Success, failure, cost, quality and ambiance of any architectural/infrastructural projects, have genesis in the quality and appropriateness of the site where they are located. Every site remains unique and distinct for the reasons ; accessibility, shape and size, varying topography, flora & fauna, bio-diversity , climate, physical, social, environmental features, culture etc. which largely impact/guide design, site planning; positioning and orienting the building; determining the footprints, form, shape, fabric, material, structure, sustainability and typology of the building including its relation with the surrounding and neighborhood buildings. All globally known architectural projects had their genesis in the uniqueness and appropriateness of the site where they are located. Accordingly, defining guidelines /principles remains valuable for identifying sites for sustainable projects. Guidelines for the project remain both dynamic- constantly and continuously evolving and devolving requiring review, revision and redefinition from time to time to make them more relevant, rational and objective. Nevertheless, identification of appropriate site will need lot of study, data, knowledge, understanding and expertise before coming to a logical conclusion.
Suitability of Site for Architectural Projects.docxJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Site remains vital and important for any architectural projects to become relevant and sustainable. Accordingly sites need to be valued, understood and appreciated for evolving any sustainable design solutions. Selecting suitable sites remains and art and science , which needs to be learnt by each architect. It needs to be understood and appreciated that site is not merely land but also include and involves, all social, physical, environmental and infrastructures, climate. etc . which support the site and stay relevant for evolving sustainable design solutions. Sites accordingly need to be understood, dissected, analysed and appreciated before evolving design options. Diluting site will invariably lead to unsustainable and irrational design solutions, making built environment unsustainable.
Evaluating Suitability of Site for any Architectural Projects.docxJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Role of site selected for any building project remains most critical ,valuable and prime reason and major determinant of success and failure of any project. All architectural projects have their origin/genesis in the site on which they are located and accordingly remain site specific for their conceptualization, planning, designing and construction. Like human beings, sites also remain different and distinct. Every site remains unique and distinct, comprising of numerous complex elements including; varying topography, changing physiography, existing flora & fauna; existing bio-diversity; ruling climatic conditions; physical, social, environmental features; local culture; available building materials and construction technologies in practice, which largely influence, impact and guide design process and decision making.
Site plays a crucial role in positioning and orienting the building, determining its footprints, form, shape, fabric, material, structure, sustainability and typology, including its relation with nature, surrounding and neighborhood buildings. Accordingly, finding and locating appropriate site for any project and carrying out detailed site analysis, remains vital and crucial for any project to be rational, effective and sustainable. In the parlance of Architecture, site analysis involves evaluating a particular location physically, environmentally and socially with the basic objective of developing an architectural solution which would be distinct and help achieve the defined objective of the project besides making the project cost-effective, energy-energy, eco-friendly, user-friendly and sustainable. Accordingly, sourcing an appropriate and suitable site remains pre-requisite and vital for developing any project of any merit because all good architectural solutions have their genesis in understanding, analyzing, appreciating and bringing best out of the given site.
All globally known architectural master pieces had their genesis in the uniqueness and appropriateness of site on which they were located and the design option used for optimizing the prevailing strength of such unique sites. Sourcing appropriate site remains vital for the owner, project managers and architects and accordingly, it will be relevant and rational to define broad guidelines and principles which must be kept in mind, must be valued and should remain the basis/ guiding principles while defining/ selecting sites for any sustainable architectural project. Since all human settlements remain different, distinct and unique, accordingly searching appropriate site for any standalone project remains both a difficult and most challenging task. However, critical factors which need to be considered and broad methodology, guidelines and approach, which can be used/leveraged for searching appropriate site, have been briefed below. These factors will also form the very basis of carrying out site analysis, before taking up the site planning .
Evaluating Suitability of Site for any Architectural Projects.docxJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Role of site selected for any building project remains most critical ,valuable and major determinant of success and failure of any project. All architectural projects have their origin/genesis in the site on which they are located and accordingly remain site specific for their conceptualization, planning, designing and construction. Like human beings, sites also remain different/distinct and no two sites are same. Every site remains unique and distinct, comprising of numerous complex elements including; varying topography, changing physiography, existing flora & fauna; existing bio-diversity; ruling climatic conditions; physical, social, environmental features; local culture; available building materials and construction technologies in practice, which largely influence, impact and guide design process and decision making.
Site plays a crucial role in positioning and orienting the building, determining its footprints, form, shape, fabric, material, structure, sustainability and typology, including its relation with nature, surrounding and neighborhood . Accordingly, finding and locating appropriate site for any project and carrying out detailed site analysis, remains vital and crucial for any project to be rational, effective and sustainable. In the parlance of Architecture, site analysis involves evaluating a particular location physically, environmentally and socially with the basic objective of developing an architectural solution which would be distinct and help achieve the defined objective of the project besides making the project cost-effective, energy-energy, eco-friendly, user-friendly and sustainable. Accordingly, sourcing an appropriate and suitable site remains pre-requisite and vital for developing any project of any merit because all good architectural solutions have their genesis in understanding, analyzing, appreciating and bringing best out of the given site.
All globally known architectural master pieces had their genesis in the uniqueness and appropriateness of site on which they were located and the design option used for optimizing the prevailing strength of such unique sites. Sourcing appropriate site remains vital for the owner, project managers and architects and accordingly, it will be relevant and rational to define broad guidelines and principles which must be kept in mind, must be valued and should remain the basis/ guiding principles while defining/ selecting sites for any sustainable architectural project. Since all human settlements remain different, distinct and unique, accordingly searching appropriate site for any standalone project remains both a difficult and most challenging task. However, critical factors which need to be considered and broad methodology, guidelines and approach, which can be used/leveraged for searching appropriate site, have been briefed below. These factors will also form the very basis of carrying out site analysis, before taking up the site
Book on-Identifying, Analysing and Planning sites for Architectural ProjectsJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Book on Identifying, Analyzing and Planning Sites for Architectural Projects, is an attempt to document options and factors to be considered for selecting suitable sites for any project; defining principles which can be used for preparing site plans on the site selected ; and approach to be used for planning and designing of cost-effective, sustainable, energy efficient and qualitative buildings. Book is based on my limited knowledge and understanding of architecture and offers enormous opportunities for addition, subtraction,deletion, reviewing,revising and redefining the contents and intent to make it more qualitative, comprehensive,useful, relevant, rational and productive. Book is dedicated to all the students, faculty, researchers, professionals engaged in the art of teaching-learning of Architecture and in the hard core professional practice.
Suitability of Site for Architectural Projects.docxJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Site remains vital and important for any architectural projects to become relevant and sustainable. Accordingly sites need to be valued, understood and appreciated for evolving any sustainable design solutions. Selecting suitable sites remains and art and science , which needs to be learnt by each architect. It needs to be understood and appreciated that site is not merely land but also include and involves, all social, physical, environmental and infrastructures, climate. etc . which support the site and stay relevant for evolving sustainable design solutions. Sites accordingly need to be understood, dissected, analysed and appreciated before evolving design options. Diluting site will invariably lead to unsustainable and irrational design solutions, making built environment unsustainable.
Evaluating Suitability of Site for any Architectural Projects.docxJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Role of site selected for any building project remains most critical ,valuable and prime reason and major determinant of success and failure of any project. All architectural projects have their origin/genesis in the site on which they are located and accordingly remain site specific for their conceptualization, planning, designing and construction. Like human beings, sites also remain different and distinct. Every site remains unique and distinct, comprising of numerous complex elements including; varying topography, changing physiography, existing flora & fauna; existing bio-diversity; ruling climatic conditions; physical, social, environmental features; local culture; available building materials and construction technologies in practice, which largely influence, impact and guide design process and decision making.
Site plays a crucial role in positioning and orienting the building, determining its footprints, form, shape, fabric, material, structure, sustainability and typology, including its relation with nature, surrounding and neighborhood buildings. Accordingly, finding and locating appropriate site for any project and carrying out detailed site analysis, remains vital and crucial for any project to be rational, effective and sustainable. In the parlance of Architecture, site analysis involves evaluating a particular location physically, environmentally and socially with the basic objective of developing an architectural solution which would be distinct and help achieve the defined objective of the project besides making the project cost-effective, energy-energy, eco-friendly, user-friendly and sustainable. Accordingly, sourcing an appropriate and suitable site remains pre-requisite and vital for developing any project of any merit because all good architectural solutions have their genesis in understanding, analyzing, appreciating and bringing best out of the given site.
All globally known architectural master pieces had their genesis in the uniqueness and appropriateness of site on which they were located and the design option used for optimizing the prevailing strength of such unique sites. Sourcing appropriate site remains vital for the owner, project managers and architects and accordingly, it will be relevant and rational to define broad guidelines and principles which must be kept in mind, must be valued and should remain the basis/ guiding principles while defining/ selecting sites for any sustainable architectural project. Since all human settlements remain different, distinct and unique, accordingly searching appropriate site for any standalone project remains both a difficult and most challenging task. However, critical factors which need to be considered and broad methodology, guidelines and approach, which can be used/leveraged for searching appropriate site, have been briefed below. These factors will also form the very basis of carrying out site analysis, before taking up the site planning .
Evaluating Suitability of Site for any Architectural Projects.docxJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Role of site selected for any building project remains most critical ,valuable and major determinant of success and failure of any project. All architectural projects have their origin/genesis in the site on which they are located and accordingly remain site specific for their conceptualization, planning, designing and construction. Like human beings, sites also remain different/distinct and no two sites are same. Every site remains unique and distinct, comprising of numerous complex elements including; varying topography, changing physiography, existing flora & fauna; existing bio-diversity; ruling climatic conditions; physical, social, environmental features; local culture; available building materials and construction technologies in practice, which largely influence, impact and guide design process and decision making.
Site plays a crucial role in positioning and orienting the building, determining its footprints, form, shape, fabric, material, structure, sustainability and typology, including its relation with nature, surrounding and neighborhood . Accordingly, finding and locating appropriate site for any project and carrying out detailed site analysis, remains vital and crucial for any project to be rational, effective and sustainable. In the parlance of Architecture, site analysis involves evaluating a particular location physically, environmentally and socially with the basic objective of developing an architectural solution which would be distinct and help achieve the defined objective of the project besides making the project cost-effective, energy-energy, eco-friendly, user-friendly and sustainable. Accordingly, sourcing an appropriate and suitable site remains pre-requisite and vital for developing any project of any merit because all good architectural solutions have their genesis in understanding, analyzing, appreciating and bringing best out of the given site.
All globally known architectural master pieces had their genesis in the uniqueness and appropriateness of site on which they were located and the design option used for optimizing the prevailing strength of such unique sites. Sourcing appropriate site remains vital for the owner, project managers and architects and accordingly, it will be relevant and rational to define broad guidelines and principles which must be kept in mind, must be valued and should remain the basis/ guiding principles while defining/ selecting sites for any sustainable architectural project. Since all human settlements remain different, distinct and unique, accordingly searching appropriate site for any standalone project remains both a difficult and most challenging task. However, critical factors which need to be considered and broad methodology, guidelines and approach, which can be used/leveraged for searching appropriate site, have been briefed below. These factors will also form the very basis of carrying out site analysis, before taking up the site
Book on-Identifying, Analysing and Planning sites for Architectural ProjectsJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Book on Identifying, Analyzing and Planning Sites for Architectural Projects, is an attempt to document options and factors to be considered for selecting suitable sites for any project; defining principles which can be used for preparing site plans on the site selected ; and approach to be used for planning and designing of cost-effective, sustainable, energy efficient and qualitative buildings. Book is based on my limited knowledge and understanding of architecture and offers enormous opportunities for addition, subtraction,deletion, reviewing,revising and redefining the contents and intent to make it more qualitative, comprehensive,useful, relevant, rational and productive. Book is dedicated to all the students, faculty, researchers, professionals engaged in the art of teaching-learning of Architecture and in the hard core professional practice.
Urban Design Guidelines for High-rise BuildingsBemnetLeykun
High-rise buildings are one of the possible building types that contribute
to intensification and efficient development patterns that support
healthy, liveable and safe communities. The Official Plan directs
high-rise buildings to the nodes and corridors where intensification
is expected and encouraged, including: the Central Area, the Mixed-Use
Centres (including the emerging downtown districts and Transit
Oriented Development areas), some locations along the Arterial
Mainstreets, as well as the Town Centres. These are the locations
where new high-rise developments are most likely to occur
A Digital Planning Tool for Shaping Up the Landscaping Architecture.pdfIJEACS
Landscape architecture is a comparatively new concept and is gaining prominence in town and country planning exercises. People marveled at the design of new towns when the infrastructure looks nice and well placed. However, when the planning exercise is not done properly this results in the implementation of poor infrastructure with narrow roads, lack of green spaces, no parking spots, congested streets and so. Architects are still using traditional hand drawing for their designs and sketches which have several limitations. Developing a landscape architecture planning system with appropriate tools will facilitate architects’ tasks and others to have an appropriate to ensure proper landscape planning without unnecessarily wasting time manually. This paper aims to present a desktop application with features for generating appropriate cartography which allows users to place appropriate objects representing real-world urban structures and buildings. The Waterfall methodology was used to build and implement the proposed system. The latter is expected to help in the reduction of parking problems and increase the number of green areas in towns. The application proposed includes appropriate validation techniques to allow users to plan a site and made sure that the standards set for parking spaces and green areas are being respected.
Site planning in Architectural Projects- Principles and ApproachesJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Paper defines in brief the principles, studies, analysis, which need to be carried out before preparing site plan of any project. Paper highlights the role, importance and criticality of site planning in making optimum use of land resource, resource existing at site, orientation, wind, sun, flora and fauna, landscaping, building design etc to make the project rational, sustainable
A proposal aimed at transforming a key site in Canoga Park into a vibrant, mixed-use development. The project includes comprehensive location analysis, neighborhood context evaluation, and zoning and planning assessments. By leveraging the site’s strengths and addressing potential challenges, we plan to create a space that integrates residential, commercial, and public areas. The development will enhance connectivity, support community objectives, and provide economic benefits, all while aligning with local zoning regulations.
Role and Relevance of Architects and architecture in SustainabilityJIT KUMAR GUPTA
This brief text on Role, Relevance and importance of Architects and profession of Architecture in making this world and human settlements more livable, climate responsive and sustainable has been prepared as commitment of the professionals and profession of Architects on this World Environment Day ; June 5th , 2024 , with the hope that profession would be understood, valued ,appreciated and empowered in the right context for enabling it play its designated role in making built environment qualitative, cost-effective, energy-efficient, eco-friendly, safe and sustainable.
Bridging gap between resources and responsibilities at Local level.JIT KUMAR GUPTA
Text refers to need, role, relevance and importance of empowering urban local bodies by bridging gap between resources available and responsibilities bestowed, for enabling ULBs to operate and function as institutions of local governance more effectively and efficiently.
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Urban Design Guidelines for High-rise BuildingsBemnetLeykun
High-rise buildings are one of the possible building types that contribute
to intensification and efficient development patterns that support
healthy, liveable and safe communities. The Official Plan directs
high-rise buildings to the nodes and corridors where intensification
is expected and encouraged, including: the Central Area, the Mixed-Use
Centres (including the emerging downtown districts and Transit
Oriented Development areas), some locations along the Arterial
Mainstreets, as well as the Town Centres. These are the locations
where new high-rise developments are most likely to occur
A Digital Planning Tool for Shaping Up the Landscaping Architecture.pdfIJEACS
Landscape architecture is a comparatively new concept and is gaining prominence in town and country planning exercises. People marveled at the design of new towns when the infrastructure looks nice and well placed. However, when the planning exercise is not done properly this results in the implementation of poor infrastructure with narrow roads, lack of green spaces, no parking spots, congested streets and so. Architects are still using traditional hand drawing for their designs and sketches which have several limitations. Developing a landscape architecture planning system with appropriate tools will facilitate architects’ tasks and others to have an appropriate to ensure proper landscape planning without unnecessarily wasting time manually. This paper aims to present a desktop application with features for generating appropriate cartography which allows users to place appropriate objects representing real-world urban structures and buildings. The Waterfall methodology was used to build and implement the proposed system. The latter is expected to help in the reduction of parking problems and increase the number of green areas in towns. The application proposed includes appropriate validation techniques to allow users to plan a site and made sure that the standards set for parking spaces and green areas are being respected.
Site planning in Architectural Projects- Principles and ApproachesJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Paper defines in brief the principles, studies, analysis, which need to be carried out before preparing site plan of any project. Paper highlights the role, importance and criticality of site planning in making optimum use of land resource, resource existing at site, orientation, wind, sun, flora and fauna, landscaping, building design etc to make the project rational, sustainable
A proposal aimed at transforming a key site in Canoga Park into a vibrant, mixed-use development. The project includes comprehensive location analysis, neighborhood context evaluation, and zoning and planning assessments. By leveraging the site’s strengths and addressing potential challenges, we plan to create a space that integrates residential, commercial, and public areas. The development will enhance connectivity, support community objectives, and provide economic benefits, all while aligning with local zoning regulations.
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Role and Relevance of Architects and architecture in SustainabilityJIT KUMAR GUPTA
This brief text on Role, Relevance and importance of Architects and profession of Architecture in making this world and human settlements more livable, climate responsive and sustainable has been prepared as commitment of the professionals and profession of Architects on this World Environment Day ; June 5th , 2024 , with the hope that profession would be understood, valued ,appreciated and empowered in the right context for enabling it play its designated role in making built environment qualitative, cost-effective, energy-efficient, eco-friendly, safe and sustainable.
Bridging gap between resources and responsibilities at Local level.JIT KUMAR GUPTA
Text refers to need, role, relevance and importance of empowering urban local bodies by bridging gap between resources available and responsibilities bestowed, for enabling ULBs to operate and function as institutions of local governance more effectively and efficiently.
Construction Industry Through Artificial Intelligence -.docxJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Considering the role, relevance and importance of construction sector in promoting economy, generating employment and creating wealth besides providing infrastructures and amenities, there is need to make the sector more effective, efficient, productive and sustainable. Driven manually, construction sector remains in the slow lane of creating quality built environment which are cost-effective, energy efficient, least consumers of resources and generators of waste. Artificial intelligence can help and empower the construction to make it more valuable, productive and qualitative besides supportive of environment and ecology. However, construction sector must be ready to co-operate and collaborate with IT industry to look for options and opportunities to make construction sector more qualitative and productive. Majority of urban ills and climate related issues can be resolved if Artificial intelligence can be embedded as integral part of the construction industry right prom planning, designing, construction, operation and management of the built environment and infrastructures. Communities and nations will save lot of valuable non-renewable resources if the construction sector is transformed from human led to technology led by the induction of Artificial intelligence. However, Construction industry has to search the areas where Artificial intelligence can be used effectively and intelligently.
Making Urban India a Role Model of Planned Urban Growth a.docxJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Known for productivity, promoting economy, employment and innovations cities, when properly planned, rationally developed and professionally managed, have been labelled and recognized as engines of economic growth. Prosperity and urbanisation are known to have positive co-relation with rational urbanisation, leveraging growth and development of any community, city, state and region. In majority of developing countries, where urbanisation remains unregulated, forced largely by rural push and less by urban pull, cities invariably remain in crisis, crisis of population, crisis of poverty, crisis of development and management. Cities need to be cared ,incentivized, empowered and made more productive, effective, efficient and humane.
Redefining Globalization, urbanisation and LocalisationJIT KUMAR GUPTA
If cities are to made more livable, humane and productive, it is time that intent, contents and scope of globalization must be revisited and reviewed, both critically and objectively. Globalisation would need redefinition for promoting universality and inclusiveness among people and nations to have basic amenities and quality of life for all its residents , including poorest of the poor to lead a dignified life. Failure to redefine globalization, rationalise urbanisation, restore localization empowering poor and promoting universalisation and inclusivity; will invariably lead to making SDGs merely a paper exercise. In addition, making the world, cities and communities sustainable, livable, safe and inclusive, would remain merely a dream and a mirage, for future generations and communities, making planet earth as their preferred place of residence.
Knowing, Understanding and Planning Cities- Role and Relevance Physical Plan...JIT KUMAR GUPTA
Cities are known for its complexities and operational inefficiencies. cities remain dynamic ,ever evolving, ever devolving, never static and never finite.
All cities remain different, distinct, unique and universal. No two cities are similar. Each city has its own strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Accordingly, problem faced by any city cannot be viewed, dissected, analyzed and enumerated, while sitting within the four walls of the air-conditioned rooms and by the so called intellectual sitting in the so called offices determining the future of cities and towns. Neither the cities can be made more rational by limited knowledge agencies providing consultancy to cities , states and nations.
For realistically and rationally understanding, analyzing the cities and having simple, cost-effective and quality solutions to the problems and challenges faced , Cities have to be walked through and concerns of the various communities have to be properly understood and appreciated.
Prime reason for inability and lack of capacity on the part of majority of physical planners, engaged in the art and science of planning, designing and developing the cities, to address the issues and challenges faced by cities , realistically and rationally, has genesis in the lack of understanding of the origin, growth and development of cities.
Lack of capacity in majority of town planners, has roots in the quality of education imparted and seriousness and commitment on the part of both teachers and taught involved. As it stands today, majority of institutions involved in imparting education in planning are being run on an ad-hoc manner and by proxy. Only few institutions have regular teachers and regular students. Majority of planning institutions are being run on proxy with proxy students and proxy teachers. Education system including curricula used for teaching, needs, review, revision and redefinition to make it more relevant to rational for addressing the issues and challenges faced by the cities and towns.
Land as a Resource for urban finanace- 24-1-23.pptJIT KUMAR GUPTA
PPt tries to brief Land, as a gift of nature, is being grossly misused, abused , manipulated Land is globally used for providing platform for all human driven activities, based on living, working, culture of body/ mind and travel.
Limited availability, coupled with large number of human beings trying to source land, has invariably created large demand for land resource for human consumption. Land, in urban context, is required for meeting the specific needs of urban dwellers for residential, commercial, institutional, recreational, travel& traffic purposes besides providing space for infrastructures , amenities, services, trade and commerce etc. Land in urban context remains under large demand and command high price due to concentration of large population in small physical area, with stakeholders making competing claims.Rapid and uncontrolled growth in population experienced by urban areas has adversely impacted and generated considerable pressure on land resource in cities and towns , leading to large scale conversion, sub-division and illegal occupation of urban land. Unregulated and regulated pressure on land has largely been met by means of both formal/informal sub-division and development of land. Growth of the urban settlements and entire mechanism of urban planning and development remains land based/ land focused. In order to make optimum use of land resource on 24x7x365; making city planning, growth, development and management ,both rational. realistic, orderly and promoter of quality living, it will be critical and essential, that all ULBs are made to focus on eliminating culture and practices promoting un-authorized/ illegal sub-division of land for ushering an environment and era of planned urban development in the cities. Land needs to be effectively leveraged to generate resources for ULBs to make cities vibrant.
COST-EFFETIVE and Energy Efficient BUILDINGS ptxJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Built environment is known for its capacity, capability, role, relevance and importance to change the quality of life of the occupants and communities. Presentation focuses on options which need to be leveraged to make buildings sustainable, cost-effective, energy efficient, resource efficient, qualitative over its entire life-cycle through designing, construction, operation. It calls for making buildings green and sustainable.
Making Buildings cost-effective , Energy Efficient ptxJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Presentation focuses on options which need to be leveraged to make buildings sustainable, cost-effective, energy efficient, resource efficient, qualitative over its entire life-cycle
Ppt briefs about role, relevance, importance of the rating systems applicable in India, criteria used in assessing
greeness, weightage allocated, , brief of how these rating systems are applied, parameters involved; weightage granted, levels of rating granted , incentives given by states for green rated buildings and brief of suggestions, how to make rating system more effective, efficient, objective and transparent.
The phenomenon of global warming remains more pronounced in the urban areas, for the reason cities house large concentration of people and activities in a small/compact urban space.Densely-built downtown areas tend to be warmer than suburban residential areas or rural areas.. UHI not only raises urban temperatures but also increases ozone concentrations because ozone is a greenhouse gas whose formation will accelerate with the temperature. Tokyo, an example of an urban heat island. Normal temperatures of Tokyo go up higher than those of the surrounding area. However, it needs to be understood and appreciated that climate change is not the cause of urban heat islands but it is causing more frequent and more intense heat waves which in turn amplify the urban heat island effect in cities. Major reasons for ever growing global warming and climate change can be attributed to the; Nature and natural; Human-Driven; population; Rapid Urbanisation; Irrational Urban planning; High Density; Inefficient Transportation ;Large generation/consumption of fossil fuel based Energy; Unsustainable Buildings; Polluting Industry & Manufacturing; Unsustainable Agriculture; Irrational Development; Large scale Deforestation; Lack of open spaces and individual life-choices;
Making and Unmaking of Chandigarh - A City of Two Plans2-4-24.pptJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Presentation is a narrative of a
capital city- known for its innovative planning, designing, construction and management of a new capital . It briefs about the principles used in the planning and designing of city -by the first team of planners led by Albert Mayer and Mathew Nowicki-- followed by the second team led by Le- Corbusier, P Jenerette, Jane B Drew , Maxwell Fry. It also details about the various aspects of the city planning, planning of the sector as a neighbourhood, typologies of
various developmental controls used for regulating the construction of buildings. Innovations used for regulating the growth and development of periphery; redensification of city in case city exceeds its planned population of half a million, creating a narrative of city and periphery, innovative landscaping, defining an edict for the city to educate the future citizens of the capital city to safeguard the future growth and development besides lessons learnt from planning and designing the new cities.
Planning and Designing Green buildings-.issues, options and strategiesJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Affordability and sustainable development are considered anti-thesis across the world. Generally there exists conflict between the approach to sustainable built environment and affordable buildings. Sustainable development is considered more expensive. According to Middleton, ‘Sustainability and affordability aren’t mutually exclusive goals. It’s not about adding extra, but thinking more carefully about the design of buildings and incorporating technologies that can offset the rising costs of energy, water and other services. Affordability and sustainability are known to fit together perfectly’.
Through excellent design, buildings can be made more sustainable and affordable. Smaller the footprint of buildings, lower will be the upfront costs and embodied energy and lower shall be the running costs of buildings. Looking at the entire context of health, rising cost of amenities/services; Sustainable/Green designs are now being increasingly adopted, to make built environment more cost-effective and affordable. Considering the enormous amount of built environment to be created, India will have no option but to tread the path of sustainability and sustainable development in the built environment. Sustainable built environment would also help in and go a long way in achieving the majority of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals for the reason, built environment is known to be the largest consumer of energy, avoid wasteful use of resources and minimise generation of waste. Global sustainability will be largely contingent upon how effectively and efficiently we can make our buildings sustainable and qualitative through innovative/green design solutions based on local climate and culture, valuing site planning, embedding orientation, cross ventilation, using renewable/waste materials and involving state of the art building technologies.
_Neighborhood Planning in Capital City of Chandigarh- An Appraisal (2) - Copy...JIT KUMAR GUPTA
Neighborhood as an idea, concept, option and strategy has been extensively used locally and globally by the Urban Planners to plan and decentralize cities, create cities within cities, promote self-contained communities and to make cities more humane, safe and socially vibrant. Neighborhood has also been used recently to define the city in terms of travel time - making 10/15 minutes city
Accordingly, large typologies of NH ,in terms of planning and designing , with varying shapes, sizes and contents have emerged in the urban context. Americans have used superblock and French using Sector for defining the neighborhood. Despite distinct advantages, holding high degree of relevance in urban and local area planning , NH planning has not been able to deliver the envisioned objectives of safety and social vibrancy. Cities in the process have been socially, economically and physically fragmented, leading to clear division of cities into different communities with little economical and social connectivity. Variance of planning and designing norms followed at NH and sub-neighborhood levels have promoted more dichotomy and contradictions with varying quality of life inducted at local level. Differential population and infrastructures have divided the city into the categories of high/low end NH units. Fabric and morphology of cities, in large cases, has been distorted with urban settlement emerging as a distinct social map of communities graded economically and socially,on the basis of area/location . In the process, the way NH planning concept has been used, neighborhood planning has emerged as an instrument of social and economic segregation/division. In fact in number of cases, concept has been used, misused, abused in intent and content to divide the cities into distinct social and economic layers. Instead of unifying , concept has led to division of cities.
Genesis of modern application of NH can be found in the planning and designing of Chandigarh where entire city fabric of capital city was woven around Sector as the basic unit of planning, concptulasied as self-contained and self-sustaining unit at the local level. However, the way sectors have been planned, it has led to dividing the cities into different and distinct communities. Individual status in Chandigarh can be judged from his/her residence. Concept of Sector has done more damage than good to the fabric of the city. Chandigarh is likely to face considerable problem in making city socially and economically cohesive/vibrant,. Sectors in Chandigarh remain anti-thesis to the basic concept of NH planning of safety, involving walkability, vehicular movement, putting commercial space in the centre. Considering role, relevance, importance and usability , NH needs to be planned, designed with care and caution, in order to make cities socially and economically vibrant, inclusive. NH planning deserves a new definition and approach to make it relevant and rational.
Reviewing, Revising and Redefining Master Plans and Development Plans to Ma...JIT KUMAR GUPTA
Looking at its efficacy and efficiency, it can be seen and observed that Master Plans/ Development Plans have done more damage than good for the planned growth and development of the cities to which they have been made applicable. These plans have been violated with impunity both by the people, communities, cities and parastatal agencies; for the betterment/welfare of which these plans were prepared. These plans have been visualized as controller of development rather than promoters of development. Instead of planned development , these plans have been usherers of the unplanned development. These plans are known to be responsible for promoting large number of slums besides making quality of life poor for majority of the urban inhabitants. Cities under Master Plans are also known to promote exclusion rather than inclusion. Master Plans/Development Plans are known to promote prosperity for few and marginalize the large proportions of the local community by making them poor. Instead of catering to urban dynamism, Master Plans/Development Plans try to freeze the city, for next two decades, to which it is made to serve. Accordingly, these plans need to be reviewed , rationalised, revised and redefined to make them better Master Plans/Development Plans
Rationalizing the Planned Growth of Urban India- paper.docxJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Rapid and uncontrolled growth in population experienced by urban areas has adversely impacted and generated considerable pressure on land resource in cities and towns , leading to large scale conversion, sub-division and illegal occupation of urban land. Unregulated and regulated pressure on land has largely been met by means of both formal/informal sub-division and development of land. Growth of the urban settlements and entire mechanism of urban planning and development remains land based/ land focused, based on a strategy of sub-division of the land, dictated by the economic forces prevailing in the market. Irrational and ineffective public policies of urban planning and land sub-division, devoid of prevailing ground realities, have turned out to be incompatible with the demands of urban expansion, leading to large scale un-authorized and illegal sub-division of land. In the process, valuable land resources, gift of nature, has been misused, abused and mutilated in this race of uncontrolled and irrational urbanisation. In order to make optimum use of land resource; making city planning, growth, development and management ,both rational. realistic, orderly and promoter of quality living, it will be critical and essential, that all urban centres are made to focus on eliminating the culture and practices promoting un-authorized/illegal sub-division of land for ushering an environment and era of planned urban development in the country.
Suggestion and Options for integrating villages. within the framework of the...JIT KUMAR GUPTA
Preparing Master Plans/Development Plans for any urban settlements, basically and essentially, involves declaring a planning area for which the said long term plans are prepared. Planning area invariably includes and involves, number of rural settlements, which comprise of the planning area besides the urban settlement. It has been observed that in majority of cases, while detailed studies and analysis are carried out of the urban settlements but villages in the study and analysis remain marginalized, diluted and muted. Despite the fact, villages have critical role in the rational development of the urban settlement, but in preparing Master Plans their role and relevance is not made part of the said plan. Accordingly, this text tries to bring out the typologies of villages falling in the planning area and the suggested framework to develop these villages in making Master Plans, better Master Plan. In order to improve Master Plan qualitatively, quantitively, both in intent, contents and scope, It will be appropriate that all the villages falling in the planning area must be studied , analyzed and made integral part of the final outcome of the proposals of Master Plan. In-fact one Chapter must be exclusively dedicated to detail out the issues faced by the Villages and options which can be leveraged to promote the rational growth of villages ,as an integral part of the long term development of the urban settlement , for which the Master Plan is being prepared. This will help not only in integrating the urban- rural settlements falling in the planning area, but would also go a long way in promoting and ensuring rational growth and development of the urban settlement, for which the Master Plan is being prepared.
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“Decarbonization” of cities ,as an issue ,as an option and as a strategy , has been gaining currency in the parlance of; making planet earth livable and sustainable. “Decarbonization has been globally valued for keeping the global temperature below 1.5C, and achieving the agenda and goals defined in the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, defined by UN for achieving universal sustainability. Despite distinct role and relevance, criticality and importance of decarbonization of cities has neither been properly understood and appreciated nor made integral part of the architectural practice and art and science of designing and construction of buildings. Consuming one -third of global energy (33%) and generating 39% of greenhouse gas emissions buildings have been considered as the major player in the domain of climate change and global warming. Since Architects and Architecture are
actively involved in the making and unmaking of buildings, accordingly it becomes important that planners and architects must play a significant role in making
cities and buildings least consumers of energy and generators of the minimum greenhouse gas emissions. This objective can be achieved if decarbonizing cities/buildings is made a distinct reality . Issue of decarbonizing the cities/buildings assumes importance for the reason, that world’s building floorspace is likely to be become double by the year 2060, with the addition of large number of newcities/ buildings due to rapid urbanization, population growth and economic development ; required for catering to
to the needs of additional population opting for urban living.
Managing Planning and Development of Citie- 26-2-24.docxJIT KUMAR GUPTA
Cities in India are known to be in perpetual crisis; facing numerous crises in terms of; crisis of rational growth, crisis of orderly and planned development; crisis of effective and efficient urban management; crisis of making provision of basic infrastructure and services; crisis of climate change; crisis of global warming; crisis of poverty, pollution and population and crisis of making human living and prevailing environment qualitative. These urban crises have genesis in the fact that cities in India, lack ownership, command, authority and lack of willingness to run and manage cities professionally and objectively. In majority of cases, cities in India are run by proxy. In terms of physical growth and development; large cities are marked by multiplicity of agencies claiming right/ownership of development over the urban areas, whereas smaller cities face absence of such ownership and are made to run, operate and function like orphans
Agenda, Approach and Options for Rationalising and Redefining Future Indian ...JIT KUMAR GUPTA
Government of India/state policies, programs, mission and agenda must move providing basic essentials to all its citizens through an efficient, objective and transparent system of governance. For making cities livable and empowering people; right to basics/essential of human living including; Right to shelter, food, clothing universal access to healthcare, education, employment , infrastructures, amenities and mobility; should be made integral part of Indian Constitution by embedding it as Fundamental Rights/Directive Principles of state policy besides making them integral part of planning, development and management/governance process of all human settlements.
Storytelling For The Web: Integrate Storytelling in your Design ProcessChiara Aliotta
In this slides I explain how I have used storytelling techniques to elevate websites and brands and create memorable user experiences. You can discover practical tips as I showcase the elements of good storytelling and its applied to some examples of diverse brands/projects..
Hello everyone! I am thrilled to present my latest portfolio on LinkedIn, marking the culmination of my architectural journey thus far. Over the span of five years, I've been fortunate to acquire a wealth of knowledge under the guidance of esteemed professors and industry mentors. From rigorous academic pursuits to practical engagements, each experience has contributed to my growth and refinement as an architecture student. This portfolio not only showcases my projects but also underscores my attention to detail and to innovative architecture as a profession.
Technoblade The Legacy of a Minecraft Legend.Techno Merch
Technoblade, born Alex on June 1, 1999, was a legendary Minecraft YouTuber known for his sharp wit and exceptional PvP skills. Starting his channel in 2013, he gained nearly 11 million subscribers. His private battle with metastatic sarcoma ended in June 2022, but his enduring legacy continues to inspire millions.
Can AI do good? at 'offtheCanvas' India HCI preludeAlan Dix
Invited talk at 'offtheCanvas' IndiaHCI prelude, 29th June 2024.
https://www.alandix.com/academic/talks/offtheCanvas-IndiaHCI2024/
The world is being changed fundamentally by AI and we are constantly faced with newspaper headlines about its harmful effects. However, there is also the potential to both ameliorate theses harms and use the new abilities of AI to transform society for the good. Can you make the difference?
Can AI do good? at 'offtheCanvas' India HCI prelude
Selecting site for Sustainable Projects and Green Buildings
1. Selecting Site for Sustainable Projects & Green Buildings
Jit Kumar Gupta
All architectural projects have their origin in the site where they are located and
accordingly remain site specific for their
conceptualization, planning, designing and
construction. Every site is unique and
distinct, comprising of numerous complex
elements including; varying topography,
flora & fauna, bio-diversity , climate,
physical, social, environmental features,
culture etc which largely influence, impact
and guide design process and decision
making. Siteplays a crucial role in positioning
and orienting the building, determining the
footprints, form, shape, fabric, material,
structure, sustainability and typology of the
building including its relation with the
surrounding and neighborhood buildings. Accordingly, finding and locating appropriate
site for any project and site analysis remains vital and crucial for any project to be rational,
effective and relevant. Architectural site analysis involves evaluating a particular
location physically, environmentally and socially with the basic objective of
developing an architectural solution which would have merit and help achieve the
objective of the project. Appropriate site remains a pre-requisite and vital for developing
any project of any merit because all good architectural solutions have their genesis
in understanding, appreciating and bringing best out of the site. All globally known
architectural projects had their genesis and origin in the uniqueness and appropriateness
of site on which they are located. Site also remains the major determinant of success and
failure of the project. Sourcing appropriate site remains vital for the owner, project
managers and architects and accordingly, it will be relevant and rational to define broad
guidelines and principles which must be kept in mind while defining/ selecting sites for
any sustainable architectural projects. Since all human settlements remain different,
distinct and unique, accordingly defining precisely site selection remains difficult.
However, important factors to be considered and broad methodology, guidelines and
approach, which can be used for searching appropriate site ,have been detailed below;
Defining Project Scope and Requirements;
Site selection is globally valued as one of the most exciting and challenging phases in an
architectural project, because process involves and includes looking and searching for
2. appropriate and suitable options,
where to locate the project and
construct the building. It is more
complicated than simply choosing a
location that is convenient. Site
selection requires a careful
examination of different areas,
factoring in many things beyond
aesthetic and climate. Before going
for location of the site, where project is
to located, it will be important to define
all the requirement of the project, in
terms of built space and the open spaces required besides area required under parking
etc. Parking area remains crucial for commercial, industrial, institutional and mixed land
use projects. In addition to quantifying the built area required for the project, it will be
relevant to decide whether the project should make provision and include scope for the
future expansion of the project to increase its capacity at later stage. This remains
generally the case for education, healthcare and industrial projects. If scope for future
expansion is to be made, then area requirement for such expansion should also be
quantified and included in the total requirement of the built space. Quantifying different
spaces will help in determining area required for the site, depending upon the permissible
floor area ratio, ground coverage, height, setbacks etc defined in the building control
regulations and applicable in the area and city depending upon the nature of the project.
Looking at the Planning Framework
After having quantified the built area requirement and broadly understanding the contours
and area of the land required for the project, it will be appropriate to look at the existing
planning framework/Master Plans/Development Plans/Zonal Plans, evolved for the city
and identify the zones in which the use of the project is permissible. Site must be identified
in the permissible land-use zones defined in the planning framework of the city, failing
which it will create numerous
problems in getting statutory
approvals like change of landuse
and building permit etc., which may
inordinately delay the project and
may even require selection of an
alternate site in the relevant zones.
In addition, city planning framework
needs a detailed study with regard to
land uses defined for the adjoining
areas; proposed pattern of future
3. development of the city; suggested traffic and transportation network; positioning of major
infrastructures at city and local level; future density and population distribution, so as to
have an overview of the city future growth, for making optimum use of the positive
development while eliminating any threat posed by the non- conforming development.
Permissible zones positioned in the city need critical and objective evaluation and
analysis for ascertaining their comparative merits and demerits for appropriateness of the
siting of the project. After locating the permissible zone, process of precise location of the
site can be initiated based on the following factors;
Involving Technology
After having identified the preferred zone for locating project, identifying precisely the
site for project should be done based on detailed data available for that zone. It will be
desirable to make use of available technology for zeroing on the site. Google maps can
be a handy tool to provide the overall profile of the area including physiography,
topography, contours of the area; existing road network; connectivity with roads- both
main and sub-roads; position of the railway lines ; location of major transport nodes
including railway station, Bus Terminals, Airport ; distance from major landmarks of city
including Shopping centers, Railway Station, Airport ; flora and fauna, existing structures,
water bodies, canals, rivers, electric lines, service network, forests, low lying areas etc.
These maps will be of considerable value while defining the exact site, working out its
boundaries, dimensions and area. However, if the site is being sourced in the planned
area, then the approved layout plan and demarcation plan needs to be studied in detail
with regard to orientation, open spaces, accessibility, shape and size of the plot,
dimensions, approach, road network; positioning with regard to supportive infrastructure
etc.
Evaluating Accessibility
Site to be selected must have good accessibility with different parts of the city so as to
provide good connectivity with different residential, commercial, institutional areas. Good
connectivity enhances the value , visibility, viability and usability of the project whereas
poor accessibility is likely to create
numerous operational problems for the
projects. Accordingly, it will be desirable
to study the available access to the site.
While commercial sites may require
location on the major axis and important
roads of the city, residential sites may
require areas which are not prone to
highway traffic, noise and traffic hazard
work areas but still close and well
connected to the healthcare,
educational institutions and market area
for sourcing day to day needs.
Depending upon the nature of the
project accessibility requirement of the
4. site needs to be evaluated and considered essential and integral part of the site selection
process. However, for larger sites accessibility from more than one side shall be desirable
to cater to the different requirement of accessibility to the project. Accessibility to the site
should invariably evaluated in all modes of travel involving public, private, vehicular and
pedestrian access.
Valuing Shape and Size
While selecting the site, it must be ensured that the shape of the site should be such that
it allows proper planning, designing and placement of building. Regular sites should be
preferred as compared to irregular sites. Site must ensure proper air, light and ventilation
within the building designed. Accordingly, too deep and too narrow sites with large depth
as compared to width or larger width as compared to depth, should be avoided for proper
designing of buildings and making provision of parking etc. Sites having irregular
boundaries, forming acute angles should be avoided. Acute angled site leads to creating
deep pockets which lead to inefficient use of site as compared to sites having obtuse
angles. Area of the site should also be adequate to accommodate the covered area
worked out as per the scope of the project
Understanding Cost of Land.
Cost per unit area of land will be one of the critical factors in making decision about the
selection of the site and its location because of its implication in determining the
sustainability and affordability of the project. Too high land cost will make the project
unviable leading to cost overrun. Sites in developed area will be costlier as compared to
sites in the comparatively less developed area. Sites having better accessibility and
located on the major roads shall always command more premium as compared to site
having low accessibility and located on the lower order roads. Sites located on major
roads have more commercial value and potential and are more appropriate for locating
shopping malls, multiplexes as compared to housing complexes. While evaluating the
cost of land, care must be taken with regard to future pattern/trends of growth and
development of the city, for which master plans/development plans will remain useful
documents for reference and decision making. In addition to looking at the cost, land
ownership of the site also needs detailed evaluation. While selecting the site, it must be
seen that land ownership is not disputed and site is unencumbered. Also, site is not
fragmented and is not mortgaged or under dispute in a court of law. All disputed sites
must be avoided for obvious implications, for the feasibility of the project.
Avoiding low lying and floodable sites
While selecting sites, all low-lying areas and areas which are prone to flooding, must be
avoided for any likely damage to the building in future. In this regard, levels of the sites
with respect to adjoining land must be visited along with the past history of flood- ability
of the area, before making a decision. Levelling low lying area could be an expensive
investment, raising the cost of the project. In addition, all areas used for sourcing earth
5. for brick kilns should also be
avoided. Low lying area, levelled by
dumping solid waste, should never
be selected because of health
hazards and environmental
implications it will have for the
residents of the buildings. Low lying
sites which have been used for
dumping debris, construction,
demolition waste and sites which
are filled with non-toxic or other
harmless materials, can be taken up
for construction, considering the
consolidation and stability of land to
avoid differential settlement
subsequently. However, low lying sites, which are not prone to flooding and which can
be managed against disaster, can prove to be asset for project and designing of
buildings, where basements are required to be created for meeting the norms of parking,
storage etc. Consultation with architect will help in critically evaluating the merits and
demerits besides evaluating suitability of land for the project sustainability and rational
designing.
Prohibitions imposed by legal Framework
There are numerous restrictions which are imposed on the development coming up
along the major roads to control the ribbon development and to ensure smooth flow of
traffic and to safeguard areas of importance like area under forest, protected area and
area around heritage buildings and wetlands. In addition, master plans also provide
restrictions on the use of land in certain pockets calling for making provision of the green
belt. In Punjab along schedule roads, a no-building zone upto 50 meters and in case of
bye-passes upto 150 meters, is to be provided in all projects located on such roads.
These restrictions, lead to making large area open in the area adjoining these roads,
where no construction can be undertaken. Such locations need to be clearly avoided. In
case the sites are required to be located on such locations, considering the peculiar
requirement of the project, then site selected should be with lesser width and more depth
so that more area becomes available for building purposes. Sites falling in the coastal
areas, impacted by the provisions of Coastal Regulations Zone , should also be avoided.
Accordingly, all these legal requirements, prohibitions, restrictions and limitations must
be considered, quantified and evaluated while selecting the site and all prohibited sites
covered under various regulatory considerations should invariably be avoided.
Locating Basic Infrastructures
Availability of water, sewerage, road network, stormwater drains, communication network
etc remain vital and critical for any project, institution and users. Accordingly, while
evaluating sites, availability of these basic essentials must be considered. In the absence
of these services and infrastructures, the projects will not only be considerably delayed
but the initial, operational and maintenance costs will become much higher and
unaffordable. Only developed areas, where municipal services are available should be
6. considered for location of the project. In addition to physical infrastructures, availability of
social infrastructures in the close vicinity also needs detailed evaluation. Success and
failure of projects are largely governed by the availability of quality supportive
infrastructure within and in the close vicinity.
Avoiding Physical Encumbrances
All sites having physical encumbrances like High Tension Electric Lines needs to be
avoided because of enormous threat they pose to the safety of the building and
inhabitants. In addition, it causes inefficiency in use of land due to prohibition of
construction under these wires besides leaving a distinct air corridor where no
construction is permitted. Shifting these wires remains both cumbersome and time
consuming, involving lot of cost. Sites having gas pipes, sewerage lines, telephone lines,
water pipes passing through it, should also be invariably avoided. Similarly, sites with
religious structure/derelict structures should also be ignored for obvious reasons. It will
always be desirable and appropriate to select site which should have minimum physical,
social and environmental encumbrances.
Understanding and Valuing Topography
Undulating sites have inherent
limitations in terms of their planning,
designing, development and
placement of buildings as compared
to level/flat sites and accordingly
topography and physical structure of
land must be evaluated before
finalizing. In Hill areas where flat
lands are not available, selection of
site should be based on involving
minimum cutting and filling with
contours and gradient providing
enough options to design buildings
along the contours. Slope study must entail gradient, landforms, elevations, drainage
patterns etc for site study and analysis. Considering the magnitude of the projects
undulating sites can be asset for creating sustainable design options, depending upon
the architectural solutions, which can be leveraged effectively and efficiently for
converting them from challenge to opportunities. Derelict sites offer enough
opportunities for restoring and promoting environment and ecology of the area and
make value addition to bio-diversity and ecology. Such sites could be preferred for large
projects because of lower land values they have.
Documenting Existing Flora and Fauna
Selection of site should also be based on evaluating the existing wealth of flora and fauna
on the site. Existence of too many trees on a smaller site can pose considerable challenge
to evolution of the appropriate design solution whereas in large site they can prove to be
an asset. Sites having too many protected trees or protected forest areas needs to be
avoided. Evaluation of green wealth existing on the site needs to be made initially based
7. on detailed survey by assessing the nature, age, girth and number of trees and possibility
of making them integral part of design solution.
Evaluating View to and from Site
Views from and to site remains another
valuable element to be considered while
determining comparative merits and demerits
of the sites. Good views looking at lakes,
water bodies, hills, landmarks, bio-diverse
area, forests etc. which give value addition to
the site should be valued while poor view like
view of derelict areas, slums, industrial area,
areas which are polluted, needs to be
discounted. Good views are considered
valuable while designing the buildings and
are major determinant for evolving good
design solutions.
Understanding Soil
Quality of soil existing at the site also needs to be evaluated in terms of the usability for
building purposes. Soil having good bearing capacity makes enormous value addition to
the project in making it not only cost-effective but also providing safety against disasters.
Good load bearing capacity makes not only foundation more economical but also reduces
structural cost of the building. Accordingly, sites having good load bearing capacity should
be valued and preferred as compared to sites with low bearing capacity. Site having high
water table needs to be discounted for obvious reason of water seepage into the building
and low bearing capacity it will create for the soil at the site. Sites with high water table
make them unfit for creating spaces at basement level and always pose threat to buildings
in terms of water getting into the building. During heavy rainfalls, such sites invariably
create problems of safety to building and inhabitants using the building. Good soil are
known for the capacity and quality to make buildings not only cost- effective but also
facilitate the rapid growth of flora and fauna, making value addition to the project.
Determining Wind Direction
Wind direction needs critical study and analysis while selecting any site. If site falls on the
path of wind coming from industrial areas,
then it is likely to cause pollution and will
adversely impact health, hygiene and quality
of life of the people using the project.
Accordingly, location of industries /non-
conforming uses, both in present and future
, must be considered while selecting any
site. Wind direction will also be relevant in
selecting site and positioning of buildings in
order to make optimum use of prevailing
wind and avoiding its adverse impact. In
case of hill areas site selected should
8. invariably be located on the leeward side in the shadow of the hills to avoid cold air. In
case of coastal areas, site should be located in the wind ward direction, to promote cross-
ventilation.
Evaluating Orientation
Orientation shall be invariably valued and considered while selecting site. Sites providing
best orientation need to be preferred for planning and designing green buildings. It will be
easier to achieve sustainability on sites having good orientation, considering the
prevailing climate in the zone. Sites facing west in hot regions need to be invariably
avoided considering the inherent limitation they create in managing the adverse impact
of the sun and heat for designing sustainable buildings. North- South remain best
orientation for office buildings in hot regions. North slopes need to be avoided in the hill
areas for creating sustainable buildings due to non- availability of Sun. South/South-East
is considered good orientation in the composite climate zones.
Locating Air Funnel
Air Funnels defined in the case of cities, having air connectivity, also need to be taken
into account while finalizing the site.
Site falling under existing air-funnels
need to be avoided, because of the
high degree of noise planes generate
while taking off and landing. Sites for
hospitals, education, offices and
activities requiring minimum noise,
should invariably avoid locating under
the air funnels and locating near nodes
generating noise pollution. Sites
located in close vicinity of airports also
need careful consideration due to
limitation of height imposed on the
buildings to be constructed there.
Understanding Climate
Study of climate will be crucial for evaluating the site. Climate evaluation of site will have
to be carried out at three distinct stages involving; Macro climate( Study of the Climatic
Zone in which the site falls); Meso Climate( Climate of the city where site is located) and
Micro climate ( Climate of the site) .Detailed study and analysis of three distinct climates
will be crucial not only for selecting appropriate site but also for evolving Bio-climatic
architecture structure. It will also provide clear idea to the architect/designer about the
Bio- climatic aspects to be considered while designing the structures.
Connecting with Existing Transportation Network
Site selected should preferably be within walking distance, located near to and closely
connected with the existing system of public/mass traffic and transportation, so as
to enable the residents to use these modes of travel in a convenient manner. This
9. will help in minimizing the use of personal vehicles for intra- city travel and promote
the use of public transport.
Evaluating Impact on surrounding Environment
While analyzing the site, it will be critical to evaluate, quantify and list both positive
and negative impact of the proposed project on the surrounding environment and
evolve strategies to build on the positive aspects and eliminate negative impact on
environment. This will help in designing the buildings in a sustainable manner and
for making value addition to the project and the surrounding environment.
Avoiding Disaster Prone Areas
Site falling in high risk, vulnerable
and disaster-prone areas, which
are subjected to frequent flooding,
earthquake, landslides and
cyclones must be avoided for
development, considering the risk
involved to the stability of the built
environment created on these
sites and possibility of frequent
loss of life and property. However,
where such risks are unavoidable
then site selected should be such
that they involve minimum risk
even when such disasters hit the area. In case of flooding efforts should be made
to identify sites which are located at higher elevation. Similarly, in case of cyclone
hit area, site falling in windward direction should not be considered. Area facing
landslides would need evaluation of the area for stability with least possibility of
landslides. Area prone to earthquake, should involve possibility of creating
earthquake resistant buildings through state of art planning, designing and
construction options. Vulnerability Atlas and other documents prepared for
showcasing the disaster prone areas need to be referred for avoiding such sites.
Conclusion
Efforts have been made in brief, to describe the factors which need to be
considered, valued, quantified and evaluated for identifying appropriate sites for
any project. However, it remains difficult to comprehensively detail out all the
possible factors which govern the precise and appropriate location of the site of
any project. Guidelines for locating the project remain both dynamic- constantly and
continuously evolving and devolving requiring constant review, revision and
redefinition from time to time to make them more relevant, rational and objective.
Nevertheless, identification of appropriate site will need lot of study, data,
knowledge, understanding and expertise of the various factors detailed above
before coming to a logical conclusion.
10. Reference
https://graarchitects.com/contact-us
Architecture Student Chronicles; Site Selection and Analysis | Architectural Thesis;
http://www.architecture-student.com/thesis-project/site-selection-and-analysis-
architectural-thesis/
Site Selection Criteria and Search Strategies; https://www.csh.org/wp-
content/uploads/2013/09/SiteSelectionandSearchStrategies_F.pdf
Capital Impact Partners; Determine Criteria for Site Selection;
https://www.lisc.org/charter-schools/understanding-your-needs/site-
selection/determine-criteria-site-selection/
U.S. General Services Administration, Public Buildings Service Office of the
Chief Architect; The Site Selection Guide;
https://www.gsa.gov/cdnstatic/GSA_Site_Selection_Guide_R2-sY2-
i_0Z5RDZ-i34K-pR.pdf
Note; All images shown in the text are sourced and have
genesis in the Google Search, which are gratefully and
thankfully acknowledged by the author.
Author;
Author;
*Ar Jit Kumar Gupta
Former Director, College of Architecture, IET Bhaddal
#344, Sector 40-A, Chandigarh-160036
Email -- jit.kumar1944@gmail.com,
Mob- 090410-26414