RPTS 402 Park Planning & Design Site Design RPTS 402 Park Planning & Design

Planning vs. Design Planning Design or site plan the umbrella process that results in plans conveying a scheme of how to get from here to there. Documents like master plan, comprehensive plan, resort plan. Design or site plan Deals more specifically with the arrangement of parts to create a meaningful, functioned, aesthetic, and thus, sustainable places.

Site design process The basic component of design is the THINKING PROCESS - the critical thought process used in understanding and solving a given problem. Design is essentially a process of relating all of the operating factors into a comprehensive whole and then arriving at a creative solution. Hideo Sasaki

Site design components Inventory - to understand all of the factors to be considered Analysis - to understand user - site relationships Synthesis - to articulate complex relationships into a comprehensive organization.

1. Inventory (continued) Understanding the Place Regional Context Site Location and Access Surrounding Land Uses History of Town & Site Community Character Design Elements Walking Distances Street Character / Sections Understanding the Legal Framework Zoning and Subdivision Regulations New Urbanism - Preserving Town Character Case studies of successful neighborhood park developments Photographs of site context and major land uses. Location of major public uses - schools, churches. Walking (biking)

1. Inventory (continued) Understanding the Site (natural landscape) Topography Elevation (range, above sea level, on site) Ridges & valleys (watershed features) Views (how to topo influences creates view out of, and in to site) Microclimate (e.g. prevailing wind-strength and direction) Sun Soils Vegetation Species on-site, special features (native?) Wetlands and Water bodies Surface drainage, ground water, flood plain Wildlife Site map is desscribing the major findings that summarize all aspects of the site inventory - complete with maps and photographs. SHOW OHP 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Topography

Microclimate (prevailing wind)

Sun Light

1. Inventory (continued) Understanding the Site (human-made built environment) Existing on-site structure Transportation patterns Existing traffic, access point, trail/path Potential historical or cultural site Surrounding landuses (e.g. attractive or annoying) Utilities Sewer and water, Electricity, telephone Public service/places Schools Parks or other public open spaces Emergency service Shopping area & restaurant Regulation/zoning

2. Analysis A Guide for the designer to accomplish his/her task Based upon a basic program concept The designer responds to the client’s initial statement of intent Explicit enough to provide direction, Flexible enough to allow new ideas and directions to emerge as the design evolves Begin developing concepts Making bubble diagrams Making sketches of the image Drawing sections of the site Exploring ideas at various scales: 1"=100‘ & 1"=400' in order to determine the intrinsic suitability for various types of land development in order to determine the suitability of the site for various uses Show bubble 7.

2. Analysis (continued) Goals & Objectives Goal is to set a general framework for the project encompass the expected result or outcome of the project Or Vision (e.g.) The design will satisfy the clients' and users' needs, local town requirements, and fit within the city context. Objectives are site specific statements form the approach for the project and contribute directly to achieving the Goal to describe the intended project results (e.g.) To provide ADA accessible connections from anywhere in the site to neighborhoods. To provide ADA accessible connections from anywhere in the site to the neighborhood apt complex. To provide direct access to open space for all lots. To create a community identity while providing private spaces.

Visual example of analysis process

Site Analysis Map

3. Synthesis Design principles Design for the Human Scale Ecological Responsibility Pedestrianism Community Focus Streetscapes Maintenance

3. Synthesis (continued) Refine your design what criteria will be used to determine the location of a particular activity An area for active recreation - specify the activities A linkage between spaces and/or activities. An area with severe physical limitations unsuitable for development such as steep slopes or wetland or made inaccessible by either. An area for reflective less active recreation. A visual/sound buffer.

3. Synthesis (continued) Justify your solution Why are certain facilities best in certain areas of the site? For example: a bench placed to provide good views a water feature placed to mask traffic noise a picnic area easily accessed from parking a bridge used to offer safe access to a creek

Site Synthesis (Design Concept)

Synthesis Map (Refined Plan)

Evaluate your design What activities have I provided on the site? What are the functional relationships between these activities? What is the importance of the design's form? What spaces are created by the forms? How does the form fit in with the context? How have you achieved a sense of community with your design? What do people view as they drive or walk through the site?

Bubble Diagram (Example)

1. Inventory Aspects Verbal information Visual information reading and discussion Visual information site observation, photographs & sketches, field trip Experimental information discovery of new things Understanding of form, color, texture, and spatial relationships Inventory entails three aspects: information can be obtained from literature in art, architecture, landscape architecture, sociology, philosophy, and the natural sciences Information is taken from site observation, analyzing photographs and sketches, and looking at existing built works. discovery of new design and planning concepts, new aesthetics of design, new construction methods, spatial relationships, and innovative design solutions A basic understanding of the elements of form, color, texture, and spatial relationships is a necessity before design of high quality can be produced.

1. Inventory (continued) Products Base map Site map should include: Showing major views Identifying major site vegetation & photographs of distinctive vegetative areas Showing wetlands, water bodies, and watersheds Sun angles Wind direction