Needed Information

Determine areas of the site that are mostly sunny or mostly shady during different times of the day and seasons of the year. Identify house type and architectural style. 2. 3. Identify which rooms are used most often. I. For both doors and windows, identify elevation of bottoms (sills) and tops (heads). Microclimate
1. a. What direction is the intake and exhaust of the air flow? Identify the vertical angle of the sun above the horizon at different times of the day and seasons of the year. For doors, identify direction of opening and frequency of use. Utilities
1. Locate overhangs and note their distance beyond the face of the house and their heights above the ground. Determine location for such activities as daily leaving and arriving home, outside recreation, gardening, and work areas. Soil
1. D. Spaces and senses
1. Identify location of pool equipment and associated utility connections. L. 3. Topography
1. Determine the ease of walking on various areas of the site (this will also identify relative steepness). 7. 4. Determine the overall condition, importance, potential use, and clients’ opinion of existing plant materials. Locate utility lines (water, gas, electric, telephone, cable, storm sewer, septic tank, leach field, etc.). 2. What is the character of the neighborhood? • Which approach is most frequently used? Locate and identify existing plant materials. Determine pleasant or disturbing sounds (singing birds, traffic noise, children playing, rustling leaves, and so on). Identify how and when different areas of the site are currently used. Identify depth of topsoil. d. 2. Drainage
1. Are there any easements associated with the utility lines? b. 4. Identify prevailing wind direction throughout the year. How well are the adjoining properties maintained? 2. Identify materials of the floors, walls, and ceilings of the rooms. K. Determine site areas exposed to or protected from cold winter winds. a. 4. Identify location and height of air conditioner or heat pump. Take note of what is seen from all sides of the site looking off-site. 5. c. Where does the water flow to when it leaves the site? 6. H. a. Are they residential, commercial, recreational, educational, and so forth? Determine wet spots or areas of standing water. 7. Identify fragrances and odors. Not all the listed items need to be addressed for every project. 3. 6. What is re­quired for one project may be unnecessary for the next. b. b. • Is it a through street, one-way, two-way, cul-de-sac, and so on? Identify grade change between inside (finished floor elevation) and outside grade around the foundation of the house, especially at the doorways. Does any off-site surface water drain onto the site? Existing site functions and problems
1. b. a. a. 3. a. Determine site areas exposed to or protected from cooling summer breezes. c. • Where is the most common “first view” of the site located? What is the primary direction for arriving at the site? 3. 8. texture. Are there any utility shut-off valves? 3. Where appropriate, identify:
a. Identify the elevation changes between the top and bottom of existing steps, walls, fences, and so forth. Identify location of sun at sunrise and sunset at different times of the year (January, March, June, and September, for example). Identify drainage onto and away from the site. 2. Identify color and texture of facade materials. Determine the location and extent of outdoor rooms. 4. Determine areas exposed to and protected from the intense summer after­noon sun. Figure 7—8 shows the site inventory for the Duncan residence. G. 2. a. Experience views from off the site looking onto the site (views from the street as well as from different sides of the site). • Is it well established, open, wooded, ill-kempt, friendly, estate-like, and so on? 4. Identify areas exposed to warming winter sun. 3. Do the views vary during different seasons? b. Figure 7-5
View of the neighbors’ backyards to the east as seen from the Duncans’ backyard. If existing, locate irrigation system. 3. 2. 5. 3. Identify soil characteristics (acid, alkaline, sandy, clay, gravel, fertile, and so on). What building permits are required for construction? What is the style, age, and condition of the residential architecture? Identify depth of frost in winter months. Views
1. Identify legal restrictions for new construction in the neighborhood. Existing house
1. Locate outside elements such as downspouts, water spigots, electrical out­lets, lights attached to house, electric meter, gas meter, clothes-dryer vent, and air conditioners. 2. 2. What are the setback requirements for structures? Does water drain away from the house on all sides? • Is there more than one approach? f. a. 4. What building types and structures are allowed, especially detached buildings such as garages, tool sheds, gazebos, pergolas, and so on? Identify direction(s) of surface water drainage. C. 9. 3. d. e. d. Other existing structures
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