4 BIG site analysis architecture MISTAKES I see architecture students make. Avoid making these mistakes when doing architecture site analysis. My site analysis architecture course on Youtube:
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 by looking at the most common mistakes architecture students make when doing site analysis.
In this video, we’ll look at 4 of the biggest mistakes I see architecture students make when doing architectural site analysis. You’ll also receive tips for improving your site analysis that will help you avoid making these big mistakes that can make or break your architecture projects.
The first architecture site analysis mistake I see students make is that their site analysis is done with no clear purpose in mind. There is no clear intention behind their analysis. In order to have a successful site analysis, you need to be decisive as to what you’re trying to show and why. The big mistake is that architecture student’s site analyses are showing too much irrelevant information. For example, your site analysis might be showing which way the wind is coming from. However, if you’re not doing anything with that information, then what’s the point in showing it? Unless you’re making architectural design moves from your site analysis, there is no point showing it. If you’re showing the wind direction and strength, make sure your architectural design responds to that. Demonstrate to the client or your architecture teacher that you’ve understood the limitation, that the wind is coming from a certain direction at a certain speed, and propose an architectural solution to that constraint.
Don’t show a wind rose for the sake of showing a wind rose. Have a clear intention behind what you’re showing in your site analysis and use that information to make your initial design site moves.
b. Your site analysis is showing irrelevant information
d. Think, if you’re coming to a client with a site analysis with all this information, they’re going to be sitting there thinking “why have I paid x amount of money to be told something I already know”.
f. Only show what is necessary and indicate how you’ve used that to create design moves.
The second architecture site analysis mistake I see students get caught up doing, is that they are not graphically communicating their site analysis in a thoughtful manner. Site analysis may seem like a pointless task that you do just to “tick the box”. Because of this, students often research general site information, overlay it on their site plan and call it a “site analysis”, when really all they’ve done is overlay some information from google, something a 7-year-old kid could do.
Make sure you’re taking only what’s necessary for your site analysis, as explained above, and organise this information thoughtfully and concisely. Utilise line weights and opacity to create a hierarchy in your architecture site analysis. Consider what is important in your analysis and use line weights and opacity to give that priority. Hierarchy is key for any architectural drawing, not just a site analysis. Use a simple colour scheme, often 2-3 colours is suffice, and use different shades or opacities of these colours to create depth in your analysis. Experiment with diagrams, sketches and drawings to show what you’re thinking and have researched, rather than using blocks of text.
The third architecture site analysis mistake I see architecture students make is that your site analysis is being done as a preliminary task and shortly after being completed is being forgotten. Your site analysis can give you so much information to work with, but often we do it as a task that “has to be done” to tick the boxes and forget about it. Let the site analysis carry through the entire design phase, not just being a preliminary task to do before designing. Let the site analysis influence your design.
The final mistake I see architecture students make when creating site analyses is that they limit their site analysis to a site plan.
Lots can be shown in section, plans, perspective, sketches, diagrams, and other modes of communication such as animation or temporal media. Again, consider what you’re showing and pick the best mode of communication. You might notice which way the wind is coming from, then sketch a passive design sketch showing how your design will utilise it. A site plan can be effective for a site analysis, but there are many other modes of communication that can tell a different story.
Thanks for watching my site analysis architecture video. If you’d like to check out some of my online courses to learn architecture, feel free to check out my website!
