Site Orientation & Linear Measurements

Site Orientation

House or Site Orientation Definition: The placement of a structure on the property with certain environmental and physical factors taken into consideration, a compass location of the rooms Takes place at the beginning of design process Factors that may influence house or site orientation are: 1) terrain (topographical, contours, etc) 2) view 3) solar (sun exposure, site location) 4) wind 5) sound (noise) 6) zone

Contour Lines 1) Terrain Orientation The characteristic of the land on which the proposed structure will be placed Contours dictate slope Affects the type of structure to be built Types of land categories 1) Level or generally level Contour lines far apart 2) Sloped Contour lines close together Gentle Slope Steep Slope Contour Lines

1) Terrain Orientation - Level Sites Natural site for single- level or two-story homes

1) Terrain Orientation - Sloped Sites Natural location for multilevel or daylight basement homes

1) Terrain Orientation - Sloped Sites Subterranean construction places a portion of the house below grade, is becoming popular

1) Terrain Orientation - Contours Help to determine the slope of the land Contour intervals in this example are 1 vertical feet, dark contours are 5 vertical feet Common intervals are 1, 2, 5, 10 and even 50 feet slope

2) View Orientation Many future homeowners purchase a building site because of the view mountains, city lights, a lake, the ocean, or golf course

2) View Orientation View sites are more expensive than others Designer/architect should design a home that optimizes the view, however, a trade-off between other orientation factors may have to be considered

3) Solar Orientation To take full advantage of Sun exposure to the structure Major living areas face south for winter solar heat Breakfast area should face east for morning sun Solar chart shows the Southern orientation and the suns path also time of year

4) Wind Orientation Determine the direction from which the wind most frequently blows (prevailing winds) in a given area of the country Wind conditions should be taken into consideration for house orientation One factor of orientation over another factor may outweigh the other

4) Wind Orientation Landscaping can help control wind

5) Sound Orientation Sound coming from surrounding community or area can be good or bad natures sounds--singing birds, croaking frogs, etc. road noises, train sounds, major freeways, etc. Positioning the house feature to reduce sound, such as garage, or closets

5) Sound Orientation Landscaping, fences, berms, trees, hedges, etc. may help block out some of these noises

6) Zone Orientation City zoning ordinances set and establish guidelines as to house location on the lot, the house height, size of house & lot, even the exterior design of home in some cases Set backs are distances that set imaginary lines called building lines which are parallel lines to the property lines and establish the confine of where the house can be built

6) Zone Orientation - Set Backs

6) Zone Orientation - Set Backs Notice line differences of property and building lines, both are labeled on the drawing House placed inside building line area

House/Site Orientation - Example Factors shown: view, solar, wind, zone

Linear Measurements

Linear Measurement -- Plot Plans Civil Engineering Scale typically used on plot plans because of site or land measurements, contractor will use this type of measurement in positioning the house on the site. The Civil Scale is divided into tenth, therefore all units are marked in feet and tenths of feet Example: Architectural measurement = 5’- 6” Civil measurement = 5.5’

Divisions and Scales of the Civil Engineer Scale

Civil Engineer Scale Examples Division is 10 Wide range of ratios

Civil Engineer Scale Examples

Civil Engineer Scale Examples