shade pat­terns, specific views of importance, and so forth.