1. RPTS 402 Park Planning & Design
Site Design
RPTS 402 Park Planning & Design

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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.

5. 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)

6. 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

7. Topography

8. Microclimate (prevailing wind)

9. Sun Light

10. 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

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. Visual example of analysis process

14. Site Analysis Map

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

16. 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.

17. 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

18. Site Synthesis (Design Concept)

19. Synthesis Map (Refined Plan)

20. 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?

21. Bubble Diagram (Example)

22. 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.

23. 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